Two villas built from earth and clay emerge in Costa Rica’s wilderness

Two villas built from earth dug directly from their own site now stand on a steep Costa Rican slope near Uvita, about 300 meters above sea level. Their unusual construction is as striking as the ocean views that open up beyond their restrained entrances.

Each villa measures 90 square meters, and both have the same layout and minimalist form. Inside, however, large openings lead toward terraces and swimming pools overlooking the Pacific. The project occupies an 11,000-square-meter property.

The builders used rammed earth, a technique that compresses soil and clay into structural walls. All the exterior load-bearing walls came from clay-rich soil excavated during work on the site, avoiding the need to transport materials from elsewhere. The method dates back to antiquity and has gained attention in natural architecture for its environmental qualities.

Because local workers lacked experience with the technique, Brazilian specialist Daniel Mantovani trained them. The rammed-earth walls were combined with concrete, steel and glass. Frameless glazing and concealed structural elements kept the Pacific view unobstructed. The project was described as the first architectural development of its kind in Costa Rica.

Although the buildings stand only 12 meters apart, their interiors follow different ideas. Dagmar Štěpánová of Formafatal designed the first as the lighter, yin-inspired villa, using calm sand, sky and ocean tones. The darker villa reflects yang, tropical vegetation and the earth, with a red-teracotta floor echoing the color of the local soil. Custom concrete countertops, sinks and some furniture were chosen for the humid tropical climate.