Casa Bell-Lloc by architecture office Studio Saxe is a concrete house featuring expansive coastal views and a swimming pool that reaches toward the sea.
Casa Bell-Lloc is located in Santa Teresa, a small town in Costa Rica's Puntarenas Province that is known for its pristine beaches and great surfing.
Casa Bell-Lloc has sea views
The full-time residence is tucked into a sloped site that overlooks the Pacific Ocean.
Casa Bell-Lloc was designed by architecture firm Studio Saxe, which is headquartered in San José and has satellite offices in Los Angeles and London. The team's goal was to create a durable, climate-responsive home that embraced its natural setting.
Roughly L-shaped in plan, the house consists of two levels that total 500 square metres. The lower portion is wedged into the hillside and is not visible when approaching from the road. The house blends with its hillside setting
"In order to adapt to the topographic conditions, we decided to 'push' the house into the ground, thus creating the illusion of a one-storey house from the street and only revealing its true size once inside," the architects said.
Exterior walls are made of concrete ? a material chosen for its sturdiness, along with its ability to keep the interior cool.

"The clients were clear from the beginning that they wanted most of the home to be built in concrete for longevity, less maintenance, and thermal mass during the hot months of the year," the studio said.
Certain areas ...