Lot 57 - La Educación

This home was designed by an artist/designer and crafted with care and great attention to detail. Focused on respect for the local climate and the living experience with flexibility in mind in order to meet the multitude of human needs at various ages and stages of life. Built by the highest standards with the strongest materials, while also inviting in the hand-crafted in order to create an artful home where one can feel relaxed and at peace, with longevity, beauty, and functionality at its heart.

Large 3-panel sliding patio doors and a large fully-opening window in the kitchen create seamless indoor/outdoor living space and a pass-thru from kitchen to dining. The verandah runs the length of the house and offers an extra deep u-shaped built-in lounger w/outdoor-friendly Sunbrella washable cushions – this space is perfect for relaxing, entertaining, kid-friendly dining and a wall ready for projector movies. The Oak dining table seats 8 w/built-in cabinetry for extra dishware, arts and crafts or homeschooling supplies, etc., along with ample deck space for yoga/exercise/massage treatments, etc.

The house features white concrete and crushed marble floors, kitchen counter, island and flat-bottomed tub (perfect for young children and dog washing) in the shared bath. The 14ft (at peak) vaulted ceilings, beams, deck posts, and internal and front-entrance French-style doors and all walk-in and linen closets are made of Cedar. The kitchen, pantry, and dining cabinetry was crafted in Oak along with the floating shelves and bench in the entryway and a double-station desk set off the kitchen/living room. The kitchen was designed to be a serene and integrated part of the living space so features a separate pantry w/french door Samsung glass-paneled fridge, broom closet, oversized appliance storage, food cupboards, drawers, a wine and liquor cupboard, and a coffee station. A small-appliance cupboard w/internal electrical allows for clutter-free counter tops, pull out garbage/recycling/composting under the sink, a pot-filler over the stove, electric stovetop and oven, dishwasher, and open shelving for dishes.

The principle bedroom suite features double walk-in closets (each with an electrical outlet and easily converted to dry rooms), open shower/wet room concept, soaker tub, and wall to wall vanity with a natural-light sitting spot for face-care. The second bedroom has a window seat (size of an individual bed) with luggage/office/toy storage below and the third bedroom features a loft bed and a wall-to-wall sliding door. Both of the extra bedrooms were designed to function as either single or double children’s rooms, or guest rooms suitable for queen-sized beds, or offices. All bedrooms and bathrooms are screened. There are two large linen closets with an electrical outlet (one intended for linens, the second to house wifi and laundry accoutrements, etc), w/additional over-sized seasonal storage above, and adjacent indoor stackable washer/dryer-ready unit.

The separate office/art/pottery studio at the front of the home affords a little extra privacy with floating desk, cabinetry and over-sized paper drawers, a rustic white concrete and crushed marble counter with formed sink, floating shelf for drying/displaying art or pottery, and adjacent outdoor space on the verandah for a pottery wheel, easel, etc to create in natural daylight.

There is outdoor storage housing independent water shut-off valves and the hot-water heater w/additional locked garden/tool storage and potting counter. An herb and veggie garden runs the length of the deck so when you’re cooking supper at night you can simply walk to the deck and pick what you need without needing to venture out in to the garden at night. There is a dedicated garden hose for this and the delicate herbs are covered by the roof overhang and protected from stronger rainfall and receive the perfect amount of morning sun. There are two additional water valves on the other sides of the house so that garden water is easily accessible on all sides.

There are high-end ceiling fans in each bedroom and living room, many dimmable lights throughout, along with ample outlets on the deck, remote controlled patio lights for coming home at night, and is electrical-ready for a wall-mounted or console television in the living room.

. . . . .

Adjacent lot (#56 at 2700+m2 sold independently by owner Richard Brown) is also available for purchase. Lots 56 & 57 are the only two lots in this part of Alegria and are surrounded by protected green zones, a small river, and mountain side – this location in community is truly a private oasis. They total half a hectare together and #56 has a view and access from the ‘public’ road near the gate. Purchased together they would offer exclusivity in this unique cul-de-sac of Alegria. This would be an amazing opportunity for someone wanting to build additional casitas, for friends or family wanting to build near each other, as a hub for hosting retreats, private yoga or body-work sessions, cooking classes… and more.

A/C can be added but the home was designed to not need it – 2 central cross breezes through both centres of house, screened sliding door at head of principal bed, large windows for light and air but very little full sun, high ceilings, sufficient overhangs, high quality heat barrier under roof, nestled amongst greenery, a bit of elevation, cool concrete floors, large openings to outdoors, ceiling fans and screened windows in bedrooms, and screened bathrooms. Good water management, eco septic, water & debris management on mountainside.

High grade large metal gutters w/painted interiors for increased longevity, same grade metal in lieu of wood fascia for lowest maintenance and beam-rot prevention w/ single piece chains at front for easy debris removal. Highest grade metal roofing, extra reinforced concrete walls (above and below) for earthquake durability, moisture barrier below floor. Jose Ernesto of JEB Architects was overseeing engineer.

Doorways and hallways meet minimum code, barrier-free principle shower, toilets located at walls for easy bar installation, single level home, smooth surface floor, sunken sliding door rails, roll-under vanities.

In the garden:

Fruiting guayaba trees

Bananas

Plantains

Baby pejibaya

Herb garden: mint, basil, celery, medicinal mint, chili peppers, sage, rosemary, thyme, oregano, dill