Designing in Paradise: From a Distance
Clients often look at distance as a roadblock, but it doesn’t have to be. Designing in Paradise does not need to be hard, it all depends on who you’re working with, and at SARCO Architects, we have years of experience working with clients remotely, and we have invested in the tools and technologies to enable our clients to easily make decisions about their projects, wherever they are in the world.
Rudy is one of our most esteemed clients. Casa Magayon took a total of 3 years to design and build. Still, the process went very smoothly, resulting in the paradise that Rudy and his family come to enjoy time and time again. Rudy chose Costa Rica, a land of rugged coasts, lush jungle forests, and friendly people.
Being on the same page with our clients
Our online, customizable web platform lets us create private workspaces for each project – allowing clients to log in from their computer, iPad, or phone. Compartmentalized containers organize meetings, selections, design, and change orders. For example, to make decisions on plumbing fixtures, you click to see it, review options, discuss issues, make selections, and… “Approved, perfecto, thank you!”
We avoid hundreds of emails back and forth. With a repository of all the discussions, it’s easy to find everything. Easy and effective communication is one of the core elements of our
SARCO System®
.
How did Rudy feel about this? One time, we were discussing the selection of high-end umbrellas to create a shade for the terrace of the house. They are exceptional umbrellas, made in New Zealand, designed to stay open in 95-mph winds. These umbrellas have a swivel base and rotate so that wind won’t blow them over. We had an online discussion about the color – they need to match the custom tile we specified for the swimming pool. We considered, what color would the water be? What color of fabric do we want for an excellent complement?
What makes this so interesting? This discussion about umbrellas happened when it was around midnight for me. Rudy was on a transcontinental flight, and his son was in London. Here we were all chiming in at once on the decision-making… live and in a completely unplanned manner. Within 10-15 minutes, we had a decision and were good to go. The umbrellas would be turquoise, square, and perfect to complement the pool. When they weren’t in use, they could be folded and put in their custom protective sleeves. We decided this live and far away from each other — very cool!
The “going with someone local” mentality
Most people, especially Americans, gravitate to an architect nearby to the project site. For example, in California, if an architect works in Sacramento, they are not going to look to him for a house in San Diego. The U.S. is so big that people are used to working with someone local. Small countries work entirely differently. For example, in Costa Rica, local architects, especially those in beach or rural areas, are “getting by.” Still, they are usually not at the level of the professional that you expect. If you hire a local, then often, that’s when you hear “the work is so bad.” There are a few good locals, but not necessarily good on an international level.
Internationally Recognized Award Winners
As an award-winning architectural firm, we have proven that we have the expertise, experience, and talent to compete with much larger international design firms. Not bad for a small firm in Costa Rica.
In that context, we’ve found that the secret to designing in paradise and working with our clients from a distance is to develop a system tailored to work remotely with international clients. Part of that system is to work with a process that incorporates client communication and interaction that is seamless and easy to use. The SARCO System® allows us to do just that and create your ultimate luxury sanctuary in paradise, no matter where you are. Designing in Paradise is no longer just a dream. We are here to make it a reality.
SARCO Architects Costa Rica
