If you have ever wondered what happens when you blend the raw, imposing weight of brutalism with the airy, ephemeral nature of the Caribbean coast, Casa Rosabaya is the answer. Located on the pristine sands of Cosón Beach in Las Terrenas, Dominican Republic, this 1,500-square-meter architectural marvel is more than just a vacation villa—it is a masterclass in tropical modernism.
While the house itself is a stunner, the story of its creators is just as compelling. To truly understand this structure, we have to look at the minds behind the concrete.
The Minds Behind the Masterpiece: Arkina
Casa Rosabaya is the brainchild of Arkina, a Las Terrenas-based design and construction firm led by the husband-and-wife duo Joey Rapaglia and Monica Desangles. Established in 2017, the firm has quickly made a name for itself by fusing European precision with Caribbean soul.
The architects bring a unique multicultural perspective to their work. Monica Desangles is a Dominican architect and alumna of the Universidad Iberoamericana (UNIBE), holding a dual degree from the European University of Madrid. Her partner, Joey Rapaglia, is Swiss-Italian and a graduate of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra (PUCMM). This blend of backgrounds—Swiss-Italian rigor and Dominican warmth—is evident in every corner of Casa Rosabaya.
Coming from families of architects, design runs in their blood. Arkina operates as a “Design + Build” studio, meaning they don’t just draw the plans; they manage the construction. For Casa Rosabaya, this was crucial. It allowed them to treat the project as a laboratory, experimenting directly on-site with cement finishes and custom joinery that a third-party contractor might have deemed too difficult. Their philosophy is grounded in “material honesty”—using materials in their unadorned state to reflect the local environment authentically.
A Defragmented Approach to Living
One of the most striking features of the house is its refusal to be a single, monolithic block. Arkina designed a defragmented and asymmetrical plan, breaking the house down into separate volumes stitched together by a massive, oversailing concrete roof.
This fragmentation serves a functional purpose: it creates a series of “micro-environments” or small courtyards between the rooms. Instead of long, dark hallways, circulation happens through external covered walkways that force you to engage with the outdoors as you move from your bedroom to the living area.
A Laboratory of Grey
While many tropical villas lean on white-washed walls and thatched roofs, Arkina took a bolder approach. The palette is rigorously monochromatic, characterized by grey cement, grey stucco, and local wood.
The architects used this project to push the boundaries of cement. It’s not just on the walls; you’ll find polished cement on the kitchen countertops, the bathroom sinks, the main staircase, and even built-in seating in the living areas. This consistent use of material creates a sense of calm and continuity, allowing the vibrant greens of the vegetation and the turquoise of the ocean to pop against the neutral grey canvas.
Modernizing the Vernacular
Despite its modern, almost brutalist aesthetic, the design is deeply rooted in Dominican vernacular architecture. Rapaglia and Desangles didn’t just import a foreign style; they adapted local solutions to a luxury scale.
– Bloques Calados (Breeze Blocks): The design incorporates these traditional perforated blocks to allow air to filter through while maintaining privacy.
– Deep Overhangs: The massive concrete roof provides deep eaves (aleros) that shade the glass facades from the harsh sun and protect the open-air social areas from heavy rains.
– Pivoting Shutters: Oversized wooden shutters allow the house to be completely sealed off or thrown wide open to the trade winds, reducing the need for artificial cooling.
The Central “Batey”
In traditional Caribbean living, life happens in the courtyard. Casa Rosabaya reimagines this with two wings of the house flanking a central social zone. This area features a pool, a jacuzzi, and a large terrace that acts as the heart of the home. The layout ensures that all 12 bedrooms have ocean views while maintaining privacy from one another—a difficult feat for a property that sleeps up to 27 people.
Final Thoughts
Casa Rosabaya proves that concrete belongs on the beach. By respecting the local climate and utilizing traditional cooling techniques within a modern framework, Arkina has created a space that is robust enough to withstand the elements but porous enough to let the Caribbean soul breathe through it.