Some homes are built around views. Others around architecture. Sympatheia was built around an idea.
Named after the Stoic concept describing the interconnectedness of all things, the home reflects a philosophy of family, community, health, and connection to place. Every decision, from the home's layout to its gardens, was made with the intention of bringing people together while still allowing space for quiet moments of retreat.
That philosophy began with the family's first visit to Las Catalinas in 2015. They were immediately drawn to the town's walkable, car-free design, where children move freely, neighbors naturally become friends, and daily life is shaped by walking rather than driving. One moment, in particular, stayed with them: watching their children spend hours playing on the beach with local Costa Rican children. They shared no common language, yet they played effortlessly together. It perfectly captured what they loved most about Las Catalinas, a community that is open rather than gated, where residents and locals genuinely share the same public spaces.
When it came time to design their home, they chose architect Jason Bernard of Lake Geneva Architects after discovering another Las Catalinas residence they admired. His experience designing North American lakefront homes brought a unique perspective to the project, combining Costa Rican indoor-outdoor living with the proportions, functionality, and livability that North American families appreciate.
Health and movement became central themes throughout the design. The home was intentionally built without an elevator, encouraging an active lifestyle and reinforcing the same principles that first attracted the family to Las Catalinas. A beautiful spiral staircase, originally a late addition championed by Susanne despite Boyd's initial hesitation, has since become one of the home's most frequently used and beloved features, providing a private connection between the kitchen and the primary suite.
The home's design carefully balances spaces for gathering with opportunities for solitude. Small balconies, reading nooks, and quiet corners are thoughtfully woven throughout the residence, while expansive terraces and outdoor entertaining areas comfortably accommodate everything from intimate family dinners to celebrations, including weddings and bar mitzvahs.
One of Sympatheia's defining features is its extraordinary garden, believed to be among the largest private gardens in Las Catalinas. Designed around mature tropical landscaping, fruit trees, flowering plants, and meandering pathways, the grounds continue to evolve each season. A custom bocce court, inspired by travels through wine country, and additional outdoor recreation spaces invite family and guests to spend as much time outdoors as possible.
Perhaps the home's most distinctive architectural feature is the elevated bridge connecting the guest casita to the main residence. Conceived by Susanne, it allows guests to feel fully connected to the home while preserving the beauty of the gardens below. Rather than interrupting the landscape with a large staircase, the bridge creates a memorable experience from every angle, allowing visitors to walk above the gardens or wander beneath them along shaded pathways.
The interiors were designed by Laurel-DD of San José with a deliberate focus on Costa Rican craftsmanship. Nearly every major furnishing was custom made locally using Costa Rican materials, creating a home deeply rooted in the country where it was built. Throughout the residence, artwork celebrating Guanacaste's sabanero heritage reflects both the region's ranching traditions and the owners' own upbringing on family farms, creating an unexpected but meaningful connection between two places they have always called home.
Today, Sympatheia stands as more than a beautifully designed oceanfront residence. It is a home that has been thoughtfully lived in, carefully refined, and built around the belief that the best homes don't simply provide shelter—they create opportunities for people to connect with one another, with nature, and with the community around them.
For its next owners, Sympatheia offers more than exceptional architecture and craftsmanship. It offers the chance to become part of the same story that inspired its creation: a life centered on family, wellness, community, and one of the most remarkable seaside towns in the world.
More on the finished home can be found at villasympatheia.com.