Congratulations to SARCO Architects for their third consecutive win! In 2023, they earned the prestigious titles of Best Luxury Architect Studio in Costa Rica and Best Luxury Villa Architecture for Paraiso 354 in Costa Rica, both courtesy of the Luxury Lifestyle Awards.  

The architectural firm, spearheaded by the visionary Roderick Anderson, is celebrated for its exceptional contributions to opulent architecture. 

In a recent conversation, we had the pleasure of delving into Roderick’s award-winning masterpiece, the Paraiso 354 Residence, and exploring his distinctive approach to luxury architectural design. 

Luxury Lifestyle Awards: Congratulations on winning the 2023 Luxury Lifestyle Award for Best Luxury Architect Studio in Costa Rica and Best Luxury Villa Architecture for Paraiso 354 in Costa Rica. What do these accolades mean to you and your team? 

Roderick Anderson: This is a great honour for us not only to win once again for one of our great luxury residence projects but more importantly, to win a second time the award for Best Luxury Architecture Studio for Costa Rica.  As winners of now well over a dozen international design awards it is great to see that multiple entities all recognize our talent, effort, and attention to detail in our projects.  It gives us great pleasure not just to win these awards, but also to give our clients added value to their properties by having them be winners of different international design awards. 

LLA: Winning two Luxury Lifestyle Awards in 2023 is a significant achievement. How do you plan to leverage this recognition to further enhance your studio’s reputation and expand your presence in the luxury architectural market? 

R.A: We clearly focus on working on a specific market of high-end luxury homes for international clients.  Not only is this our preferred type of project, but it is where we are most successful and where all of our systems and our integrated design approach gives the best results.  Being winners of two Luxury Lifestyle Awards in 2023 (and also being previous winners and part of the Top 100 Architects and Designers in 2022) all add to our international recognition for our talent and quality of our work.  These are essential elements for our brand and are elements that we believe our clients look out for when selecting an architecture firm for their projects. 

LLA: The Paraiso 354 Residence boasts breathtaking views of the ocean and an untouched valley. Can you elaborate on the design considerations that allowed you to maximize these stunning natural vistas and create a unique living experience? 

R.A: The integration of the views is always front and center at the core of the design considerations for our projects.  In Costa Rica, we are privileged with stunning natural scenery in many of our locations. We clearly understand that the visual enjoyment of our amazing landscape and ocean views are some of the main reasons why our clients decide to purchase property in Costa Rica.  Then it is our job to create designs that not only make the most of those views but actually elevate them and make them even more stunning.  This is a core of not only where we place certain elements of our design, but how to design those specific spaces not only to blur the lines of indoor and outdoor areas but to create homes that become truly special. We focus on making those beautiful natural pictures even more stunning by proper framing, orienting, and even selecting materials. We always want to create the needed transparency to the views or to create the image of reflecting the stunning sunsets on the pool water. 

LLA: Sustainability and eco-friendliness have become increasingly important in the luxury architectural world. How does SARCO Architects incorporate sustainable elements into its designs while maintaining a high level of luxury? 

R.A: This is a very tricky balance that we are always managing on our projects.  Our clients will always want the best of the best, but at the same time, they are growing ever more conscious about being friendly to the environment.  We focus on designing homes that not only use environmentally-friendly materials, with a preference for locally sourced materials where possible.  Additionally, energy efficiency is a core element of our luxury homes. One of the main strategies that we like to implement is to design as many areas of the home as outdoor, open-air covered spaces. We like to create all possible circulation areas, staircases, etc., as open-air spaces which greatly reduces the energy needs of our homes. Again, this is tricky since our clients typically do not want their home to feel as some term “barefoot luxury”, which they feel ends up reducing the luxury and quality feel of their homes. 

LLA: Your studio has a strong focus on creating custom-tailored luxury homes for clients. Can you share some insights into the collaborative process you undertake with clients to ensure their unique visions are realized? 

R.A: Initially there are a lot of conversations in order to try to get to know our clients as well as we possibly can.  Even though it is clear that our luxury homes have a common design line, we don’t really have a fixed design style.  And this is because we like to listen to our clients, understand most importantly how they want their home to FEEL, and how they want to FEEL by spending time in their new home in paradise.  Then it is our job to interpret the personality and the desires of our clients and turn those into spectacular designs for them to enjoy and to spend invaluable time with family and friends and create memories for years to come. 

LLA: Costa Rica is known for its stunning natural landscapes. How does the country’s environment and culture influence your architectural designs, especially in projects like Paraiso 354? 

R.A: First and foremost, transparency and allowing all of the most important spaces of a home to enjoy stunning views is an essential element of our designs.  However, this comes with also an understanding of our weather conditions and the issues such as heat if certain areas are left too exposed.  Even though everyone loves ocean views directed west to enjoy the sunsets, this comes with the need for extensive overhangs to make the areas liveable.  In Paraiso 354 we recognized we had an opportunity to make the most of a beautiful north-facing inner bay and inner valley views, and decided to place all bedrooms oriented towards this view.  This way, the owners can enjoy this different and majestic natural beauty while enjoying the cooler temperatures in the rooms and their outdoor areas, along with the significant increase in energy efficiency by having those areas face north. 

LLA: The luxury market is constantly evolving. What trends do you see emerging in luxury architectural design, and how do SARCO Architects stay ahead of the curve? 

R.A: We see our clients becoming more and more cognizant about the environment and understanding that their project has an environmental impact. How to design a luxury home that looks and FEELS the part, that allows our clients to truly enjoy spending more and more time in their homes, but that at the same time reduces the impact on the environment and lowers the energy needs is one of the main keys.  Careful selection of new material choices that can still look and feel luxurious, but that does not carry a huge environmental impact in their extraction or production is ever more important.  Also, the integration of local or indigenous materials such as volcanic natural stone and tropical woods, with proper vetting of their sustainable plantation practices is also a big key.  We have to always stay informed on the market trends and apply and interpret to our local conditions so that our designs always feel unique and feel like they belong to their location. 

LLA: The Luxury Lifestyle Awards are a testament to the exceptional quality of your work. Can you tell us about the dedicated team and professionals who contribute to the realization of your architectural visions? 

R.A: We are actually a small office and we prefer to stay small so that we can always provide a very personal and bespoke service to our high-end clientele.  We prefer to work on a reduced number of projects per year, but maintain a high level of attention to detail, and where I can personally still remain involved in the design, detailing, and construction of our projects.  Our team is made up of two senior architects, two project architects, an interior designer, and two BIM modelling technicians who are up-and-coming young architects, and myself as the CEO and Design Director, where I am personally involved in the design phases, coordination and resolution with engineering teams, and in the project execution and construction oversight.  That, in addition to the site engineers and assistants in charge of the day-to-day operation of the projects under construction.  Interestingly, in our team, we have a majority of members of the team who are women, which is a bit outside the norm in a very male-dominated industry. 

LLA: Looking ahead, what exciting projects does SARCO Architects have in the pipeline, and what can we expect from the studio in upcoming years? 

R.A:  Right now, we are finalizing details on a tremendous new project called Villa Cantera.  It is our latest project in the Peninsula Papagayo Luxury Resort in Guanacaste.  You will be seeing some images and information on Villa Cantera pretty soon, as this will be a truly stunning home.  Also, we have other interesting projects down the pipeline, including one very ambitious luxury residential development where SARCO Architects will be the sole designing firm for the entire project. 

Thank you for sharing your insights and congratulations once again on your well-deserved recognition. To view SARCO’s work, visit their website: https://www.sarcoarchitects.com/