Country house and finca construction in Quindío, Colombia
A large share of what we build is country houses: homes in rural gated communities, houses on the owner's own plot and weekend fincas (country estates) in Armenia, Quindío (Colombia), in the other towns of Quindío — Circasia, Filandia, Salento, Montenegro, Calarcá, La Tebaida — and across the rest of the Coffee Region. Our office is in central Armenia, a short distance from any rural area in the department.
Many of the people who build here do not live here: they have the house in mind for retirement, for weekends or for coming back. That is why this page explains what makes a project in the countryside different and what is worth checking before you buy the plot.
What makes a country house different
- The slope. In Quindío almost no plot is flat. Cut and fill, retaining walls and stormwater management weigh on the budget as much as the house itself, and they are the first thing to study. See slope stabilisation and retaining walls.
- The soil. The region's soils, largely formed on volcanic ash, may need improving before the foundations go in. The soil study decides the foundations, not habit.
- Earthquakes. Quindío is a high seismic hazard zone, as the 1999 earthquake and the earthquake of 10 August 2026 are there to remind us. Every house is designed and built to Colombia's NSR-10 seismic code, without exception.
- Water and sanitation. Outside town centres there is often no sewer: the house needs a septic or treatment system, and water may come from a rural community water system or from a water concession. Environmental permits are granted by the regional environmental authority, which in Quindío is the CRQ.
- Access. An unpaved road or a steep gradient pushes up the haulage cost of every load of materials. It is measured before budgeting, not afterwards.
- Rain. The region has two rainy seasons a year. Earthworks and roofing are scheduled so they are not left exposed in the middle of the wet season.
Before you buy the plot
It is far cheaper to rule out a plot than to fix one. Before signing the preliminary purchase agreement (promesa de compraventa), you should be clear on the following:
- That the plot can be built on. The municipal land-use plan (POT, PBOT or EOT) determines whether housing is allowed on that property, what minimum area is required and which zones are designated as at risk.
- That the title is clean. The certificado de tradición y libertad (title certificate) shows who the owner is and whether there are mortgages, court attachments or easements. The title search is carried out by a lawyer.
- That there is water and power, or that they can be brought in at a reasonable cost.
- That the slope and access are manageable for the house you want.
- Whether it lies within the Coffee Cultural Landscape (Paisaje Cultural Cafetero), which may impose additional requirements on what is built.
The free technical visit within Quindío is also useful at that stage: we look at the plot with you, or with whoever you send, and tell you what we see before you buy.
What it includes
- Plot assessment and budget with unit price analysis and a written schedule.
- Site preparation: levelling, retaining structures, drainage and stormwater management.
- Foundations and structure in reinforced concrete, or composite with a steel frame.
- Roofing with its structure and waterproofing, pergolas and eaves.
- Networks for plumbing, drainage and electricity, and a septic system where there is no sewer.
- Outdoor works: swimming pool, terraces, footpaths, parking areas and boundary walls and fencing.
- Finishes and handover with as-built drawings.
Country houses we have built
- Country House Lot 78 — Alcalá, Valle del Cauca. Two storeys: foundations, structure, roof, swimming pool and finishes.
- Casa del Bosque — Cauquillo, Pereira. Two storeys with swimming pool, terraces and a steel structure for roofs and pergolas.
- Casa Chambery Lot 9C — Malabar gated community, Cerritos, Pereira. Single-family home built end to end within a rural gated community.
Full photographs of each one are in the portfolio.
Building permit
A country house needs a building permit just like a house in town, and if the plot is going to be divided, a parcelling or subdivision permit as well. In Armenia permits are issued by the curadurías urbanas (municipal building-permit offices); in the other municipalities, by the planning office. The permit is issued in the owner's name: we support the process and coordinate with the designer and the issuing authority.
If you do not live in Quindío
That is the most common situation among people building a country house. We work with regular reports with photographic records, progress calls in English booked in advance and payments against verifiable milestones. We explain it in detail in building in Colombia from abroad and, if you are not Colombian, in the guide for foreigners.
Frequently asked questions
Do you build within rural gated communities?
Yes. Casa Chambery is in a gated community in Cerritos. Besides the building permit, a
gated community requires compliance with its condominium bylaws and their design rules.
Can I come to you without drawings?
Yes. We start with the plot and with how you want to live in the house, and we
coordinate the architectural and structural design needed for the permit.
How much does it cost to build a country house?
That depends above all on the plot: the slope, the soil, the access and the distance to
utilities affect the cost more than the finishes do. That is why we do not give figures
without seeing the property; after the visit, the budget arrives in writing and in detail.
Do you have a plot, or are you about to buy one? Send us the location and a few photographs and we will tell you what an engineer sees in it.