Casa Las Olas, located on a verdant site in Playa Grande in the Dominican Republic, is a 20,000 square foot vacation home for a family of six. The 4.5-acre compound makes the most of its jungle location on one side and an expanse of unspoiled beach on the other. In addition to the main house, the compound also features two guest homes, a yoga pavilion, and a structure for relaxation located adjacent to the beach. The owners frequently host large groups of friends and family for gatherings that concentrate on wellness. Designed by New York-based Young Projects, Casa Las Olas reflects the owners’ desire to have a home that flows seamlessly with the landscape and provides the spaces needed for the many activities that family engages in – whether it be yoga retreats or family reunions. “The owner’s goal is to give the house a distinctive feel: what is the smell and what are the touches that make it feel special,” says principal Bryan Young. “They want to create a precise place and memory for the family and their guests.”
The main house forms a circle of rooms surrounding a central courtyard, the centerpiece of which is a large tree that is home to vines and bromeliads. A sunken seating area is situated at the base of the tree which lends itself to intimate gatherings. The interior spaces provide dramatic views of the jungle and ocean. In addition, each of the home’s seven bedrooms has its own private balcony, connecting the inhabitants to nature. The master bedroom juts out from the rest of the second floor to offer views in all directions. The balcony features a private meditation nook and yoga platform designed specifically for the wife.
The open-air living room is a dramatic double-height space, extending up to 30-feet high, with exposed overhead roof trusses with Young Projects-designed rattan Bover pendant lights suspended overhead. The Elephant Table, also designed by Young Projects, anchors the room. This arrangement of six polished Mesa Quartzite stones can be taken apart, acting as stools, podiums, or side tables, or aggregated into a single table around which larger groups gather.
Along the shoreline, Rock House is a unified collection of six stone-like masses. Inside, the six cavities accommodate an open-air massage space, an underground sauna, a cold plunge pool, a treatment room, and steam and outdoor showers. Also near the beach is the Yoga Pavilion with a large cantilevered roof. The space is used for group yoga sessions, music performances, and alfresco dinners with a view of the ocean. Situated closer to Casa Las Olas is the Guest House, a quiet, sun-drenched 4-bedroom, a 4-bathroom oasis for additional guests. The building comprises a series of four identical suites whose orientations rotate under a single roof, where the shaded areas between each bedroom create shared outdoor spaces.
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