Set at the edge of a tropical cliffside, where the dry tropical forest descends into the Gulf of Papagayo, Residence 22 is a living dialogue between architecture and environment. Designed by Toronto-based CHAPI Design, Residence 22 at Nekajui, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve is a singular achievement: a private villa within the Reserve, and the only one to command a 180-degree panorama over the Pacific.
For lead designer Tatiana Sheveleva, Owner of CHAPI Design, this uninterrupted view – a cinematic sweep of ocean, forest and sky – became the starting point for a design narrative 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.”
The interior palette echoes the landscape in both mood and geology. Drawing from the region’s two defining seasons – Verano (dry) and Invierno (green) – CHAPI Design layered the residence in deep forest greens, toasted golds and warm wood tones. These are atmospheric references: the glint of afternoon sun through leaves, the scent of petrichor after the first rain, the velvet green of a hillside 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 concept is expressed most dramatically in the villa’s spa-like primary bathroom. Floor-to-ceiling glass opens onto a private garden, where an outdoor tub is tucked into lush foliage. Inside, a monolithic slab of green marble veined with gold anchors the twin showers and echoes the same stone used for the sculpted custom basin. Rich native woods – chosen for their colour depth and organic grain – are used for millwork, vanities and integrated storage, adding warmth and a sense of permanence.
Every decision in Residence 22 stems from a desire to dissolve the boundary between built and natural. Oversized operable windows and retractable glass walls frame the outdoors like living artwork. The floorplan privileges flow and orientation: bedrooms open to private terraces, the kitchen spills out to a breakfast patio, and the open-plan living room features a double-sided sofa that simultaneously faces the fireplace and the view beyond.
Furnishings were designed to be sculptural yet quiet, many crafted by local artisans. Low, hand-carved tables in natural wood mirror the curved edges of the infinity pool just outside. Deeply textured upholstery and woven materials nod to traditional Costa Rican craft without veering into pastiche.
“We leaned into tactility,” Tatiana said. “Every piece had to feel rooted in the land – nothing ornamental, nothing extraneous and everything intentional.”
While the hotel’s public spaces maintain the Ritz-Carlton Reserve’s timeless brand DNA, this residence was conceived as its own distinct expression. The contrast was deliberate. The owners envisioned a modern retreat that celebrated the singularity of the site – which led to a sculptural infinity pool that follows the natural contour of the land, and a bespoke outdoor terrace that maximises the cliffside’s drama. Interiors were tailored to complement this architecture: layered, grounded, and emotionally resonant.
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.”
Residence 22 is a departure from convention – both in its architectural sensitivity and its refusal to treat luxury as excess. In CHAPI Design’s hands, it becomes a home that doesn’t just sit in the landscape – it belongs to it.
