Designed by Studio Saxe, the Santiago Hills Villa is a new eye-catching home with a dramatic roofline located in the jungle of Costa Rica. The private residence features multiple bedrooms and living spaces, each of which are angled to view the ocean and are positioned to take advantage of the cooling winds while being protected from the elements by the large overhanging roof.

Santiago Hills Villa by Studio Saxe

The following text is courtesy of the architects:
Studio Saxe was commissioned to design a villa on the hill tops of Santiago in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. The primary objective was not only to provide dwellers with a connection with its jungle surroundings, but also generate an intimate relationship with an amazing view of the shoreline which brings its dwellers back to a more profound appreciation of the natural world.

Concept
Studio Saxe decided to create a large roof that would house within a series of bedrooms and living spaces that would all be turned sideways in order to face the prominent views. Interstitial spaces within the living volumes create gaps that enhance a deeper connection to the natural surroundings whilst moving about the dwelling.

Design

Every space in the home has been angled to view the ocean, and this twist creates a geometric relationship between the roofline and the spaces that became the primary element of design that both addresses the need for large overhangs (for climate control and comfort) but also generates a literal connection between the view and every space.

This white house in the jungle acts a canvas so that morning and sunset light reflect on its surfaces creating an array of colors that vary throughout the day. The angled surfaces also allow for the reflection of shadows and the textures of nature to play within the interstitial spaces that exist between the living spaces.

Construction

Due to the remoteness of the location and difficult access, Studio Saxe decided to create a light steel frame that could be prefabricated off site, brought, and assembled in a fast and effective way. This not only ensured the quality of the construction in a very remote location, but it also allowed the process of construction to be very light touch and the intervention on the site to be very minimal while creating the sensation of large open spaces that bring the view in and at the same time are protected by a large roof held by steel “I” beams.

Sustainability

Studio Saxe believes that proper design with nature should be the first focus of sustainability and thus, this villa has been oriented properly to take advantage of predominant winds for cooling. Also, long overhangs protect from the sun and the rain in the most critical parts of the day creating comfort without the use of energy. A light touch construction method meant that the impact on the site was minimal during the implementation of the villa and the extended roofline also serves as a means to collect water and energy generation.

Type: Residential › Private House
STATUS: Built
YEAR: 2020
SIZE: 3000 sqft – 5000 sqft

Studio Saxe

Design Director: Benjamin G. Saxe
Photography: Andres Garcia Lachner
Builder: Sebastian Patenaude
Structural Engineer: Guidi Estructurales
Electromechanical Engineer: CIEM