Meet the Design Partners Bringing Sustainable Luxury to Life at Villa Punto de Vista
Design at Villa Punto de Vista has always been intentional. From the moment Co-owner and Architect David Konweiser laid the plans, every space, every sightline, every breeze-cooled corner is crafted to connect guests with the wild beauty that surrounds it. But in 2024, we took that philosophy even deeper by partnering with Costa Rica’s own Experiencia Áurea to reimagine the villa through a lens of sustainability, cultural depth, and modern refinement.
The result isn’t just a fresh look. It’s a full-sensory experience that weaves together natural materials, artisan craft, and the soul of this land we love so deeply. Nestled in the heart of Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica, Villa Punto de Vista continues to set the standard for luxury villa rentals that honor place, culture, and the environment. And it’s important to us that our partners hold the same values.
That said, Director of Design Esteban Arias and Director of Operations Roberto Ramos didn’t come in with a template — they came to listen. To the property. To the people. To the stories waiting to be told through space and design. From their first visit, it was clear: the views were the lead character. Their job was to amplify, not overpower.
Over the next few months, we’ll be unveiling new looks, new stories, and a new era for Villa Punto de Vista, starting with the stories behind sustainable luxury that defines our property in Manuel Antonio.
But First, What Does Sustainable Luxury Mean to Us?
At Villa Punto de Vista, luxury has never been about gold finishes or showy extras. It’s about what you feel — the hush of ocean waves through the open-air terraces, the warmth of hand-smoothed teak under your fingertips, the grounding sight of materials chosen with care.
To us, sustainability means honoring where we are and who we’re with.
It means working with local craftspeople who understand the rhythm of this land. It means selecting materials that last, not just in strength, but in soul. It’s about finding elegance in restraint and letting nature take the lead.
From our locally sourced building materials to the collaborative design process with Costa Rican artisans, this is a luxury villa in Costa Rica where every detail is intentional. And every update in this evolution was guided by that ethos. Everything designed to support connection, celebration, and rest without compromising the environment, the culture, or the future.
The Minds Behind the Design
Led by Director of Design and Architecture, Esteban Arias, and Director of Operations and Logistics, Roberto Ramos, Experiencia Áurea is more than a design firm — it’s a philosophy in motion. Their work blends architecture, interiors, and hospitality to make a property feel alive.
“We want people to feel Costa Rica the moment they step inside,” says Arias. “Not in obvious ways, but through textures, light, materials. Through stories.”
Their approach is immersive, layered, and deeply sensory. Every space must function well, but it must also evoke something for the guest. For Villa Punto de Vista, that meant preserving the views while transforming interiors with intention and flexibility. Nothing superfluous. Everything aligned.
Cultivating a Shared Vision for Our Luxury Costa Rica Villa
From their first visit to the villa just a few short months ago, the Experiencia Áurea team knew the landscape was the lead character. “The view is the star,” says Ramos. “Our role was to create interiors that supported it quietly, without stealing attention.”
Together with the villa’s co-owner, Christien Johnson, the team set out to highlight what made the villa unforgettable: the seamless flow between rainforest and ocean, the way groups gather with ease, and the celebratory energy in the air. But they also wanted to breathe new life into the space with modern updates, richer textures, and design moments that invited pause.
Just as important as the design was the collaboration behind it. At the core of their philosophy and ethos, similar to Villa Punto de Vista, Experiencia Áurea intentionally works with local studios whose values align with their own.
The result is a layered, intentional space crafted by hands that know the local land well.
Some of the Artisan Partners You’ll See Featured
Each artisan we’ve incorporated into the new design was essential, and their touch lives in every corner of the villa, from the ballroom’s sculpted leaves to the hand-shaped curve of a coffee table.
- Na Lakalú (Palmares, Costa Rica) are makers of furniture that fuse wood, concrete, and design resilience for high-use spaces.
- Hoja Libre (San José, Costa Rica) is a woodworking family business known for sustainable, built-in pieces that warm the villa.
- Paulina Ortiz (San José, Costa Rica) is a textile artist whose glowing pendant lamps now hover above the bar like luminous sculptures.
- Derek Monturiol (San José, Costa Rica) is a driftwood sculptor who reimagines reclaimed pieces as kinetic, wave-like installations.
- Pia Pottery (San José, Costa Rica) is a ceramicist crafting earth-toned tableware and decorative pieces that echo the villa’s palette.
These artisans and existing partners are just the beginning of the living gallery we’re curating at our private villa in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica — an immersive destination for design lovers, culture seekers, and conscious luxury travelers who demand more from their global experiences.
New Features Rolling Out at Villa Punto de Vista
Beyond the art, here are a few things we’ve worked on with Experiencia Áurea to enhance the villa for your next stay.
Wine Cellar
With our on-site sommelier, Erick, masterfully designing private tasting experiences, pairing events, and just deciding what wine would go best with the private chef dinner, we needed more dedicated space to grow our exclusive, thoughtfully-curated wine collection.
It’s rare to find a dedicated wine cellar in Costa Rica luxury rentals — but we’re not just building a cellar; we’re creating an oenophile’s dream in the heart of Manuel Antonio. The cellar isn’t just a backdrop; it’s a space made for connection, conversation, and shaping a new standard for wine experiences in Costa Rica. One bottle, one story, one perfectly timed pour at a time.
New Gym
Balance looks different for everyone. For some, it’s a post-hike glass of wine; for others, it’s an early morning workout with the jungle just beyond the glass. Sitting directly above the new wine cellar, the gym offers a private, light-filled space to stretch, move, and reset. Whether you’re visiting for a wellness retreat, a private event, or a family getaway, the new villa gym is designed to support balance in body and mind with jungle views that remind you why you came to Costa Rica in the first place.
The Reimagined Rooftop
On our top floor, one of the most scenic private event spaces in Manuel Antonio, Experiencia Áurea’s team reworked the rooftop to reveal views we truly didn’t believe could get better. Walls and pillars that once subtly interrupted the line of sight have been cleared, opening the space completely to the sea and sky.
Materials were chosen with purpose, including high-humidity surfaces that stand up to the elements while staying warm to the touch. You’ll see sand-colored finishes, woven petatillo (local palm) textures, and natural wood details that frame the horizon without pulling focus.
The result is a space that feels expansive and rooted at the same time — equally suited for sunrise yoga, golden-hour cocktails, or simply watching waves roll in as toucans glide by overhead.
And this is just the start.
More enhancements are underway, and we can’t wait to share what’s next.
Plan Your Luxury Vacation in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
At Villa Punto de Vista, sustainability and intentional design aren’t trends. They’re our foundation. Through meaningful collaborations with visionaries like Arias and Ramos, we’re evolving the villa to step even deeper into its role as a destination in itself that exudes the pura vida spirit.
You’ll feel it the moment you arrive in the way the light dances through the artisan-made lamps in the entryway, in the colors and patterns of the hand-loomed textiles above the bars, in the ever-present sounds of the jungle that lull you to sleep just beyond the walls.
This is sustainable luxury that honors place.
We invite you to experience it for yourself.
Explore available dates and start planning your luxury villa vacation in Costa Rica today.
