Search

Families Renew Their Connections to Nature at the Al Suave House

08.08.24 | By
Families Renew Their Connections to Nature at the Al Suave House

Unfolding along the Pacific Ocean, the five bedroom villa is as much a boon to El Salvador’s tourism industry as it is the idea of spending quality time with your next of kin. The Al Suave House in Playa El Zonte can only be booked for a minimum of seven nights, which means that any large family or groups of friends that stay here are compelled to truly spend quality time together. Working out their problems, reestablishing bonds, and of course, enjoying some much-needed rest and relaxation is aided by the fact that this carefully planned indoor/outdoor home sits right along El Salvador’s mostly undiscovered and unadulterated Pacific coastline; one revered by those in the know for its particularly good surfing conditions. Activities abound within and outside this expansive beach villa.

The Al Suave House is a modern wooden building with large windows, surrounded by palm trees and a narrow water feature.

Designed by José Roberto Paredes, founder of El Salvadorian and Spanish architectural firm Cincopatasalgato, and Paula Cabrera Gil of Pepe Cabrera Homes, the house cuts a unique figure as it makes the most of its tightly hemmed-in site. Massing along the property’s perimeter, a meandering river-like pool splits the structure in half as it heads out toward the ocean.

Modern outdoor space at Al Suave House with wooden buildings, a winding stone-lined water feature, and palm trees, overlooking a person near the ocean at sunset.

A modern outdoor walkway framed by tall wooden structures and trees, leading to an open area with a view of the ocean in the distance, reminiscent of the serene ambiance at Casa Al Suave.

A person carrying a surfboard walks past Casa Al Suave, a modern wooden house with large windows, a curved pool, and a palm tree visible in the background during sunset.

A person stands on a wooden bridge over a narrow pool, facing the ocean, with Al Suave House and palm trees in the background.

Lofted volumes look inwards toward this central feature. In true tropical architecture fashion, this programmatic strategy allows natural breezes to filter through unobstructed, eliminating the need for especially energy-inefficient and environmentally harmful air conditioning.

The Casa Al Suave outdoor seating area features wooden furniture and glass doors near a pool, surrounded by trees and a sunlit patio. Its modern, open design allows natural light to filter through sheer curtains.

A modern, open-plan living space at Al Suave House features a kitchen with bar stools, a dining area with a long table, and a seating area. Large windows provide abundant natural light and views of the ocean.

A modern room with a spiral staircase, bean bag chairs, and glass doors leading outside. The space is well-lit and airy with a contemporary design featuring a netted ceiling above, embodying the essence of Casa Al Suave.

The overall design – defined by gently sloped roofs and undulating open latticed fin facades – evokes the surrounding nature. For this site-responsive motif, rendered in raw untreated wood, Paredes and his team drew inspiration from the fenced pathways that lead to the beach. Though boldly geometric in plan, the home’s massing organically nestles into its surroundings from an elevation standpoint. Its outer structural shells, almost all glass, anchor enclosed inserts, which contain the sprawling interiors.

Modern kitchen and dining area at Al Suave House featuring a light wood dining table, wicker chairs, pendant lights, white countertops, stainless steel appliances, and large windows offering ample natural light.

A bedroom at Casa Al Suave features a large window offering a view of the ocean, palm trees, and rocky shore. The room includes a bed with white linens, a light blue headboard, and a woven pendant light.

Ground level operable walls completely open up, forming a seamless connection from indoor entertainment, kitchen, and dining areas to outdoor patios, rock gardens, and of course, the crashing ocean waves in the near distance.

“We really took our time to speak with the client’s family, including the children, to truly grasp what was important to them,” says Paredes. “The result of this highly personal approach to design is a unique dwelling that resonates with the spirit of Playa El Zonte. It’s a tropical haven where the essence of community, family, and exploration thrives.” The property is shared by the homeowners and vacationers at different times of the year.

A modern bathroom in Casa Al Suave features a terracotta basin, wooden countertops, a large mirror, a hanging woven light fixture, and a small collection of toiletries with folded towels on the stone-tiled floor.

Modern bathroom at Casa Al Suave features a wooden ceiling, glass shower, wall-hung sink, toilet, and sleek wooden cabinets. A glass door is open, inviting natural light in. A white robe hangs gracefully on a wooden rack.

Dynamically divided into an elongated pavilion with five en suite bedrooms – sleeping a total of 12 – on one side and another pavilion with double-height common areas, the home also incorporates a media room, children’s pavilion, and outdoor showers. “Al Suave House, or Casa Al Suave is a particularly chill home that allows its guests to wake up every morning to the sound of the waves and views of the sea from every corner of the house,” Cabrera Gil says.

A modern outdoor patio area at Al Suave House, featuring a narrow water channel surrounded by wooden structures and greenery, with glass doors opening to stylish interiors at dusk.

Two modern wooden villas, known as Al Suave House, with large glass windows flank a central outdoor pool surrounded by lush greenery and lounge chairs under a twilight sky.

A person stands near the edge of a rocky beach at sunset, with a surfboard resting beside them and a thatched structure from Casa Al Suave in the foreground. Waves are approaching the shore.

What: Al Suave House
Where: Playa El Zonte, El Salvador
How much: Starting at $2,000 per night with a 7 night minimum
Design draw: Offering rest and relaxation with a carefully planned indoor/outdoor design, Al Suave House features a meandering river-like pool that splits the structure in half as it heads out toward the ocean. Gently sloped roofs and undulating open latticed fin facades give nod to surrounding nature. Though boldly geometric in plan, the home’s massing organically nestles into its surroundings with outer structural shells, almost all glass, which contain the sprawling interiors.
Book it: Al Suave House

Go virtually on vacation with more design destinations right here.

Photography by Topofilia Studio.

Adrian Madlener is a Brussels-born, New York-based writer specializing in collectible and sustainable design. With a particular focus on topics that exemplify the best in craft-led experimentation, he's committed to supporting talents that push the envelope in various disciplines.