Unfolding along the Pacific Ocean, the five bedroom villa is as much a boon to El Salvador?s tourism industry as it is the idea of spending quality time with your next of kin. The Al Suave House in Playa El Zonte can only be booked for a minimum of seven nights, which means that any large family or groups of friends that stay here are compelled to truly spend quality time together. Working out their problems, reestablishing bonds, and of course, enjoying some much-needed rest and relaxation is aided by the fact that this carefully planned indoor/outdoor home sits right along El Salvador?s mostly undiscovered and unadulterated Pacific coastline; one revered by those in the know for its particularly good surfing conditions. Activities abound within and outside this expansive beach villa.
Designed by José Roberto Paredes, founder of El Salvadorian and Spanish architectural firm Cincopatasalgato, and Paula Cabrera Gil of Pepe Cabrera Homes, the house cuts a unique figure as it makes the most of its tightly hemmed-in site. Massing along the property?s perimeter, a meandering river-like pool splits the structure in half as it heads out toward the ocean.

Lofted volumes look inwards toward this central feature. In true tropical architecture fashion, this programmatic strategy allows natural breezes to filter through unobstructed, eliminating the need for especially energy-inefficient and environmentally harmful air conditioning.

The overall design ? defined by gently slope...