Bali style is characterized by A-frame construction, an indoor-outdoor design, and the use of bamboo, thatch material, and tropical hardwoods for building materials. This style has made a fairly recent appearance in Costa Rica. To date, only private home construction projects and hotels have employed Bali style; developers of housing projects have shunned it, most

The market for art deco homes is somewhat akin to the market for old colonial buildings: These buildings are valued because they are rare; and the people who buy them aren’t afraid to take on the challenge of an extensive remodeling project. Art deco architecture (and traces of its cousin, art nouveau) appears in many

After modern colonial-style architecture, perhaps the most popular architectural style for foreign home buyers is tropical modern, and that is especially true among home buyers with hefty budgets. What distinguishes plain-vanilla modern architecture from tropical modern style is a matter for debate, but the difference between the two styles is perhaps mainly a question of

What about the original colonial homes that have served to inspire the present-day craze for modern colonial-style residences? They still exist in many cities and towns in the Central Valley (the Barrio Amón and Barrio Otoya sections of downtown San Jose have a number of beautiful old colonial homes), though many have fallen into disrepair,

This architectural style, the most popular in Costa Rica today, appeals to Costa Ricans and foreigners alike. It’s characterized by a terra-cotta roof, tiled floors (either of clay or ornately pattered), arched windows and door frames that are often very wide, and wrought iron door handles and other fixtures. A range of warm, burnt-clay hues

The casual visitor to San Jose will fail to observe a set of architectural features that might define a uniquely Costa Rican architecture. (Indeed, other than the handful of colonial-style buildings that linger from bygone days—and several modern architectural gems—there are in fact few buildings to arrest the attention of those who are interested in