Construction — Las Catalinas

The Best View in Las Catalinas

March 29, 2012 By Charles Brewer Leave a Comment

Our latest house under construction, 24 Calle la Ronda, features what may be the best views yet in Las Catalinas. Not only is there a beautiful ocean view, but there is a wonderful foreground of architecture and Plaza Escondida as well. 24 Calle la Ronda has already been purchased, but neighboring houses with similar cool views are still available. Up until now it has been hard for most people to imagine how the views work for houses that are not front and center on the beachfront. 24 Calle la Ronda is changing that!

As Las Catalinas matures the views of our urban places will become more famous and treasured than the views of the landscape – or what I should really say is that the two of them will work together to provide an impact that is uniquely stunning.

Below are a few shots from the under-construction 24 Calle la Ronda, along with one shot from the Sketchup computer model that we developed in the planning phase. The model is pretty accurate, but the reality is way more impressive…

Filed Under: Construction, Living in Las Catalinas, Planning Tagged With: costa rica, Guanacaste, houses, las catalinas, view

Building and Construction Photos, June 17 and 18

June 22, 2011 By Charles Brewer 3 Comments

Here are some more photos from the weekend, these focusing on the buildings and construction rather than the people. As of now there are three houses finished (OK, finished enough to sleep in, still some final items being worked on), plus Lola’s and Pura Vida Ride. All are unique, all have different features, design choices, and materials. But there is a common thread. The same can be said of our precedent places – unique buildings and interesting variation within a range.

The range of variation you see expressed in the buildings so far is quite a bit less than is allowed in our architectural guidelines in some ways. For example regarding roofs our guidelines would allow barrel tile roofs, flat tile roofs, corrugated metal roofs, and standing seam metal roofs. But as it turns our all the home owners so far have opted for the barrel tile over a fiber-cement sub-roof – because in our area with our climate, salt air, and available materials that appears to be the most practical, longest lasting, best looking alternative. So it isn’t forced uniformity – but it isn’t forced diversity either. In a typical old Europe hill town there is a remarkable similarity in roofs – I suspect for similar reasons. I like it.

Filed Under: Architecture, Construction Tagged With: architecture, costa rica, Guanacaste, houses, las catalinas

Las Catalinas Photos from May, 2011

May 20, 2011 By Charles Brewer 3 Comments

Here are some construction photos from last week, plus just a few others I couldn’t help including. Two houses are essentially finished, and three more very close. It is all very exciting for those of us involved. I hope you enjoy the pictures!

The second week of May is usually when then first rain arrives at Las Catalinas, and it is a welcome event for man and beast as the transformation of the landscape from its arid condition after the long dry season to a brilliant green is shockingly rapid. During my visit it almost did rain, but not quite. We had some great lightning shows in the distance, and some dark clouds nearby, but it never quite managed to rain. I was hoping to see it…

- Charles

Filed Under: Construction, News Tagged With: costa rica, Guanacaste, las catalinas

The Home Stretch

April 1, 2011 By Charles Brewer 2 Comments

The landscaping is going in. Colors are going on walls. Appliances are being installed. We started the vertical construction at Las Catalinas last March, and for our first batch of houses and public spaces we are now approaching the finish line. Not wanting to hog all the fun, I’m posting three things here today:

a very amateur home video taken and narrated by yours truly touring around and through the buildings of Las Catalinas
a batch of photos I took this morning and yesterday evening.
a slideshow movie I put together using those photos, and some music (Ottmar Leibert. Is that OK to use, what with copyright and all?)

It really is awfully exciting to see it coming together so well. I hope you enjoy!

Filed Under: Construction Tagged With: construction, costa rica, Guanacaste, las catalinas

Recent Construction Photos

February 17, 2011 By Charles Brewer 3 Comments

Here are a few nice images of how the initial houses at Las Catalinas are coming along. Most of the houses are getting ready for final finishes. The installation of the hardscape for the public areas is about halfway done. We are in the home stretch!!

Photo credit to Steve Beshara!

Filed Under: Construction, Uncategorized

Construction Photos and Beachfront Park

October 26, 2010 By Charles Brewer 10 Comments

Construction continues to go well on the first seven houses and Lola’s del Norte. Also our beachfront park is really coming along. Here are some pictures from today.

- Charles

View over 19 Paseo del Mar

View from Lola's del Norte across beachfront park.

Construction action along Paseo del Mar.

Filed Under: Construction, Living in Las Catalinas, Uncategorized Tagged With: costa rica, las catalinas, Lola's

Construction Progress

September 8, 2010 By Charles Brewer 2 Comments

It occurs to me that I have been negligent in not posting construction progress photos here frequently enough. Construction has been going exceptionally well – on time and on budget. Our team is performing very well and we are very proud of them! I embarrassingly returned from my recent trip with no construction photos at all. Mike Last took the best ones, so I’m borrowing one of his. First on the left, is one from February 22nd of this year, and on the right is one taken from almost the same spot by Mike Last a couple of weeks ago. Notice anything different?

Filed Under: Construction Tagged With: construction, costa rica, Guanacaste, las catalinas

Playa Danta Beachfront Park

September 1, 2010 By Charles Brewer Leave a Comment

Early work on Playa Danta beachfront park.

We have begun working on the beachfront park at Playa Danta. This is a public area, located between our seaside promenade street – Paseo del Mar – and the beach itself. In general the plan is to create a series of sandy-floored outdoor rooms connected by sandy paths. It is mainly a shady place, using the trees that were already there and adding some new ones. There will be a volleyball court, children’s play areas, and lots of places to just relax and enjoy a great day on the beach. We are doing some gentle terracing like you see here to make the rooms more level and usable, and to inhibit erosion.

This is going to be so awesome! That’s Don Van Akkeren of Lola’s fame in the picture. He is helping us with the planning and landscaping.

Filed Under: Construction, Recreation Tagged With: beach, costa rica, las catalinas, park

Video from Construction Site

June 10, 2010 By Charles Brewer 2 Comments

Here is a little video courtesy of Jim Berry. It is taken from the second floor of my house, as of around June 1, looking around at the other houses and the sea view. Looking good!

Movie from second floor of Brewer house, June 1

Filed Under: Construction

Contruction Going Well and Rapidly

May 12, 2010 By Charles Brewer Leave a Comment

Construction on our first group of houses is moving along very well. After all the time we’ve spent buying the last, mapping, planning, permitting – it is a bit shocking how rapidly things are moving now! And it is very, very exciting. Come and see! Here is a shot of me standing on Lot 8, looking back towards houses 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4, which are now well underway. Photo credit: Glen Rollins.