Brian Neal – Costa Rica Sotheby’s International Realty
Costa Rica has never been afraid to buck convention. In 1948, the tiny Latin American country retired its military so it could put more money into health and education. It also reversed the destructive deforestation common across South and Central America in order to show the world that land doesn’t have to be agricultural to be productive.
Now, rather than going against the trends, Costa Rica is the trend. The country serves as a practical paragon of how a society can successfully embrace a green economy and embody the principles of sustainable development and design.
Costa Rica’s commitment to sustainable design doesn’t just extend to its industry and infrastructure. The country is also home to astonishingly beautiful and innovative architecture, including luxury residences that set a new standard for their ecologically sound ethics and aesthetics.
A Conflux of Flora and Fauna
Wijbrand Tuinstra – Costa Rica Sotheby’s International Realty
Built from natural and sustainable materials, boasting eco-friendly appliances, and fuelled by renewable energy, this modern villa in La Cruz encapsulates everything that makes Costa Rica such a premier environmental destination. That’s especially true when looking at its location.
Despite comprising just 0.03% of the earth’s surface, Costa Rica houses more than 6% of its biodiversity, and 3.5% of the ocean’s marine life shelters on its shores. So this home, poised perfectly between the jungle and the beach, is set amid a rich ecological sanctuary.
Protect the Pristine Biosphere
Wijbrand Tuinstra – Costa Rica Sotheby’s International Realty
With such a huge variety of animals and vegetation, the Oda Península Eco Lodge couldn’t be more suitably placed. The Saimiri Wildlife Refuge surrounds it on all sides and the Corcovado National Park is situated nearby. And as it’s part of the Golfo Dulce Forestry Reserve, no logging will happen here or on the adjacent properties.
This level of environmental preservation is now the norm in Costa Rica, as more than a quarter of the country’s land is conserved through a network of 28 national parks.
Nature Cultivates Collective Joy
Paula Zúñiga – Costa Rica Sotheby’s International Realty
It’s no wonder that Costa Rica is known for the quality of its resorts—just look at Casa Natura, situated on a gorgeous green golf course and sporting the longest saltwater pool in the Hacienda Pinilla resort.
In 1994, Costa Ricans were guaranteed the right to a healthy environment through the country’s constitution. After all, it’s a well-established fact that proximity to nature is great for physical and mental well-being—and this home is about as close to nature as it gets.
An Abundance of Clean Energy
Brian Neal – Costa Rica Sotheby’s International Realty
Costa Rica is showing the world that sustainability isn’t a compromise: modern convenience doesn’t have to come at the cost of the environment. Villa Esperanza demonstrates this exquisitely, sparing no expense in its luxurious details while still enabling eco-friendly living.
In Costa Rica, this is the rule rather than the exception, since approximately 99% of the nation’s energy is now generated from renewable sources including hydroelectric, geothermal, wind, and solar power.
Life’s Better Beneath the Trees
Costa Rica Sotheby’s International Realty
Not only does Costa Rica’s power grid not contribute to pollution or greenhouse gas emissions; the country’s dense forest canopy is simultaneously purifying the air and extracting carbon from the atmosphere. And Casa Pacifico is doing its part as well, with extensive grounds covered in lush trees and a bed of fertile soil on its roof.
Today, Costa Rica is 98% free of deforestation—a remarkable recovery given that its forest cover had fallen to 21% as recently as 1987. The country’s restoration of its natural biosphere has been purposeful and profound, and today more than half the land is home to thriving jungle.
Costa Rica is proving to the world that another type of lifestyle is not only possible, but readily attainable. It’s a lifestyle that’s conscientious and compassionate, yet no less comfortable. And even better, it’s a lifestyle that can endure happily for years, decades, and centuries to come.
Want to learn more about sustainable luxury? Look inside this LEED certified beachfront estate in Hawaii.
