Villa Elu

Set on a forested hillside in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica, Villa Elu is a contemporary four-bedroom villa designed around a central courtyard pool. The architecture turns inward and upward at once — rooms wrap the water on two levels, while a dramatic exposed timber-grid ceiling rises overhead and dark lava-stone walls ground the spaces in the landscape. The result is a home that feels both sheltered and entirely open to the tropics.

The main living level flows without barriers. Sliding glass walls fold back so the living room, dining area, and a dark-toned kitchen with a walnut island open directly onto the pool deck and a covered terrace beyond. Interiors are warm and restrained: timber-lined ceilings, polished concrete floors, leather and cane furniture, and natural textiles, with a long dining table for ten and a fully equipped kitchen at the heart of the home.

A floating upper volume, reached by an open timber stair, holds additional bedrooms and a mezzanine that overlooks the courtyard. Across both levels, the four bedrooms are positioned for privacy, several opening to private terraces and framing views of the jungle canopy and distant mountains. Outside, the terrace offers lounge and alfresco dining areas shaded by the deep roofline.

Villa Elu sits close to the beaches, surf breaks, and restaurants of the Playa Hermosa area, with Costa Rica's rainforest and wildlife within easy reach.