A beachside home in the Dominican Republic is both private retreat and design destination

This spectacular beachside home in Las Terrenas, a popular resort on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, was designed as a vacation space with a difference. Sprawling across 1,500 sq m, the structure functions as both private holiday house and as a rentable location for large groups, events and even television companies.

Casa Rosabaya: a beachside home with a difference

Casa Rosabaya contains a total of 12 bedrooms across two levels, including two principal suites. Four of the ensuite rooms are located on the ground floor, with eight on the upper floor, including a spacious main bedroom located at the tip of the house’s two wings, each with its own private balcony. A total of 27 people can be accommodated, with separate staff quarters on the ground floor.  

The property overlooks Coson beach, and the view from the entrance courtyard looks straight through the house to the palm-fringed gardens, across the beach to the Caribbean beyond. The house was designed by Joey Rapaglia and Monica Desangles of local studio Arkina and built with an eye to creating a practical and commercially viable space without compromising architectural style. 

Every room has a sea view, with the two wings flanking a central patio with pool, Jacuzzi and large terrace capable of accommodating all the guests. Rooms are accessed by external covered walkways, with a plethora of small courtyards and planted spaces tucked in between the grey cement and stucco walls. 

Tropical planting is everywhere, forming a counterpoint to the glass, stucco and wooden palette used throughout, with oversized doors, pivoting shutters and wooden decking. The main living and dining spaces are open to the elements, shielded from weather by shutters if need be, but also shaded and secluded on the hottest of days. 

Each of the 12 bedrooms is a private sanctuary to retire to, carefully aligned so that no rooms overlook each other. A large oversailing concrete roof covers the entire structure, creating shifting areas of shade and cover.

‘Rosabaya allowed us to experiment with different applications and finishes that can be achieved with cement,’ the architects say. ‘[The material] can be seen in all the bathroom and kitchen countertops, the main staircase, the interior and exterior floors, the seats in the living room and even the sinks.’ 

Making the most of the space and the climate, Casa Rosabaya is a retreat on a grand scale, pitched at extended families and those happy to holiday with a select circle of friends. 

Arkinaa.com

CasaRosabaya.com