Entrepreneurship | Real Estate Development
Casa andalucia
A redevelopment project for an 8 room boutique B&B nestled atop a hill overlooking the bay. I handled all aspects of design, construction, engineering, and procurement. This project involved an emergency construction plan in response to a natural disaster, resulting in a resilient buildout.
Process
After
This property was sought out for its hillside location, spectacular views, and to further tap into the boutique hospitality market. When acquired, there was 1 room and 2 cabins being rented out exclusively on airbnb.
There were two iterations of remodeling and redesign here. The first was by choice; I converted a picnic area into a new cabin adorned with bamboo and glass bottle walls in the bathroom. I also demolished an existing treehouse style cabin and rebuilt it on a stronger foundation. Casa Andalucia has been cash flow positive since day 1.
In October 2017, there was a tropical storm that came through Nicaragua, which resulted in significant damage to the property. One by one, every single original retention wall fell, there was a landslide, trees fell on cabin roofs, and I entered into an emergency rebuilding and restructuring project, in the rain. Part of the main house on the top of the property suffered foundational damage resulting in high risk for collapse.
I assumed the role of designer, general contractor, and engineer. There were 20 men on staff, and weeks where I hired 10-12 extra men exclusively to move earth from the landslide because there was not enough space for an earth moving machine. With efficient management and consistent presence, the property was saved from collapse.
I redesigned the entire layout of the property, refortified with load-bearing retention walls, and built custom cabins and storage areas into the retention walls along the contour of the hill. The new cabins and storage areas incorporate green roofs and thermal mass to help regulate the temperature of internal spaces naturally. Construction also included a yoga platform for 25 people designed with yoga and wellness retreats in mind. Casa Andalucia now has 8 rooms/cabins and is one of the top rated properties in all of Nicaragua, a favorite amongst honeymooners and groups of friends.
