Above Hermosa Beach, near the Costa Rican town of Uvita, lies a 2.5-hectare Art Villas resort nestled in a rainforest-fringed mountainside. Coco is part of the resort and represents a unique example of playful, sustainable, and modern tropical architecture.
Each “tree house” located on the hillside of the Art Villas resort has a view of the green valley. Coco Art Villas wishes to create a place for visitors to immerse themselves in the surrounding nature, to relax their minds and experience a sense of adventure while still enjoying a luxurious space - a place that touches everyone's heart.
In particular, Coco Art Villas are built from local tropical wood, supplemented with canvas and other metal materials, giving the feeling of staying right in the Costa Rican jungle.
“The same creative principles have been used by nature for millions of years,” says architect Martin Kloda. “Nature inspires us to create an environment that we love and feel safe in. We follow the principles of natural architecture, established by our friend and mentor, architect Martin Rajniš.”
The architects created a subtle connection between the individual buildings with a staircase made of wood and expanded metal, mounted on steel columns. Stops in the middle of the stairs allow visitors to take in the countryside views, or even jump on that trampoline.
The staircases are minimalist in shape and the architects intentionally designed them to follow the clean lines that characterize the other buildings in the resort. Only the main steps on the two upper levels are based on the form of Coco House itself. These steps are very close to the forest and also have views of the Pacific Ocean. Inside the “treehouse”, the interior is minimalist and has a playful atmosphere. You won’t find anything unnecessary there, but at the same time, nothing is missing. The focal point of each Coco bedroom is a bed that sits on a raised platform.
The layout of each cabin is designed to take advantage of the most spectacular views, where monkeys and birds can be seen from each bed. Mosquito nets are used to match the style of the house and are an indispensable item in the bedroom. The back of the bed is designed from welded wire mesh.
Each bedroom is designed with a different color scheme, reflected in the color scheme of the dressing rooms. The artistic design of the headboard is no coincidence. “When I thought of a motif that would suit Coco, it reminded me of treetop tours, which are very popular in Costa Rica,” said the architect.
The largest Coco has a communal kitchen and dining area. A wall of red cabinets in the color “mamón chinos (tropical fruit)” contains 2 refrigerators, 2 freezers and a pantry. The kitchen area is used for meal preparation and provides plenty of storage for all dishes. This vertically designed dining table faces the stunning view of the Pacific Ocean.
White translucent shutters protect the interior from rain and wind while allowing daylight to filter through. Light and shadows filter through large mosquito nets, protecting visitors from jungle wildlife. When the team first arrived in Costa Rica, they were concerned about the jungle and wild beaches. They later realized that there was a symbiotic relationship between the lush green rainforest.
The forest is our home, but it is not ours alone. It presents challenging conditions for our existence and demands that we respect the laws of nature.
There are plenty of culinary and leisure activities, from professional cuisine, massage, sauna, yoga to professional spas and gyms. A trampoline and large playroom give children room to move freely, have fun and bond. Art workshops, body, mind and soul retreats, connecting you with like-minded people are also available. Here you can enjoy life's pleasures with fun and harmony with nature.
