Costa Rica Treehouse

{"version":"0.3.0","atoms":[],"cards":[],"markups":[],"sections":[[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"Built for clients who surf\nand are stalwart environmentalists, this carbon-positive house is inspired by\nthe jungle that surrounds it on Costa Rica\u2019s Pacific coast. The home is made\nentirely of locally harvested teak, and it engages with the jungle on each of\nits three levels. It was envisioned as an open-air surfer\u2019s hut where ocean\nbreezes and ample daylight permeate its spaces. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"When staying at the house,\nthe routine of the clients and their two young children revolves entirely\naround surfing. They move back and forth between the property and the water,\nfrom morning until night, underscoring their intimate connection to the\nincredibly bio-diverse jungle. "]]],[1,"blockquote",[[0,[],0,"\u0022A beautiful lantern in the\njungle, this design is a celebration of time-honored craft and materials.\u0022 - Jury comment"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"At the start of the\nproject, the clients introduced the design team to their temporary home, a tent\nthat sat atop a wooden platform in a small natural clearing. Originally built\nby the mother of one of the clients, the tent\u2019s double-canvas layer offered\nprotection from the elements, while the platform elevated them above the\nactivity of the jungle floor. The tent informed the clients\u2019 vision for a new\nhome, which they wanted to be a simple but more permanent fixture in the\nlandscape."]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In the new home, the ground\nfloor opens to the jungle floor, while the middle level is nestled into the\ntrees. The top level stands above the tree canopy, offering the family sweeping\nviews of the surf at nearby Playa Hermosa beach. A series of wooden screens\u2014all\nhand operable to foster active engagement with the context\u2014on all floors allow\nair and light to pass through the house. As a result, the quality of light\nshifts throughout the day as framed and filtered views respond to the interplay\nof light and shadow. "]]],[1,"blockquote",[[0,[],0,"\u0022It touches the earth lightly and with respect. A masterfully simple\nhome that elevates shelter to a poetic level.\u0022 - Jury comment"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"\u201cA beautiful lantern in the\njungle, this design is a celebration of time-honored craft and materials,\u201d said\nthe jury. \u201cIt touches the earth lightly and with respect. A masterfully simple\nhome that elevates shelter to a poetic level.\u201d"]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"A generous roof overhang\nfunctions much like a tree canopy, offering shading and rain protection. A 3.5\nkW solar array on the roof supplies all of the home\u2019s power needs during\ndaylight hours and also powers the pool\u2019s circulation pump. During the rainy\nseason, all water needs are provided by a subterranean rain catchment system. "]]],[1,"p",[[0,[],0,"In many ways, the home is a\nlarge solar umbrella sitting on four live edge teak logs and enclosed by porous\nscreens. Though it is not an indigenous species, teak grows quickly in Costa\nRica, and much of the wood was sourced locally. The home was built by a local\nbuilder and craftsmen who used as much local material as possible. "]]]]}