From the studio and beyond
Building with Earth in Costa Rica: Rammed Earth and Bahareque in Modern Tropical Homes
Load-bearing adobe is banned in Costa Rica since 1910. How we use rammed earth and bahareque as walls and finishes on an approved concrete, steel or timber frame.
Designing Inside a Dry Forest Corridor: Conservation and Architecture in Playa Grande
In a dry forest corridor, trees, light, water and footprint set the design. The principles we apply in Playa Grande, from red lighting to native planting.
Water for Building Lots in Guanacaste: ASADA Letters, Wells and No-Feasibility Areas (2026)
No lot gets a permit without a water letter, and three ASADAS in Guanacaste give none today. Who issues it by zone, how long it takes, why to ask first.
Why Hire an Architect to Build a House in Costa Rica?
In Costa Rica your plans must be signed by a CFIA professional. What an architect handles from design to permit, how long it takes and what it changes.
What Does a House Design Project Include in Costa Rica? Stages and Deliverables
A design project in Costa Rica runs from site analysis to CFIA-signed plans and permits: at least 4 months of design, 5 to 9 months to the permit.
Why Build a Contemporary Tropical Modern House in Costa Rica?
A tropical modern house in Costa Rica stays cool with shade, eaves and cross-ventilation. Design decisions, materials and upkeep from our own projects.
What Defines Modern Architecture in Costa Rica? Features, Materials and Examples
Modern architecture in Costa Rica: clean lines, wide roofs and semi-covered spaces built for the tropics. Features, materials and examples from our projects.
Why Define the Design Before Budgeting a House in Costa Rica?
A budget without a finished design leaves out earthworks, walls, furniture and equipment. What each design stage lets you price and how to gain time.
What Are the Benefits of Bioclimatic Architecture in Costa Rica?
Bioclimatic design in Guanacaste uses orientation, cross-ventilation, deep eaves and shade trees to cut heat gain. Decisions and examples from our projects.
How Much Does It Cost to Build a House in Guanacaste, Costa Rica? (2026)
Building a house in Guanacaste costs 1,500 to 2,500 USD per m² in 2026, and up to 3,000 on a hillside. Studio ranges by zone, what they leave out and why.
Why Design the Garden With the House in Guanacaste, Costa Rica?
In Guanacaste a garden planned with the house gives shade, privacy and a lower water bill in the dry season. How we plan it, with examples from Playa Grande.
Building Permits in Costa Rica: Steps, Timelines and Water (2026)
A building permit in Costa Rica takes 5 to 9 months from the start of design. The steps in order, starting with the water letter, and what each one costs.
What Should a Complete Architecture and Landscape Project Include in Costa Rica?
A complete project in Costa Rica covers architecture, structure, systems and landscape: grading, drainage, planting, irrigation and lighting in one set.
Model Homes in Guanacaste, Costa Rica: Casa Canopy and Forest House Compared (2026)
Casa Canopy costs USD 890,000 with the lot, turn-key in about 12 months. Forest House plans from USD 20,000, turn-key from 595,000. What each includes.
How to Connect Indoor and Outdoor Spaces in a House in Costa Rica
In Guanacaste covered terraces, galleries and gardens extend the house outdoors. Which spaces work, which materials last and how they count in the budget.