Category: education

Location: Rio Jiménez, Limón, Costa Rica
Year: 2017
Area: 1,184 m2 


MAR (Modulos Autosuficientes Rurales) is a proposal for a new school in Rio Jimenez, Costa Rica. Rio Jimenez is located in a remote area near the country’s Caribbean coast. It has limited access to basic public services such as education and health centers. As such, efforts have been made to increase literacy rates within the town’s population.

The project aims to replace the existing education center and double it’s capacity from 400 to 800 students. In order to maximize the building’s effect on the community, it is also designed as a flexible space with multiple programmatic possibilities. Over 20 different configurations can be layed out depending on how the space will be used, including a market place on weekends, a town hall, or an emergency shelter in case of a natural disaster.

Building materials include wood, glass paneling, movable walls, concrete and metal siding. Passive climate control strategies are utilized in order to keep interior spaces cool and naturally ventilated. The building is also equipped to operate off-grid.

Location: Santa Ana, San José, Costa Rica
Year: 2017
Area: 11,810 m2



Filii is a school proposal located in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. It is based on the Montessori method of education which offers a child-centered approach that aims to develop children physically, socially, emotionally and cognitively.

The site has an irregular topography and is situated next to Route 27, offering easy access to one of the country’s main highways. It is surrounded by semi-dense vegetation on the western side of the property and the terrain is classified as Protection Zone by local land use regulations.

The project approach consisted of identifying the 4 main components that the school has and subdividing each according to their respective programs. These were established as: elementary school, high school, administration and service, and amenities. Using slope analyses, each group was assigned an area designated to its corresponding buildings within the site. The main building combines classrooms on lower levels with an elevated walkway on the roof. It also acts as a bridge between the main entrance and the furthermost portion of the school where the orchards and butterfly sanctuary are located. Amenities, administration offices and elementary school are scattered next to it.

The project uses a diverse material palette combining concrete, glass and metal facades with corten steel and colored metallic louvers. Color is used to identify grade levels within the school.

Location: Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica
Year: 2017
Area: 17,200 m2

The Convention Center is an avant-garde project with completely flexible spaces that allow different configurations according to the user’s requirements in an environment of analogies that allows us to reflect on the history of creation and nature. It uses biblical symbols and natural elements to remind the user of God’s promises. In addition, it is a self-sufficient project, reusing water and producing its own energy, a strategy that goes hand in hand with our Costa Rica’s vision of becoming carbon neutral by 2021.

VOID’s commitment to sustainability will be noted at this facility. This Convention Center will be able to generate its own electrical energy through solar panels. Hot water will be obtained through the radiation of the sun in the form of heat, rainwater will be collected, while gray water will be treated naturally and reused both in the same system and for irrigation. The materials used will be mostly natural, local and 100% recyclable, while automated systems that save energy and lower consumption will be implemented throughout the entire project.

Today’s demands for technology have brought design to a higher standard. With the country’s largest movable wall installation, operators will be able to offer a wide range of space configurations, allowing the staging of diverse activities and events.

Visitors approach the building through a series of organically landscaped terraces adapted to the topography that reveal an architecture that offers moments of contemplation and emotion. A meandering lagoon that accompanies the route is noticeable. It’s purpose, apart from giving freshness to the environment in a natural way, goes further, since it collects and retains rainwater as a control mechanism for venting and reuse.

On the rock and through a series of staircases that in turn function as small amphitheatres, the CC building emerges as a symbolism of the construction on the firm rock of the Bible. To go up to the main level, you must go through a corridor whose cover is a mirror of water, this symbolizes baptism. As we cross the corridor, we emerge as new people to the great lobby, a triple-height open space where we can appreciate a veneered wall with the figure of the Star of David, two triangles that represent the intimate relationship that exists between God and humanity. Here we can see 17 columns. These represent the 17th day of the seventh month, the day that Noah’s ark reached Mount Arafat, reemerging after baptism in a high place, reminding us of the grace of God.