SUCCESS

Costa Rica is increasingly becoming a sought-after destination for building luxury dream homes, attracting discerning individuals seeking modern, luxurious residences in a pristine tropical setting. Here, we delve into the visionary behind SARCO Architects Costa Rica in an exclusive interview with Roderick Anderson, CEO and Design Director. With a rich family legacy spanning over five decades, Roderick continues to upscale luxury residential architecture in this vibrant Central American nation. Consistently honored by Luxury Lifestyle Awards as Best Luxury Residential Architect Studio in Costa Rica, SARCO Architects exemplifies innovation and excellence in crafting bespoke modern homes. Join us as we explore SARCO’s recent award-winning project, Villa Avellana, and unveil insights into creating dream homes in Costa Rica for international clients.

Luxury Lifestyle Awards(LLA): Hi Roderick, it has become a tradition for us to speak with you annually and delve into SARCO Architects’ award-winning projects. To what do you attribute the consistent success of your company and projects year after year?

Roderick Anderson(RA): I believe this is because, at our core, we are an architectural firm with a clear client-centric approach. We deeply care about each of our clients and the projects that we design for them. We like to get to know our clients, and understand the elements that are important for them, what they truly value, and then design in a way that responds to them. We really dedicate the time, effort, and thought to these projects and how to bring our signature integrated design approach, bringing the architecture, interiors, and lighting details all as a single design process.

LLA: Villa Avellana has been recognised numerous times by prestigious awards, including LLA. Can you describe the inspiration behind Villa Avellana and what sets it apart as one of SARCO Architects’ most outstanding projects?

RA: Villa Avellana was a truly unique project and one that we fully embraced from the beginning. Our client was a frequent visitor to Costa Rica and would constantly rent a very expensive villa in the resort, and decided it was time to own a villa of his own. At the same time, he had a vision of making this villa the absolute best from a service and experience level for the guests. So we had an opportunity to design something that at its core is a home, but when you take a wider look it’s much more than a home.  Villa Avellana is a project that is designed to feel like an amazing residence, but one that addresses the best creature comforts for large groups.  An ultimate-experience villa.

LLA: How did the unique natural setting of Villa Avellana influence the architectural design and overall experience for guests?

RA: Absolutely. The beachfront location of this project brought to our hands a very different design approach and thought process.  Most of our projects are usually perched on a hillside, so the focus of the design is the view. In Villa Avellana, being down low and on a beachfront site made that even though the views were still important, we had to think about the home’s integration with the surrounding site all around. The outdoor spaces, more than being areas to enjoy time outdoors, became areas where guests could unwind, have an array of different spaces to come together or have some solo time, all while giving the home a direct connection to the beach, integrating the beach activities and flowing the experience from the home to the beach seamlessly.

LLA: What were some of the key challenges you faced in designing a luxury residence like Villa Avellana?

RA: We had two opposing concepts that we had to somehow bring together. On one hand, we had a project brief that called for a very large residence, with a multitude of spaces to serve and house large groups of guests, and on the other hand, we had a site with limited space and zoning and resort restrictions. The mesh of those two elements was the big challenge we were constantly up against.  Also, one of the important aspects of the ultra-luxury home experience brief was to somehow make the service needs of the home invisible to the guests. This brought another element into the mix and that in combination with the site, the steep uphill slope present at the back of the property, created a multitude of difficult challenges that we needed to solve.

LLA: Could you elaborate on the sustainability aspects integrated into Villa Avellana, particularly regarding materials and energy-efficient systems?

RA: Sustainability is always at the core of our design ethos.  However, we like to believe that we have a practical approach instead of a theoretical approach to sustainability.  It begins with energy efficiency. We have a clear understanding that people enjoy Costa Rica for the warm weather and the connection to nature.  Our designs usually incorporate welcome areas, hallways, staircases, etc., as outdoor spaces, they become experience areas where people enjoy the natural breeze, the sounds of the ocean, and the sounds of nature.  This approach minimizes the spaces that we need to spend energy to air condition.  Careful architectural aspects to making the home efficient is also key. Our technological approach to design allows us to run energy evaluation reports during the schematic design stage, improve the home’s performance via orientation and extensive overhangs, and incorporate architectural elements to control solar and heat gain. From the materials aspect, we try to use local natural materials to reduce the carbon footprint of transport.  Selection of manufactured materials is always done considering the brand’s sustainability approach to production and recycling of waste, etc.

LLA: The SARCO System is renowned for its seamless remote architectural process. How was this system employed in the design and construction phases of Villa Avellana? – if it was.

RA: Like all our projects, the remote service to our clients is always at the center of our services.  Our client was a very busy business individual, and we needed to make the process easy, clear, and straightforward for him.  The use of 3D visualization and interactive design models that our client could use and experience easily on his devices were key elements to design communication during the entire project process.  Also, our client online information hub would make access to project presentations, selections, product discussions, etc., easy and accessible from anywhere.

LLA: Could you elaborate on SARCO Architects’ Integrated Design Approach and how it facilitated the successful realization of Villa Avellana?

RA: We approach our projects with a process where architecture, interiors, and lighting blend together and interact directly in the design of the project and its spaces.  Once a schematic design is complete and we begin the design development of the project, we start this interactive approach between these main design elements, where we are thinking about interior details, lighting design and the mood and accents it creates, and the selection of materials and how it interacts with all these aspects.  Having these three design main design components under our umbrella, instead of being handled by external design teams, allows us to experiment, try things, iterate, and make design decisions with a firm and quick approach.  In Villa Avellana this was at the core of our design approach. Many spaces in the home exude this approach, but probably the main living space more than others.  There we have a combination of the all-glass space to enjoy the natural setting, the design of a custom wood panel ceiling that incorporates invisible magnetic lighting tracks where we could design the lighting customized for the living and the dining area (each with different lighting feel and mood). We also integrated the invisible architectural slots for the air conditioning system and hid away the A/V system that provides a large projection screen to enjoy media when desired. All these components would be a pain to design and coordinate successfully, however as we control the totality of the design elements, for us is not only possible but successful.

LLA: How does SARCO ensure that international clients can confidently build their dream homes in Costa Rica without being physically present? Could you elaborate on the processes and technologies SARCO employs to maintain quality and client satisfaction throughout the remote building process?

RA: We have been working with international clients now for over 20 years.  We understand that our clients have busy lives and schedules, therefore we focus on providing our services so that a project is not another complicated thing making life difficult for our clients.  Our online communication hub with our clients is active from design all the way through project completion.  This is a way where our clients are always in the loop of the project’s progress and involved in any updates, changes, or decisions that need to be made.  Also, our integrated design approach to our projects plays a huge role in this as well.  Since we put so much time in making sure that all design and client decisions are done in the design phase, all the questions are answered and decisions are made, then during construction, there is very little that our clients need to be active and involved in.  Our team takes care of everything needed during construction so that the project is seamless and effective all the way through.

LLA: What makes Costa Rica an ideal destination for building luxury dream homes, and why do so many successful people choose to escape here to create modern luxury residences?

RA: Costa Rica is geographically located in a very advantageous location.  It is close enough to North America so there is a multitude of direct flights available from main cities in the USA and Canada.  Direct flights from many European cities are also more and more common. Also, the International Airport in Liberia, Guanacaste, allows people who travel in private jets to a very convenient destination that is close to the main beach areas and locations where they can build their luxury home. The warm weather, beautiful natural setting, natural fauna, elevated ocean views, and stunning sunsets are all elements that many of our clients truly treasure. Also, there are options of luxury resort destinations where successful HNW individuals can choose a property to build their luxury getaway and still have the amenities and conveniences they need.

In this exclusive interview with Roderick Anderson, we have gained invaluable insights into modern home Costa Rica architecture. Roderick’s dedication to upscaling luxury residential architecture, combined with SARCO’s exemplary integration of sustainability and cutting-edge technology, continues to set new benchmarks in the field. As Costa Rica solidifies its reputation as a prime location for tropical luxury homes, SARCO Architects stands out as a leader, ensuring international clients can confidently create their dream residences in this idyllic setting, even from afar.

For more information about SARCO Architects Costa Rica, visit https://www.sarcoarchitects.com/

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As Miami becomes the epicentre of tennis this season, On and Boiler Room came together to present “On Clubhouse Nights Miami”, an immersive evening that brought together sport, music and culture in an electrifying new format. Hosted at Lot 11 Skatepark in downtown Miami, the event transformed the space into a dynamic tennis arena and pop-up retail experience, all centred around “THE ROGER Clubhouse”, On’s latest tennis-inspired lifestyle sneaker.

The night opened with high-energy matches featuring On athletes Ben Shelton and Joao Fonseca, alongside tennis enthusiasts Francisco Lachowski, Jake Nevins, Mia Regan and Alexandra Katya. Against the unexpected urban backdrop of a skatepark, the players delivered a spirited performance, cheered on by an animated crowd.

Following the on-court action, Boiler Room took over with a soundtrack that celebrated Miami’s deep Caribbean influences. Dancehall sensation Shenseea, dembow pioneer Cromo X and local club legend  MARTE delivered electrifying DJ sets, while freestyle skaters brought an added layer of energy to the scene.

Guests mingled with On athletes, explored the off-court collection, and had the chance to win exclusive On merchandise. Culinary highlights included crisp pizzas from Luna Rossa Brick Oven Pizza, tacos from The Wolf of Tacos and a curated selection of cocktails by Lalo Tequila, E11even Vodka, Manojo Mezcal and Bacardi.

The evening drew an eclectic crowd, from athletes and musicians to tastemakers and creatives, including Jencarlos Canela, Olivia Elliott, Lina Luaces, Andrea DiValentina and more. With its fusion of sport and culture, On Clubhouse Nights Miami redefined how tennis can be experienced — far beyond the confines of the court.

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Thierry Gillier, the founder of Zadig & Voltaire, and his wife, artistic director Cecilia Bönström are now in a Parisian Apartment. Here, art reigns!

Gillian has always been a fan of art, so soon enough he began his art collection. He has a particular love for minimalistic and monochromatic design that began in NYC. It was after he worked at Yves Saint Laurent that he decided to create his brand, named after his favourite book, “Zadig de Voltaire”.

Cecilia Bönström, as the artistic director, brings to this apartment her own aesthetic. She was born in Sweden and we can find some Scandinavian minimalism designs here. Their collection of art begins as quiet and simple, then transformed into a more imaginative one.

Home & Art Gallery

According to Gillier, “I dreamed of a place that would capture our minimal style and at the same time harmonise with our collection”. The couple said, “Every time we buy a new place, we look for a new designer. This time a Belgian architect, Bernard Dubois, was in charge. I wanted to create an atmosphere where the past and future coexist”.

The couple thought about every single detail and in this Parisian apartment, you can find large paintings and ancient figures from Africa and Indonesia.

The view of this place is simply breathtaking, with the Eiffel Tower saying hello every morning.

Once again, the couple says, “Collecting art is like collecting stories. Interestingly, my line has not evolved over time, but now I have more ability to choose. I make fewer mistakes. We buy to the point of not being able to house all the works at home. If necessary, we sell. We also have many in our office.”

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Konstantin Chaykin does not fit neatly into any box, though at first glance, you might think otherwise. His silver-streaked hair and thin wire-framed glasses suggest a man rooted in tradition, the kind you’d expect to find hunched over a workbench, crafting intricate mechanisms. And you’d be right—partly. But what lies beneath is a man whose playful imagination gave life to pieces like the Carpe Diem—a timepiece depicting Chronos, the Greek god (who birthed time) holding a functional hourglass integrated into its dial, to a Minion-themed titanium watch priced at nearly SGD30,000.

I had the privilege of exchanging a few words with Chaykin at IAMWATCH, a bustling watch fair which brought together watchmakers, collectors, and enthusiasts alike. Here, he shared more about the release of his new creation, the ThinKing—a watch measuring a mere 1.65mm in thickness. To put that into perspective, this is the thinnest mechanical watch in existence. If that doesn’t blow your mind, consider the level of ingenuity required for an independent watchmaker to not only craft such a marvel, but out-thin(k) the colossal watchmaking houses.

The ThinKing borrows from Chaykin’s acclaimed “Wristmon” series, known for their humanlike charm. Two “eyes” on the face of the watch—formed by hour and minute displays—are framed by a steel case engraved with the brand’s signature to form a smile. Instead of sandwiching the K.23-0 movement—a manually wound calibre offering up to 32 hours of power reserve — between two steel surfaces, the movement is woven directly into the case to maximise thinness. Every detail, from the Swiss lever escapement to the ultra-thin winding barrel and double balance system with a geared clutch all work together towards a singular truth: create the thinnest damn watch possible.

But engineering such thinness comes with its own set of challenges. Chaykin had to design a patented strap, crafted from alligator leather with elastic inserts and titanium supports, to manage the inevitable twisting and stress of wear. The result? Not only the world’s thinnest watch, but also one of the lightest.

To step into a ring dominated by giants like Bvlgari and Richard Mille takes audacity—or madness. Perhaps both. What kind of person willingly takes on such a challenge? Does Chaykin ever dream up ideas so absurd that even he hesitates? These questions swirled in my mind as I delved deeper into his story.

“Too crazy? No.” Chaykin said with a slight shrug when I finally asked him. “I’ve had a lot of challenges in my life. From the start, my watchmaking path has been a challenging strategy—almost crazy. If you check my timepieces, from the first to the last, I try not to create classic watches. I always find some crazy challenge for myself, for my soul, because life should not be boring.”

The Whimsical

This spirit of whimsy and daring can be ambiguously used to sum up Chaykin’s work, particularly in his pursuit of the absurd through the “Wristmon” series. Take the Minions Titanium watch, for instance, which features “eyes” for hour and minute displays. But here, the phases of the moon form the mischievous smile of a minion, while the pupils and tongue shift with time, lending the timepiece almost a personality of its own. It may come to you as a surprise, but there aren’t actually tiny minions running around beneath the dial rotating gears and the lot. Instead, the in-house K.18-15 automatic calibre keeps everything running smoothly, offering a 42-hour power reserve.

Although the world may primarily think of Chaykin as the creator of the “Wristmon” series due to all the acclaim he has received because of it, that is not how he views himself. Far from it.

“I see myself more as an artist than anything,” he says. It’s a perspective that explains his refusal to be confined by the traditional boundaries of watchmaking. If you study the work of great artists throughout history, you’ll see they weren’t defined by a single collection or work. Their legacy as a whole is an evolution. This is what Chaykin envisions for himself — long after his loupes have magnified its last balance wheel.

The Classical

One piece we feel encapsulates this dynamic particularly well is The Cinema. Look no further than its rectangular frame, vintage typography carved into silver dials, and a mesmerising Clous de Paris guilloché finish decorating the dial. It is as its name suggests—a watch inspired by cinema. But what sits at 6 o’clock is its defining feature. A disc with 12 frames depicts a galloping horse, creating the illusion of motion—an ode to the first-ever motion picture of a horse and its rider in 1873. The in-house KCM-01-0 movement works overtime to power not only the timekeeping side of things, but also the animation sequence. All this is housed within a 37mm x 47mm steel case, only 12mm thick. Despite the brilliance of this concept, Chaykin has yet to turn it into a collection, more than 10 years since its inception.

For a man like Konstantin Chaykin, the idea of strictly sticking to a brand’s borders is boring. “It might be good for business since many people prefer that kind of consistency—DNA is great for business. But not for creativity, not for me.” And that, perhaps, is the heart of Chaykin’s philosophy. An artist trapped in the body of a watchmaker, where the watches he crafts are not just instruments of time, but manifestations of his restless creativity.

This article was first seen on Esquire Singapore.

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Sanlorenzo Asia-Pacific will host the Asia premiere of Bluegame’s BGM75 multihull motoryacht at this year’s Singapore Yachting Festival, which will be held at ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove from April 10-13. Prior to the four-day show, ONE°15 Marina Sentosa Cove will host the two-day Southeast Asia Yachting Conference (April 8-9) and Yacht Style Awards on the Wednesday evening (April 9).

The BGM75 is among five yachts to be exhibited at the third Singapore Yachting Festival by Simpson Marine, which represents Sanlorenzo and sister brand Bluegame across Asia-Pacific. The dealership previously announced the presence of Sanlorenzo’s SL96A asymmetric planing yacht, semi-displacement SD96 and SX88 crossover yacht, while Bluegame’s BGX63 is also part of the display.

However, the regional dealership recently announced the addition of the BGM75, which is the Italian brand’s first multihull motoryacht and had its world premiere at the 2023 Cannes Yachting Festival.

Nick Stratton, Vice President of Sanlorenzo Asia-Pacific, said: “We are delighted to return to the Singapore Yachting Festival, which continues to grow as one of Asia’s premier yachting showcases. As the Sanlorenzo and Bluegame fleet continues to expand across Asia-Pacific, we’re pleased to display all three ranges from Sanlorenzo’s Yacht Division – the timeless SL planning range, the semi-displacement SD long-range series and the innovative SX crossover line.

“We’re also delighted to show models from Bluegame’s BGX and BGM lines, including the first BGM75 in the Asia-Pacific region, which is historically very successful for multihull sales with customers actively seeking for larger living spaces, more comfort and stability at sea. With the BGM75 they don’t have to compromise on any of that.”

Simpson Marine is currently marking 10 years of representing Sanlorenzo in Asia and a year since its acquisition by the Italian shipyard, since when the dealership has represented both Sanlorenzo and Bluegame across Asia-Pacific, including Australia.

“Sanlorenzo’s presence at this year’s Singapore Yachting Festival highlights our commitment to delivering the finest in yacht design and innovation,” Stratton said. “Each yacht on display reflects our philosophy of tailor-made luxury, offering owners an unparalleled level of customisation and comfort.”

For the March 6 preview of the Singapore Yachting Festival, click here.

simpsonmarine.com

This article was first seen on YachtStyle.com

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