The Jungle Frame House | Nosara, Costa Rica

Overview

Costa Rica Steel frame house creates a tropical atrium bringing the jungle inside.

The client commissioned Studio Saxe to create a dwelling in the jungle that brings the outside in. The property was composed of a slope that went down into a beautiful creek that overlooks the jungle. Studio Saxe decided to create a large triple height space to be able to see the sky all the way from the bottom of the jungle floor and to appreciate the full scope of every tree that surrounds the house. This volume of space enclosed in glass is a powerful moment that brings shadows inside, natural ventilation and provides a place which is always surrounded by the jungle.

Concept

The counter-intuitive design thought of sinking the house in the ground and at the same time creating a vertical atrium, that creates a powerful moment of discovery when one enters the house. The house is composed of bedrooms that float over the landscape and a common living space that feels inside and out.

Design

We chose to ground the main living area in the forest, allowing us to create a tall, dramatic space atop it, paradoxically bringing the forest’s essence inside the property. This deepens the bond between human habitation and the surrounding natural world. Instead of a conspicuous white air conditioning unit, we opted for a transparent structure nestled within the existing trees. The house’s elements adapt to the topography and tree locations.

Construction

The construction method applied to this project consisted of large metal I beams that were prefabricated off-site and assembled in the property, therefore creating a light weight, sustainable and ephemeral construction process with very low impact on the jungle. This method of construction allowed for a quick installation on-site, reduction of costs and extreme openness of lightweight tropical architecture. This modern construction method combines steel with traditional teak wood work techniques for panels and doors.

Sustainability

The project is conceived to protect itself from the sun in the afternoon through a beautiful louvered wall that filters light creating a specular effect of light coming through the leaves. Carefully placed openings with a correct orientation allow for cross ventilation to create comfort without the use of air conditioning. All materials where chosen to have minimum impact on site during construction as well as using reforested certified teak for the more natural elements of the house. The use of solar hot water and solar energy is prevalent in the construction, therefore minimizing the carbon footprint.

 

More about this project

Creates “tropical atrium” within Jungle Frame House in Costa Rica.

Designs a lightweight house in Costa Rica.

Brings costa rica’s tropical landscape to the interior of the jungle house.

 

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Project Data

Location
Nosara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Date of Completion
2018
Client
Private Residence
Area
Approx. 340m2

Project Team

Design Director
Benjamin G. Saxe
Builder
Construction PROS
Structural Engineer
Sotela Alfaro Ltda.
Electromechanical Engineer
Dynamo Studio
Photographer
Andres Garcia Lachner

Publications

2019
2019
2019
2023
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