The Oaks is built in a traditional Spanish colonial style, using poured concrete block stucco construction with reinforcing steel rebar and concrete beams.

The buildings themselves boast the stately look and feel of Spanish colonial architecture, with modern anti-seismic tricks that came through with flying colors in the face of Guanacaste’s historic September 2012 earthquake.

The design is a collaboration between Rolando Montero, a Costa Rica architect trained in Mexico and known for his environmentally sensitive design, and the developer, who lived for many years in Coral Gables, Florida, with its rich Spanish heritage.

Each building has three floors, with six apartments, two per floor, separated by a landing and stairs so that no unit shares walls with any other unit. The second and third floor landings may be furnished and offer additional outdoor enjoyment area.

While each building appears to be one building, the construction actually consists of three separate, connected towers. Two towers, one on each side, are of heavy construction, three floors of apartments one above the other, with steel reinforcing beams, sound proof materials and 9 foot 4 inch high ceilings, topped with soaring cathedral ceilings on the penthouse level.

These towers are seamlessly joined by a lighter third tower that contains concrete stairs and landings. The effect is that, in the event of a seismic event, each of the three sections flexes independently, relieving stress and adding materially to the strength of the whole.

The roofs are of Spanish colonial tile layered over a waterproof zinc under layer. The tiles are not only nailed to firring strips, but are also joined by stainless steel wiring so that they are held in place in the event of a seismic event.

Construction was made more complicated by the developer’s determination not to clear the construction area of trees. Instead, 70% of the original trees were preserved as the buildings were built around them, providing a mature canopy rarely found in Costa Rica construction.

Internal roads were paved with adoquin, or brick pavers, to enhance the Spanish style. Utilities were placed underground, and fiber optic cable was used to provide high speed telephone, cable and internet service. Each unit has a covered parking space consisting of white high tension poles and cables that anchor a green saran covered roof, often overgrown with vines, adding to the natural look.

Adding further to the cost and value of construction are double paned windows in the living room and two bedrooms, providing a high degree of sound and thermal insulation.

Each unit’s interior has an open one story design that offers over 980 square feet of construction area and almost 900 square feet of living area. Each unit has two spacious bedrooms, an en suite master bathroom, a large common bathroom, open living and dining area flowing into an open kitchen with granite counters and cedar furniture, with stainless steel appliances, built in microwave and a glass top range.

Each unit also has a laundry room with a front loading washer and dryer. Marble counters are standard in the baths, with cedar closets and cabinets standard in the kitchen, bedrooms and baths.

Each apartment is cooled by three high efficiency Carrier mini-split air conditioning units, 9,000 BU units in each bedroom and a 24,000 BTU unit in the living room, making for quick and efficient cooling, especially when contrasted with inefficient central air conditioning design. The compressors are hidden from sight underneath the roof.

Floors in each unit are made not of traditional tile, but of porcellanato PE14 ceramic. Porcellanato is a word of Italian origin that is associated with tile that possesses a high degree of toughness and durability.

Porcellanato is classified ISO 13006, indicating material compressed to an absorption level less than or equal to 0.5%. It is obtained from base materials of great strength, and then submitted to a heat and pressure treatment greater than that utilized for the production of conventional ceramic tiles. Porcellanato type PEI resists abrasion and scratching.

Porcellanato type PEI4 is more scratch-resistant than conventional ceramic tile of the same PEI. It is also heat-resistant, friction-resistant and resists expansion as a result of flooding. Seven years after construction, this superior material has proved its worth with nary a scratch or blemish.

Interior wall are framed by 5.9 inch (15 centimeter) concrete blocks filled with poured cement, then covered with repello, or gray concrete, carefully smoothed to eliminate air pockets that may lead to superficial cracks, the covered with stucco and paint.

As upgrades, accent walls may have a marmalade or venetian stucco smooth finish, or painted with a wash paint technique. Some units have added plaster decorative niches and decorative walls. All units are equipped with halogen spot lighting that is adaptable to low energy LED lighting.

The Oaks signature gated entrance is framed by three 15 meter concrete sheathed twisted towers, reminiscent of the architectural flourishes of Antonin Gaudi. Each tower symbolizes on of the three species of oak found in Costa Rica.

Hallmarks of the common areas at The Oaks are extensive plantings carefully chosen to attract butterflies and hummingbirds, a tropical garden and three swimming pools, one of which is a semi-olympic lap pool, and two ranchos with Weber gas grills that are reserved on a first come, first served basis.

Over the years, we have added a one kilometer walking trail around the perimeter of The Oaks, a dog park with exercise area and a yoga pavilion, which also has been used for tai chi. This pavilion is popular for watching howler monkeys that make their territory in trees along a dry creek bed.

On a more practical level, we also have built a state of the art waste water treatment plant that allows us to recycle waste water for irrigation. We also formed our own water association, or ASADA, with two wells and a supplemental third well, allowing us to provide high quality water year round.

As the founder of WeLoveCostaRica.com for over ten years my primary goal has always been to save our VIP Members time and money by investigating projects for you so you don’t end up having another painful and expensive “learning experience.”

The developer of The Oaks Tamarindo, U.S. citizen Robert Irvin is an experienced developer with a proven track record of building quality real estate in Costa Rica and, it’s important to note that this is not a project in pre-construction, The Oaks Tamarindo is a totally completed, debt free project and I feel very comfortable recommending it and I know that Robert Irvin will do his best to ensure you are 100% satisfied with your real estate investment at The Oaks Tamarindo.

Andrew Makarik

to@welovecostarica.com

Andrew Makarik is the main editor of WeLoveCostaRica, a fan of this sunny country. He is also a loving husband and a has a lovely daughter. By being a devoted family man and the biggest Costa Rica fan, he wants to make more people feel at home there. WeLoveCostaRica unites people and helps them find new home or a new travel destination. This website is a friendly community where everyone can find not only information, but also new friends and travel pals. Andrew is also passionate about IT and programming, so he himself maintains a friendly atmosphere in this cozy environment of WeLoveCostaRica.com.