The Courtyard House by Studio Saxe

Houses

A series of homes were carefully placed around existing trees on a hill top which brings ocean and jungle views inwards whilst creating a sense of comfort and security for the inhabitants.

Architecture Firm: Studio Saxe
Location: Nosara, Costa Rica
Date of completion: 2019
Client: Andaluz
Area: Approx. 464m2
Design Director: Benjamin G. Saxe
Builder: JIMACO
Structural Engineer: Sotela Alfaro Ltda.
Electromechanical Engineer: Dynamo Studio
Landscape: Vida Design Studio
Photography: Roberto D’Ambrosio

About Studio
Benjamin G. Saxe set up his own practice in San Jose, Costa Rica in 2004, with the aim of exploring our relationship with the natural environment through architecture. Since then, Studio Saxe has grown into an award-winning international practice made up of a multidisciplinary team, creating buildings and spaces by blending technological innovation with handcrafted techniques to form truly sustainable designs.

Founded on the belief that buildings must connect to their landscape – whether a tropical paradise or a concrete jungle – Studio Saxe brings a global attitude to solve local problems.

Ideas and techniques from around the world can be harnessed to benefit communities, both at home and abroad. Local traditions and identities are explored and developed, ensuring a process whereby we learn from the past and build for the future.

The dedicated architects and designers at Studio Saxe uncover new design solutions for every project, treating each building as an opportunity to improve methods and approaches, responding to specific places. Working alongside clients and collaborators, the studio continually seeks new forms and functions that blur the boundaries between natural habitats and inhabited space.

 

A contemporary tropical design house with two horizontal pavilions connected by a covered interior garden.
A contemporary tropical design house with two horizontal pavilions connected by a covered interior garden.
The living area on the left pavilion has a contemporary design with cushioned sofas, a glass-topped center table, and a floor-to-ceiling sliding door that lets in plenty of light.
The living area on the left pavilion has a contemporary design with cushioned sofas, a glass-topped center table, and a floor-to-ceiling sliding door that lets in plenty of light.
Another living room with cushioned sofas and a hexagonal three-center table, the room has a direct access to the garden.
Another living room with cushioned sofas and a hexagonal three-center table, the room has a direct access to the garden.
A white and grey-themed bedroom with a floor-to-ceiling door opening to the backyard garden. The room showing a strong link to the surrounding environment.
A white and grey-themed bedroom with a floor-to-ceiling door opening to the backyard garden. The room showing a strong link to the surrounding environment.
Another second-floor bedroom with a single modern chair. The room is outfitted with black-out curtains to provide privacy from the balcony.
Another second-floor bedroom with a single modern chair. The room is outfitted with black-out curtains to provide privacy from the balcony.
The floating sink counter is capped with marble all the way to the wall, giving this bathroom an attractive appearance.
The floating sink counter is capped with marble all the way to the wall, giving this bathroom an attractive appearance.
A modern tropical design garden on the second story deck.
A modern tropical design garden on the second story deck.
The second floor is surrounded by balconies that extend all the way to the garden. It contains glass railings as well as metal handrails.
The second floor is surrounded by balconies that extend all the way to the garden. It contains glass railings as well as metal handrails.
A courtyard with a tropical design garden and a swimming pool with a lounge space.
A courtyard with a tropical design garden and a swimming pool with a lounge space.
A contemporary house's facade with a strong link to the surrounding environment.
A contemporary house’s facade with a strong link to the surrounding environment.
An aerial view of a house carefully placed on a hilltop with views of the ocean and the jungle.
An aerial view of a house carefully placed on a hilltop with views of the ocean and the jungle.

Overview
Eco-conscious family business Andaluz commissioned Studio Saxe to create experiences around architectural designs that harness the power of the environment to create life changing experiences.

Concept
The Andaluz brand is all about meaningful and real experiences that combine comfortable human habitation with a deep connection to the surrounding landscape. A series of homes were carefully placed around existing trees on a hill top which brings ocean and jungle views inwards whilst creating a sense of comfort and security for the inhabitants.

Design
The Courtyard House is cleverly designed to work within existing trees creating an inward-looking landscape but also generating connections to the outside jungle. By diffusing boundaries between in-door and out-door spaces, the home allows the natural and the man made to coexist in harmony. Two horizontal pavilions joined by a protected internal Garden create a Contemporary Tropical Design that both blends and highlights its surroundings.

The Andaluz Brand is known for their durable and long-lasting construction methods as well as high quality materials. All these factors come together seamlessly to enhance the experience of the inhabitants and to create a longevity which is focused on low maintenance and high level of comfort.

Sustainability
Every home is designed with a high level of bioclimatic design through the understanding of natural phenomena such as wind, sun, and geological aspects to be able to protect and integrate the homes where necessary and open up and close where needed to create comfort without the use of energy. Both Studio Saxe and Andaluz believe that beauty and experience are intrinsic forms of sustainability which enhance the human experience and will last through the times.

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