A bespoke building studio crafting spaces with health and longevity in mind.
Proudly Tico-owned and operated, with an American standard.
Taino Builds is a boutique building studio in Costa Rica's Southern Zone, focused on specialty finishes: hand-troweled microcement, natural sealers, hardwood millwork and natural stonework. We pride ourselves on taking on only a few projects at a time, each designed in collaboration with Adobe Design Studio. And for those who want a healthier home, built with mineral and natural materials wherever possible, from the studs to the final finish, it all begins inside the wall.
The Taino envelope →
Healthy from the studs out, designed to minimize microplastics and harsh chemicals.
We spend about 90% of our time indoors, and some pollutants are often two to five times more concentrated inside a home than outside (U.S. EPA). Conventional paints, glues, plastic pipe and foam insulation can release chemicals and microplastics into the air we breathe and the water we drink.
- Rot-resistant structureNo wood in the frame for rot or termites
- Mold-resistant wallsMold- and water-resistant organic materials
- Wool insulationNatural fiber, quieter rooms
- Low-EMF by designShielded wiring, planned room by room
- Stainless steel waterNo PVC or PEX, no glued joints
- LED-free lightingSteady, warm light designed around natural sleep rhythms
- Natural finishMineral finishes, natural-wax sealers
Yes, you can flush the paper. Our homes run on a sealed fiberglass septic system that works as a biodigester. Natural bacteria are designed to break down waste, toilet paper included, before the treated water returns to the earth.
Specialty finishes, troweled by hand.
Microcement is well suited to the tropics. A thin cement-based layer applied by hand, it forms one seamless skin with no grout lines or seams for moisture and mold to settle into. It is built to stand up to heat, salt air and the rainy season, and can develop a soft natural patina over time.
We don't use traditional latex paints.
Our walls are finished in microcement, sealed with natural waxes.