The Coco

Seed Pods Take Root as Unique Jungle Habitations

Four egg-like habitations in the jungle make up the unique Coco cluster, created as fertile ground for adventurous spirits to live in carefree celebration of freedom and imagination, within the luscious organic embrace of vibrant nature. Breaking all architectural conventions, the private, protective “seed” shelters offer a more luxurious, if decidedly playful, take on glamping, combining cushion-dotted, skybridge-style wooden walkways and decks, lounge-if-you-dare resting nets, trampoline landings, and intimate, well-appointed bedroom and living pods suspended above the treetops.

Owner Filip Zak has had a thing for treehouses since childhood and knew he wanted something never seen before, something truly original, as the next development within the striking architectural enclave in the Costa Rican coastal rainforest he and his wife call home. Zak threw down the design gauntlet to Czech architectural team, Archwerk, a firm specializing in wood construction. The result is Coco, an organically-inspired, exuberant cluster of open-air, architectural seed pods created for raw, unbridled jungle living.

Wildly imaginative and decidedly playful, the series of cabin rentals in Costa Rica features five cone-shaped structures made of bent wood and opaque white screens, connected via a playful maze of rambling wood decks and suspended staircases, all seemingly afloat above the fertile tree canopy. The pods contain four conical, open-air bedroom/bath suites, each split horizontally by a saucer-like wooden deck that adds open-air living space on platforms with serious treehouse vibes. A playful zigzag of staircases and suspended pathways connects the pods, and there’s a landing fitted with a trampoline and adjacent waterslide for letting your inner child run wild. There are common areas, including a restaurant with seating and a bar (in the fifth pod), plus an extensive deck.

The pods’ interiors were designed by Formafatal, who kept décor to a minimum, and the styling focused first on function, without scrimping on playful form. The most dominant design feature is the scarlet wall that serves as the backdrop for the dining pod. Behind it, two refrigerators and freezers are hidden along with cabinets for additional food storage. Beyond the red wall, the cluster’s remaining color palette tends toward a turquoise and pastel pairing that feels a little bit Miami Beach, but also mimics the muted greens, blues and pinks found in the rainforest flora. All seed pods are open to the elements, although they have operable rain shutters to protect the interiors from water and wind during the rainy season.

AROUND

Inspired by the laws of the jungle, these cabin rentals in Costa Rica pods occupy a privileged perch elevated 300 meters above the Pacific Ocean, within an ambient rainforest inland from Costa Rica’s South Pacific Coast at the aptly named Playa Hermosa, or beautiful beach. The coastal area is set within the Marino Ballena National Park, created as a safe space for humpback whale migration, covering more than 13,000 acres of ocean and over nine miles of coastline. 

Comprised of mangrove forests, deserted beaches, and thriving coral reefs, local beaches are mostly wide stretches of golden sand backed by rocky coves. Snorkeling is a popular sport, with over a dozen species such as stony and cauliflower coral thriving in the waters. Sea turtle sightings are also frequent. The villa’s privileged positions on high offer seven months of whale watching, with exceptional views out to the Whale Tail, a sand and rock formation on the coast. 

The surf town of Dominical is located nearby, and abundant natural beauty is the area’s main draw. The nearest services are located in colorful Uvita, a sweet beach community with grocery stores, a health center, and banks. Immediately surrounding the villa, the tropical forest teems with jungle life such as macaws, giant red iguanas, and spider monkeys, as well as vivid tropical bird life including parrots and toucans. 

On-site offerings for guests at The Coco include yoga and fitness courses and private trainings, a Mayan sauna and massage services, children’s playroom and waterslide, private chef services, and the possibility to book the location for private events, such as lectures, weddings, and retreats. And don’t forget the onsite trampoline and water slide!

LOCATION

Playa Hermosa Dominical, Osa, Costa Rica. Nearest airport: San Jose.

BEST TIME TO VISIT: Best weather is from November to April.