Architecture is always controversial when it comes to discussing sustainability, since building is not ecological, but we have to live somewhere. The important thing is that more and more, projects compensate for their damage to nature by including sustainable technology: water wells, LED illumination, and solar heating systems are just some examples.
The Costa Rican firm LDS ARCHITECTS presented Casa Negra, whose location on a hilltop has views of Playa Hermosa in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica. One of the most remarkable features is its geometry, inspired by nature’s curves and with the clear purpose of blending with the surroundings.
The exterior walls are made of black concrete, which creates contrast against the surrounding vegetation and the white walls inside, color chosen to provide light and a clean environment to the house’s interior. The social area on the second floor opens fully to guests thanks to its glass sliding doors, the ceiling is made of wood and together they create some kind of continuity that goes from the inside out. The opening of this space creates a lit environment with natural ventilation. It is a highly sustainable project, thanks to its rainwater collection systems and solar heating used in them.
Studio: Laboratory Sustaining Design (LSD ARCHITECTS) | Architects: Rodolfo Tinoco and Luis Mauricio Solís | Location: Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica | Area: 180 m2 | Year: 2016 | Photographer: Fernando Alda