Costa Rican architecture
An overview of projects, products and exclusive articles about Costa Rican architecture
Project • By VOID • Private Houses
Dolce far niente House
Located on the coast of Guanacaste, Costa Rica, Casa Dolce far niente is set in a privileged natural environment, surrounded by lush vegetation and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean. This region, known for its striking landscapes that blend mountains and sea, creates a serene atmosphere where tranquility and connection with nature are essential. The house's strategic location not only maximizes the benefits of the tropical climate but also harmoniously integrates the project with its surroundings, respecting the topography and local biodiversity.
Andres Garcia Lachner
Andres Garcia Lachner
The architecture of the house is characterized by simple and functional lines, showcasing a minimalist composition that prioritizes comfort... More
Project • By Studio Saxe • Private Houses
Pergola House
| ConceptInspired by the natural beauty of Costa Rica, Studio Saxe envisioned a design where the architecture itself becomes a bridge between the verdant outdoors and the intimate indoors. Our approach centered on a series of elegant pergolas, crafted not only to unify the garden with the living spaces but to extend the outdoor experience, inviting the gentle caress of coastal breezes and the symphony of mountain and ocean vistas into the heart of the home.
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| DesignWe envisioned a series of structured rib elements designed to expand or contract, responding to the presence of trees and the nuances of the topography. This adaptability allows the architectural program to harmonize with its l... More
Project • By Latitud 10 Architecture • Private Houses
Zurquí Residence
On a typical afternoon, the wind blows strongly bringing a fine drizzle that keeps everything humid. In the distance, the sun shines through the clouds letting in some rays that slightly warms you. The wind is easily heard as it passes through the surrounding trees and conifers. This is the context of the project that evokes the search for and development of a simple (minimalist) project that does not overshadow its context, but rather takes advantage of it to create welcoming introverted spaces to enjoy its environment within the warm comfort of its internal spaces.
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
The project revolves around a... More
Project • By Latitud 10 Architecture • Private Houses
Bridge Residence
The main goal of the Bridge Residence was to articulate the project in a relatively narrow property for its size. This caused a longitudinal distribution of the spaces. For this, it was possible to distribute the house in such a way that there were two main areas (private and social) connected to each other by a “bridge”.
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
In the same way, it was sought to generate a completely open social space and directly connected with the external terrace so that it functions as an extension of the internal spaces and thus expand them further. Similarly, the owners wanted to create a double-height space which was located in th... More
News • News • 4 Jan 2023
Raintree House sensitively floats above the Costa Rican jungle
Located in Nosara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, the Raintree House by Studio Saxe is a contemporary house crafted with natural and local materials. Surrounded by jungle and featuring views over the ocean, the design focuses on well-being through a connection to nature.
Kirsten Ellis
Within a clearing on the crest of a hill, the house's concrete foundation allows the main prefabricated steel elements above to cantilever and seemingly float over the landscape. The seismic-proof structural design draws from industrial construction methods and has a warm and domestic touch thanks to the careful placement of materials and cladding.
Kirsten Ellis
The main living area and bedroom are located on the second floor, wh... More
Project • By Latitud 10 Architecture • Private Houses
Nest Residence
The concept of this project is based on the development of a house with these main qualities: warmth, comfort and modern appearance. For this reason, the Nest metaphor was used, taking as a starting point the development of a fabric of different materials that will help us generate these sensations.
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
From the inside, the social area opens completely towards the backyard, integrating it into the daily life of social activities. The large double height window of the stairs, works as a large lantern that illuminates the exterior at night and at the same time as a great source of collection for natural lighting.
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
Latitud 10 Arqu... More
Project • By Latitud 10 Architecture • Private Houses
Eclectic House
The concept of this residence goes from the eclectic idea in order to find a mixture between a colonial and contemporary trend. This is why it is sought to generate small garden spaces recalling some “zaguán” (hallway) and that in this way the different spaces have natural ventilation and lighting. Always on this same idea, we sought to use wood as a conductive thread along the internal spaces of the house to generate warmth. The aim was to generate unified open spaces to have a modern internal layout but keeping the privacy of the kitchen area.
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
Upon entering the lobby, it communicates directly with a small semi-private garden that we can glance through openings in the walls that simultaneous... More
Project • By Latitud 10 Architecture • Residential Landscape
The Forrest House
The main consideration of the project was its location, this regarding to its peculiar topography and its climatic context. Located in the upper area of the mountain region of Heredia, the climate is characterized by an almost constant permanence of rain throughout the year. This creates an environment of high humidity, combined with strong gusts of wind and a low relative temperature.
Latitud 10 Arquitectura
That is why the project seeks to protect its interior from these climatic conditions in order to maintain a warm and relaxed atmosphere inside, but with large windows that allow you to visually enjoy the exuberant vegetation outside.
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Latitud 10 Arquitectura
When designing the project, we combined materials an... More
Project • By Latitud 10 Architecture • Residential Landscape
Xihu Residence
The Xihu Residence is based on two very important premises for its owner: to have all the internal comforts of a house through the use of technologies to seek the sustainability of the operation of the house.
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Due to these two premises, the owner wanted to incorporate the use of a centralized HVAC system and optimize its operation by carrying out the construction of the project through the ICF system that provides the best possible insulation. In the same way, the chosen HVAC system is highly efficient, and the proposed windows are double-paneled in order to minimize the demand for the residence’s operating load.
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The design combines all these needs with the use of different textures and materials that link t... More
News • News • 27 Apr 2021
La Garita house influenced by Costa Rican building traditions
In the small town of La Garita, Costa Rica, this house for a young couple is influenced by the building traditions of this old town and its strong relationship with its rural and natural surroundings.
Roberto D’Ambrosio
Designed by arkosis, the house can be seen as an extension of the shade trees that border the ravine, which also defines the limit of the terrain. Stones, reeds, and a small bridge are included as well and associated with the bodies of water in the surrounding region.
Roberto D’Ambrosio
Ornamental clay bricks that appear in the traditional houses of the region are employed to create a neutral façade linked to the local infrastructure. The wall is used to mitigate the elongated orien... More