Casa Kristalo is an impressive architectural property that reduces the barrier between the outside and the inside, mixing elements of iron, glass, stone and water with a modern avant-garde design. With the seal of award-winning architect Rolando Barahona Sotela, the home was designed to take advantage of both natural light and evening views, incorporating intelligent lighting systems and panoramic views that extend from the Carpintera mountains in Ochomogo crossing to the other side of San José, with spectacular views of the city and the Central Valley. The 3101m2 property includes the incredible main residence, an indoor Olympic pool, a party area, and a privileged location within the El Gregal Condominium, east of San José in Curridabat.
"It's like living outside protected from the inside. The space is totally liberated!"
The main entrance to the Casa Kristalo property highlights the privacy of the property and the transparency of its structures. A roundabout with a natural stone driveway seems to revolve around the central water fountain outside the home. From this point, you can appreciate the glass elements that allow you to see the internal color tones and the exuberant internal water fall.
To enter Casa Kristalo you must first cross an airtight facade, an iron bridge that leads to the lobby and opens up to the social area and the landscape. Here you can appreciate the majestic fall of water that comes from the ceiling through the main room where it combines with the fireplace, to reach the lower level, family area and the secondary bedrooms.
The social area is marked by visual integration thanks to the use of tempered glass in the internal bridges, corridors, railings and even in the stairs leading to the interior level of the residence. The areas are clearly delimited but unobstructed, allowing owners and guests to be spectators of their own space. The magic of Casa Kristalo lies in the enjoyment of the spaces and internal light play with the combination of panoramic views.
Casa Kristalo offers a design that invites its residents to be spectators of their own space and to appreciate from each area the audiovisual spectacle, the house activity in social areas and in the kitchen, and the glimpse of the sun that penetrates the glass-ceiling pool.
Casa Kristalo's kitchen is visually integrated to the social area of the house. It offers an attractive and functional design with Santos furniture and Viking refrigerator and kitchen. Like the rest of the house, the kitchen area enjoys plenty of natural light and glass partitions that facilitate visual access to both the rest of the house and its panoramic views.
After the social area, a corridor leads to the elevator that connects the two levels of the residence with the two levels of the pool and party area. The professional pool of 50 meters long is one-of-a-kind in Costa Rica, with two full lanes, underwater and external lighting with network lights, tempered glass roof gable to protect the pool from the strong winds and to allow full external views, and openings in the upper and lateral levels that prevent the space from overheating. This area also includes a deck for the enjoyment of the sun and the view. Casa Kristalo also boasts a steam room and gym area.
The master bedroom of Casa Kristalo has a strategic location on the main floor and can be visually unified with the social area by simply raising an electronic shutter, as does the master bathroom next to the bedroom. The rest of the private area of Casa Kristalo is located on the second (lower) level that follows the slope of the ground down and where the play area, Turkish bath, TV room, and the two additional secondary bedrooms rooms were created.
Casa Kristalo includes a smart and automated Crestron system with lighting controls, hot water system, audio system with 6 independent zones and 2 outputs for intelligent connection, video system, automated door access control managed by 5 smart screens located in the master bedroom, vestibular area, kitchen, lower level and party room.
Casa Kristalo offers parking for four cars under a tempered glass roof and additional parking for ten or more vehicles in the natural stone driveway. It also includes a service room with full bathroom, storage area, and machine room. In addition, it enjoys all the amenities and security of El Gregal condominium that includes 24/7 security with motorized rounds throughout the condominium every 10 minutes, external surveillance cameras, controlled access, baseball field, tennis court, area with walking trail, and an event room.