Casa Marea

The Four Seasons Costa Palmas, Baja California, Mexico

Casa Marea, which translates to “The Tide House,” is a state-of-the-art oceanfront private residence at the Four Seasons Costa Palmas. It is located directly on the shores of the Sea of Cortez. The home was designed to accommodate three generations of a family and house 28 occupants — all while prioritizing functionality and livability, providing age-appropriate programming, and offering all family members equitable views and amenities.

Casa Marea is driven by the client’s love of family and time together. The design carefully considers how the family wanted to live, work, play, and interact with each other and their environment. To accommodate a multi-generational family without dominating the landscape, 159 Architecture and Design utilized an open-air pod concept that uses courtyards and water features to delineate spaces. Casa Marea has 12 bedrooms, 15 bathrooms, and five guest suites each equally amenitized with ocean views; a dedicated primary bedroom wing with his and hers bathrooms and offices; gathering spaces designed for each generation; and indoor/outdoor living on all levels.

As the name suggests, Casa Marea was inspired by the tides and harnesses the power and beauty of the Sea of Cortez. This tidal theme is reflected through nearly every detail, starting with the home’s layout and orientation. Upon entering Casa Marea, occupants are immediately pulled to the sea through an entryway flanked by faceted stone walls that disappear into reflecting pools.

Casa Marea’s clean, contemporary architectural style relies on geometry and dramatic angles to achieve multiple goals, such as managing wind and weather, maximizing views, and creating visual interest. Walls of faceted walls of large format Pearl River Limestone create movement and catch light in a manner that showcases the home’s geometry. This stone was extracted from a single location, then fabricated on site so that it could be bookmatched on the wall — creating a stunning effect that evokes movement on the first and second floors.

All photos by Kevin Scott — subject to copyright