GUANACASTE, COSTA RICA, June 21, 2023 — At the end of 2022, the car-less seaside town of Las Catalinas in the northwestern province of Costa Rica completed its Beach Town neighborhood after 16 years of planning and construction. Last year The Congress for New Urbanism celebrated Beach Town with a Charter Award recognizing the town for achieving “more equitable, sustainable, connected, healthy, and prosperous communities.” With friendly neighborhoods, walkable streets and plazas, and timeless architecture, Beach Town spreads over 21 acres combining leisure and urban living with an emphasis on the natural surroundings. The philosophy of connecting people to one another and to nature extends to the town’s next phase currently underway – the neighborhood of El Prado located adjacent to Beach Town on the east side of Camino Las Catalinas. It is with great excitement and enthusiasm that Las Catalinas has begun construction in early June 2023 on the first single-family home in El Prado.
Las Catalinas was founded on the premise of innovating a better way of living by connecting people to one another and to nature. It was a natural progression that this car-free, seaside town would evolve into such a place where families and groups could gather, creating and sharing experiences over things, appreciating others in a landscape influenced by the natural surroundings – a place that would appeal to all types of people searching to reconnect in the open air. It is not surprising that people who have been going to Las Catalinas as visitors and travelers over the years have become homeowners after visiting and experiencing the sociability and lifestyle afforded by living in a town that is walkable, car-free, surrounded by trails and walkways with a design emphasis that encourages interactions. After a decade of visiting Las Catalinas, the Bradshaw family experienced a way of life where it is easy to connect to others and nature and now, they are the first homeowners to break ground in El Prado in Las Catalinas.
Slated for completion in January/February 2024, 33 Paseo del Parque is a beautiful three-bedroom residence with a welcoming patio designed by Castillo Arquitectos. Capturing the essence of simple elegance against the picturesque backdrop of Paseo del Parque, the approximately 1500 square foot home features an open plan on the first floor with access to a rear patio and plunge pool. The second floor features three bedrooms and a terrace overlooking the park. The design and construction team includes Las Catalinas DCL in project administration, Eduardo Castillo with Castillo Arquitectos, and Alfa Co. as the general contractor.
“Our goal was to blend the sophisticated charm of urban townhouses from the Southeastern United States, such as those found in cities like Savannah, Charleston, or New Orleans, with the relaxed and vibrant simplicity of Costa Rican vernacular architecture,” stated Eduardo Castillo, Founder of Castillo Arquitectos, an architecture and urban planning design firm located in Guatemala City, Guatemala. With over 16 years’ experience in urban and architectural design locally and internationally, Castillo founded Castillo Arquitectos in 2004 and the firm has become a pioneer in the implementing principles of New Urbanism and Smart Growth in Central America.
Based in Houston, Texas, the Bradshaw family has been coming down to Las Catalinas for ten years. The inspiration for the design of their home stemmed from walking through town in Las Catalinas during their many visits and appreciating the lifestyle that the town offers. After a decade of vacationing in Las Catalinas, the Bradshaw family’s dream of owning a home in this seaside town is now a reality.
“Every time we visited Las Catalinas, we walked around and admired the beautiful homes with their unique architecture,” said Heather Bradshaw. “We were enchanted by the cobblestone streets, intimate little passageways, and the individuality of each home. Each home has its own unique style and character. We frequently walked around at night after dinner – it became our romantic, hand-holding stroll and we would dream about having a home in Las Catalinas. And look at us now, our dream came true.”
In the initial consultations with Castillo Arquitectos, the Bradshaws wanted the look of a Mediterranean or New Orleans garden home with a porch. “Having a porch is important to us. We are land-locked in Houston, so when we come to Costa Rica we want to be out in nature as much as possible,” furthered Heather. “A porch is where we will have our morning coffee, afternoon happy hours with friends, and watch phenomenal Costa Rica sunsets.”
Utilizing the town’s design philosophy of putting people together with nature as much as possible, the Bradshaws wanted an open space where they can entertain, cook, and open the French doors to the outside patio which is complete with a plunge pool. They also plan to incorporate local Costa Rican materials and decor as well.
“Our goal with this house is for it to be warm and welcoming, but also beautiful and elegant, and unique. We want people to walk by and enjoy our house like we did all those times we walked around Beach Town when we vacationed at Las Catalinas. In other words, beautiful to see from the outside while invoking a happy feeling on the inside. We envision our days to be spent relaxing, having friends visit, and making memories with the family. Our vision for our home is one that will draw our family near, lifetime lasting bonds and connections, especially when we are all scattered geographically.”
Spanning 60 acres, El Prado will feature residences, mixed use buildings, parks, and neighborhoods surrounded by 40 kilometers of hiking and mountain biking tails. Complete with a grand Parque Central with playing fields, tennis courts, a covered basketball/multisport court, neighborhood pool, charming pedestrian side streets, beautiful facades, world class amenities, offices and businesses, balconies and porches, dramatic hillside views, and a series of spectacular pedestrian stair streets with fantastic views in the upper areas reminiscent of coastal Mediterranean, El Prado will provide a great variety of living options including flats and townhouses, houses along stair streets, and a number of lots for larger houses. Many of the residences will have panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. Single family lots starting at $185,000USD and residences starting at $385,000USD are available in El Prado with a variety of sizes and ocean views. For more information, contact the Residential Sales Team at Las Catalinas at sales@lascatalinascr.com.
