Location: Playa Santa Teresa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Year: 2020
Area: 796 m2
Photographer: Leonardo Finotti
Guarumo is a contemporary residence located on the Costa Rican Pacific coast, where the characteristic tropical landscape is harmoniously combined with modern, simple and discreet architecture, all with a high degree of aesthetics / design.
The project is
located on a steep hillside, so the adequate positioning of the architectural
program is essential to guaranteeing a proper adaptation. The staggering of its
blocks favors a real adaptation to the topography of the site, minimizing the
impact to the soils and avoiding large movements of land and expensive
retaining walls. At the same time, it capitalizes on the spectacular views of
both the ocean and the dense natural landscape that surrounds it.
The heart of Guarumo
consists of a void, a fracture in the staggering of the program blocks, which
becomes the social meeting point of the project for both residents and guests.
The concept of non-matter being the focal point of this development is an
intentional irony, as it forces the vegetation to become the protagonist. This
common area is equipped with various amenities, among them its infinity pool
that reflects a perfect sunset, the bar / bbq and its terrace that extends over
the treetops. These provide the perfect setting for a genuine relationship with
nature and with the space, creating a unique experience for its users.
The project is a
reflection of the search that has marked our practice inn sustainable architecture
influenced by local and vernacular architecture, with a true understanding of
the land. Challenging a common misconception in tropical design that tends to
use non-long-lasting materials in the spirit of a more “natural” aesthetic, our
innovative board formed poured concrete proposal, though more difficult to
execute, provides a low maintenance solution that will stand the test of time.
Some of the elements
of sustainable architecture implemented are the strategic positioning of the
pool as a source of water in the direction of the prevailing winds to reduce
temperatures, the use of natural and local materials such as exposed concrete
and wood and the solar protection of the windows through solid eaves. The use
of large openings from floor to ceiling breaks the barrier between the interior
and the exterior to promote natural ventilation. Finally, the incorporation of
surrounding vegetation, the collection of rainwater and treatment of sewage
water for irrigation are some of the passive strategies for the development of
a sustainable project for a tropical context.
Thus, Guarumo is a
symbiotic proposal that, beyond trying to dominate the natural environment,
positions it as a focal point, an empty space through which the barriers
between the built and the autochthonous are broken, the discretion of the
design and the imposition of the panoramic beauty, setting the stage for social
interaction and cultural mixing that occur integrally in shared spaces.