Perched on a tropical cliffside where Costa Rica’s dry forest meets the Gulf of Papagayo, Residence 22 at Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, is more than a villa—it’s a dialogue between architecture and environment. Designed by Toronto-based CHAPI Design, it stands as a singular achievement: the only private residence in the Reserve with a sweeping 180-degree view of the Pacific Ocean.
For lead designer Tatiana Sheveleva, Owner of CHAPI Design, the uninterrupted panorama became the foundation for the design story—one grounded in restraint, reverence, and raw materiality.
“This project became something deeply personal,” Sheveleva reflected. “Every moment is designed to remind you where you are – in the heart of Costa Rica, a rare, secret world – and this residence needed to reflect that. We designed this space to breathe. We were inspired by the biodiversity and rhythms of the land and sea, allowing nature to be both backdrop and protagonist.”
A Design Palette Inspired by Seasons
CHAPI Design drew inspiration from the region’s two defining seasons—Verano (dry) and Invierno (green)—to create an interior palette of deep forest greens, toasted golds, and warm wood tones. These tones evoke the glint of afternoon sun, the scent of rain on dry earth, and the velvet green of hillsides reborn after drought.
“We wanted the interiors to reflect the land’s transformation,” Tatiana explained. “The way the hills turn golden under the Papagayo winds, and then erupt into colour with the first rains.”
This seasonal narrative comes to life most vividly in the spa-inspired primary bathroom. Floor-to-ceiling glass opens onto a private garden where an outdoor tub hides among lush foliage. Inside, a dramatic slab of green marble veined with gold anchors twin showers and pairs with a sculpted custom basin in the same stone. Native Costa Rican woods add depth, warmth, and permanence throughout.
Flowing Indoor-Outdoor Living
The villa is designed to dissolve the boundary between inside and out. Oversized operable windows and retractable glass walls frame the outdoors as living art. The floorplan emphasizes openness and flow: bedrooms connect to private terraces, the kitchen extends to a breakfast patio, and the main living area features a double-sided sofa positioned toward both fireplace and ocean.
Local artisans played a vital role in crafting sculptural yet understated furnishings. Hand-carved wooden tables mirror the infinity pool’s curves, while textured fabrics and woven details echo traditional Costa Rican craft in a modern way.
“We leaned into tactility,” Tatiana said. “Every piece had to feel rooted in the land – nothing ornamental, nothing extraneous and everything intentional.”
A Private Villa with Its Own Identity
While Nekajui’s public spaces uphold the Ritz-Carlton Reserve brand DNA, Residence 22 was envisioned as a unique expression of place. The owners wanted an intimate modern retreat—leading to a sculptural infinity pool that follows the cliff’s natural contours and an expansive outdoor terrace designed to dramatize the setting.
“The villa needed to offer intimacy,” added Tatiana. “A place that feels personal – where you walk in and immediately feel at home – it invites you to slow down.”
Belonging to the Landscape
Residence 22 redefines luxury in Costa Rica. It’s not about excess, but about sensitivity to environment and authenticity of experience. In CHAPI Design’s hands, the villa becomes more than a home—it becomes part of the land itself.
