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Two Levitating, Rammed Earth Villas in a Costa Rican Jungle

02.20.23 | By
Two Levitating, Rammed Earth Villas in a Costa Rican Jungle

Dagmar Štěpánová of Formafatal recently completed the first rammed earth structures in Costa Rica that can be yours to rent for your next vacation. Achioté is a pair of minimalist villas in Playa Hermosa that look as if they’re levitating above an overgrown cliff by the Pacific Ocean. The homes are situated in a jungle-like environment with lush greenery all around for ultimate privacy. Throughout the design and building process, Formafatal paid careful attention to sustainability and protecting the wild locale.

Greenery covered hillside with two villas built into the side of the mountain

Each villa’s design is based on the energies felt in their locations by Štěpánová before construction even began. The vibrations led to two opposing designs – the Jaspis Villa (jaspis = jasper, bright villa) reflecting a yin energy connected to the sky and ocean with shades of sand being the standout color, while the Nefrit Villa (nefrit = jade, dark villa) reflects the yang energy with connection to the ground and the surrounding jungle and featuring a red-terracotta color.

Greenery covered hillside with two villas built into the side of the mountain

Greenery covered hillside with two villas built into the side of the mountain

Cantilevered roofs extend out like the floors to provide protection from the sun and weather conditions.

Lush greenery covered cliff over water with two villas built at the top

Side of cliffside villa with green plants in front

All of the outer walls are built using the clay soil they excavated during the construction process, thereby reducing materials that needed to be imported in for the build. New tropical plants were added once the villas were complete.

interior view of rammed earth wall with simple shelves holding dishes

The layers of the rammed earth walls stand out, adding texture while telling the home’s story one layer at a time.

interior view of rammed earth wall with simple shelves holding dishes

The 90-square-meter (approx. 969 square feet) villas are identical in size, layout, and orientation, while each structure utilizes its own choice of materials and color scheme.

view of modern bedroom with bed surrounded by sliding curtains

The center of each design is the bed, which can be sectioned off with sliding curtains for privacy and mosquito protection. The endless views can be enjoyed from the bed through the frameless glass walls. There’s another bed on the terrace if one wanted to relax in nature.

side view of modern bedroom looking out through floor to ceiling windows to green hillside

side view of modern bedroom looking out through floor to ceiling windows to green hillside

side view of modern villa looking out over green hillside

Just off to the side of the villas are built-in pools which will make you feel like you’re swimming right in the jungle.

side view of modern villa with built-in pool looking out over hillside and ocean

side view of modern tropical villa with small built-in pool

To make the rammed earth walls happen, Formafatal enlisted Brazilian specialist, Daniel Mantovani of Terra Compacta, to help train local craftsmen to complete the work.

side view of modern bedroom with views looking out floor to ceiling windows to tropical plants

outdoor patio dining area with tropical plants behind

modern interior looking into bathroom

Behind the beds, the kitchens and bathrooms live with no doors separating the spaces.

view of modern bathroom in tropical villa

The bathroom sinks, shelves, kitchen counters, and beside tables are all custom made from concrete.

view of modern bathroom in tropical villa

elevated view looking into cantilevered modern villa surrounded by tropical plants

The Nefrit Villa features a much darker and moodier color palette, despite the villas being identical.

cantilevered modern villa surrounded by tropical plants

cantilevered modern villa surrounded by tropical plants

side view of bed on veranda of modern villa in tropical locale

angled side view of modern villa with red floors looking out to tropical landscape

modern interior with rammed earth walls and dark kitchen shelves

view in modern bedroom with sliding curtains surrounding bed

modern villa with red floors looking out to tropical landscape

modern villa with red floors looking out to tropical landscape

side view of modern bedroom looking out to tropical landscape

patio dining set on red patio with tropical plants surrounding

modern villa with red floors looking out to tropical landscape

modern interior view looking into bathroom

modern bathroom interior with built in sink made of concrete

modern bathroom interior with tropical greenery outside

Woman standing holding a long palm leaf

Dagmar Štěpánová of Formafatal \\\ Photo: Eva Wong

To book the villas, visit achioteproject.com.

Photos by BoysPlayNice.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.