Month: July 2020

Location: Escazú, San José, Costa Rica
Year: 2018
Area: 484 m2

Residencia BH is one of two houses designed by VOID in the same property in Escazú, Costa Rica. Escazú is one of the upper scale districts in the province of San José and is mostly surrounded by mountains.  

The site is accessed through the western side and has a sloped topography with the highest point in the southern sector. The incline is mostly uniform and as such, water runoff goes in the same direction (NW). Several autoctonous trees such as the Guacimo, Guachipelín, Llama del Bosque and Corteza Amarilla are found throughout the lot.

Residencia BH is located in the lower part of the site with the main entrance facing south. The common areas (dining room, living room) are located in the center of the lower level with a staircase separating them. Service rooms such as the bathroom, kitchen, and the laundry and storage rooms are positioned on the sides. The terrace, pool and outdoor bar are arranged on the northernmost part of the house facing a wooded area of the site. On the upper level, the master bedroom and bathroom occupy the western side of the house. The other two bedrooms, bathrooms and TV room are layed out on the opposite side.

Both houses share a similar material palette so as to give cohesion to the whole project. Materials used include: exposed concrete, glass pannels, gabion walls, metallic structural frames and varying types of stained wood for parasols, exterior and interior facades.

Location: Cachí, Cartago, Costa Rica
Year: 2019
Area: 5,150 m2

Cachi Wellness Center is located in Cartago, Costa Rica. The town of Cachí lies near the eastern bank of Lago Cachí, a man-made lake created by damming the river which used to flow past the town. The area is surrounded by coffee plantations and dense tropical forest. It is a popular spot for local and foreign tourists.

The site has over 6 hectares and an irregular geometry. It is accessed through the north side of the property and has a public road on the east. The terrain has a pronounced topography, with the highest point located on the southernmost sector and the lowest in the entry zone. Vegetation varies between dense tropical forest, pastures and bamboo woodlands.

The lower part of the site hosts most of the project’s amenities such as the restaurant, orchards, farm and pond as well as the front desk and storage warehouse. There are three existing buildings in this area which will be refurbished to meet the Wellness Center’s needs. Guest cabins are located in the middle section of the lot and are placed facing towards two volcanoes visible from the site. Typologies vary depending on the structural support system for each cabin, with one built on stilts and the other resting on the ground. Both seek to connect the user with the natural environment. The spa is positioned on the highest part of the property and lies hidden amongst a bamboo forest.

Materials used in the project vary according to the different programs. The cabins use a combination of burnt wood for exteriors and fine wood for interiors. Metal is utilized for structural elements such as stilts and details like stairs and railing. The spa combines natural elements such as stone and wood with the existing vegetation to convey a sense of connection with the natural environment.

Location: El Coco, Guanacaste, Costa Rica
Year: 2019
Area: 12,285 m2

Artflower & Agave is a mixed use complex located in Playas del Coco, Costa Rica. “El Coco”, as it is known locally, is one of the oldest beach communities in the province and continues to be ranked as one of the fastest growing areas of tourism in the country.

The site has a sloped topography and a small creek runs through it. The only access point is on the northern side of the property, facing Route 151. The rest of the property is surrounded by semi-dense woodlands. Zoning for the project was based on setbacks determined by the creek.

The project holds a warehouse, offices, a floral arrangement workshop, an outdoor event hall and a bar. The design for the offices and the workshop is based on local vernacular architecture. Both are located facing the main access point and are separated by a small plaza that leads towards the event hall. The road, parking lot and warehouse are all located parallel to these buildings. The bar is situated on the highest point of the property so as to offer views of the surrounding landscape.

Materials include polished concrete, glass panels, wood, reed, steel and metal siding. These are used to varying degrees depending on the building program. However, all buildings share a material palette to give cohesion to the whole project.