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Tres Amores House in Nosara, Costa Rica by Studio Saxe

Project name:
Tres Amores House
Architecture firm:
Studio Saxe
Location:
Nosara, Costa Rica
Photography:
Andres Garcia Lachner
Principal architect:
Benjamin G. Saxe
Design team:
Collaborators:
Interior design:
Built area:
515 m²
Site area:
Design year:
Completion year:
2020
Civil engineer:
Structural engineer:
Sotela Alfaro Ltda.
Environmental & MEP:
CIEM Elecromecanica
Landscape:
Lighting:
Supervision:
Visualization:
Tools used:
Construction:
JIMACO

Material:
Wood, Concrete, Glass, Metal
Budget:
Client:
TheSrebnick Family
Status:
Built
Typology:
Residential › House

The San Jose-based architectural practice Studio Saxe led by Benjamin Garcia Saxe has recently completed Tres Amores House located in Nosara, Costa Rica.

Studio Saxe was commissioned to design a family home perched on the hilltops of the town of Nosara Costa Rica, that would blend and hide within its natural surroundings whilst opening to the dramatic ocean and mountain views.

Concept: Two extended horizontal roof planes provide protection from the natural elements and create large terraces that bring the outside in. A tall vertical volume of circulation interrupts the rooflines and joins all parts of the dwelling. Dark and matte materials were taken as inspiration from the surrounding natural landscape to create a harmonious dialogue between the dwelling and the lush mountain it now belongs to.

a house surrounded with tropical plants in Costa Rica image © Andres Garcia Lachner

 

Design: Due to the constrained nature of the size of the site, Studio Saxe decided to create a house composed of two floors that in turn are staggered to break the mass of the dwelling. Living public spaces below are linked to private bedrooms above by a dramatic vertical core that provides the entrance of the home and a moment of intense connection to the framed views of the ocean. Softer interior spaces are juxtaposed to harsher textured exterior cladding of charred teak wood and black framed windows.

modern residence with swimming pool surrounded with green landscape image © Andres Garcia Lachner

Construction: The construction method of this dwelling came directly from understanding the capability of the soil to hold weight and the seismic conditions that exist in Costa Rica. Together with engineers Studio Saxe decided to create a lightweight steel structure that would pre-cut off site and assembled quickly and efficiently on the site. Teak wood is a prevalent material in the area which is sustainably resourced, and thus the studio and the client wanted to explore the possibility of giving longevity to this natural material by exploring the ancient technique of charring it and finishing with special natural oils. This blend of ancient and new technologies creates an architecture that is both tropical and timeless.

Tres Amores House in Nosara, Costa Rica by Studio Saxeimage © Andres Garcia Lachner

Sustainability: Studio Saxe begins every design process with a careful analysis of the phenomenological site conditions and then explores ways of integrating client dreams and comforts within the natural habitat. Bioclimatic Design creates the ideal technical design process to scientifically understand wind patterns, sun exposure, temperature, and many other aspects to then shape the design intelligently to adapt to these conditions without the use of active energy measures. The Tres Amores House uses the power of the sun to heat water, minimize energy consumption, as well as recycles water through filters, and utilizes state of the art treatment plant systems. This design is a clear reflection of an approach to design that combines high tech preemptive design with low tech construction methods.

luxury home with glass windowsimage © Andres Garcia Lachner

modern house with black wooden facade image © Andres Garcia Lachner

wooden staircase with green plants image © Andres Garcia Lachner

dining area with wooden table and panoramic view of the forest through window image © Andres Garcia Lachner

pendant lamp hanged over dining table image © Andres Garcia Lachner

kitchen design with stools bar chairs image © Andres Garcia Lachner

terrace of the house image © Andres Garcia Lachner

the tropical forest view from the terrace image © Andres Garcia Lachner

cozy living room with green sofa image © Andres Garcia Lachner

bedroom with large windows image © Andres Garcia Lachner

green sofa and chair image © Andres Garcia Lachner

dining table located near kitchen image © Andres Garcia Lachner

the reflection of sunset in the windows of the house image © Andres Garcia Lachner

First Floor Plan First Floor Plan 

Second Floor Plan Second Floor Plan 

Front Elevation Front Elevation 

Section drawing plan Section

Architectural diagram Dragram 

Architectural Diagram Diagram 


By Naser Nader Ibrahim

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