BEACHBEACHBEACH: CASA OHANA, PLAYA NEGRA, COSTA RICA

Designed by Los Angeles architect Tony Unruh, Casa Ohana seems to grow out of the volcanic bluff upon which it sits. Its soaring curved walls are at once wave and shell, while its clean lines and high ceilings speak of open space and unexplored horizons.

The entry opens to a lanai area, featuring fantastic views, teak rockers and chaises, hammocks, and built-in lounges which wrap the curved southern wall. The lanai looks out onto a 40-foot lap pool to the beckoning Pacific Ocean beyond. Waves crashing over rocks and lava reefs define the amazing view.

From the entry, stairs lead up to the spacious living/dining room with 10-foot ceilings and expansive views of the ocean and southern coast. All the ocean-facing rooms on the main level have handmade 8-foot sliding-glass doors and huge window walls leading to outside decks. All wood used in Casa Ohana – joists, ceilings, stair treads, counters, windows, doors and screens – comes from hardwood trees harvested and milled locally, and built by skilled craftsmen in a wood shop right on the property. Rocking chairs and an outdoor dining table on the balcony provide comfortable spaces to enjoy a book or dine al fresca while watching the sunset. The kitchen boasts hand-crafted cedar cabinets with marble and hardwood countertops and top-of-the-line GE appliances. The kitchen also offers a full-spectrum view of the ocean.