Category: Hospitality & Wellness

Location: Atenas, Alajuela, Costa Rica 
Year: 2017
Area: 164 Ha


Monte de Oración is an holistic wellness complex located in Atenas, Costa Rica. The area is mostly known for its agriculture, with coffee and sugarcane as the main crops. It also offers diverse touristic activities such as wildlife tours, hiking, sight-seeing, coffee tasting and several waterfalls.  Atenas is considered to have one the best climates in the world with average temperatures in the mid 21°C year-round.

The site consists of 164 ha or roughly 1,640,000 m2. It has an irregular topography and 76% of the area is preserved for conservation. Because of the size of the project, several large-scale aspects are considered and integrated, such as water, energy and waste management as well as agriculture, commerce, leisure, hopitality, housing and spiritual wellness. There is only one access point on the easternmost side of the terrain and several internal roads leading to each programatic cluster.

The project consists of over 35 different programatic typologies. These are organized and grouped into 4 main clusters: Spiritual health and wellness, Hospitality and residential, Arts and culture, and Retail, entertainment, workplace & convention centers. Each cluster is layed out in the terrain ranging from most public to most private. Different organizational schemes are used. These include circuits, nodes, grids, neighbourhoods, and varying circulation methods depending on the program whilst the overall project is a combination of all.

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: Santa Ana, San José, Costa Rica
Year: 2017
Area: 70,608 m2

La Caraña is an equestrian facility located in Santa Ana, Costa Rica. It has been operating since 1969, when it became the country’s first equestrian club.

The site has two main entries. The first one acts as the general entry point for club members and is located in the northern side of the property. It connects with Ruta 27, one of the country’s busiest highways. The second entry is located near a residential area in the southern side of the property.

For the proposal, activities carried out within La Caraña are classified into three groups: equestrian, club and commercial. Sub-categories within these groups are organized and spatial relationships are established. Once the program is set, the existing building structures are studied to determine which are maintained and which are re-built or moved to another location.

Each of the three main blocks are assigned an area in the corners of the site. The central area of the property remains as common space. Clusters, bands and nodes are used to create relationships between architectural elements, circulation and green areas. In doing so, a series of circuits are created so that users may navigate the project freely. Articulating nodes connect these circuits and integrate all of the project’s programs.