Casa Allen
A primary and secondary forest is the context that we had to face for the Casa Allen development. Big trees going up until 10 meters of height regulate the solar incidence creating natural shadows on a site that reaches 39° in the dry season. A topography with subtle level differences allowed us to make minimal ground movements. Amazing views to the natural conservation areas. Who wouldn't want a protected forest as their backyard?
Can an edification coexist with a primary and secondary forest?
Multiple strategies allowed this.
The Site: Nosara Guanacaste. A primary and secondary forest is the context that we had to face for the Casa Allen development. Big trees going up until 10 meters of height regulate the solar incidence creating natural shadows on a site that reaches 39° in dry season. A topography with subtle level differences allowed us to made the minimal ground movements. Amazing views to the natural conservation areas. Who wouldn't want a protected forest as their backyard?
Materiality:
The material selection is a fundamental part of achieving coexistence with natural context. Directly and indirectly it has an effect in the ecosystem, that's why we use natural materials in a bigger proportions such as laminated wood for the primary structure that has closed cycles because it is plantation certified. For the walls we use hemp, which has great environmental benefits and a direct influence with the comfort, it also has closed life cycles, reduces the carbon footprint of construction, and it's even been proven that absorbs carbon dioxide of the air, it generate a big input for the acoustic and thermal comfort, this last one is one of the more critical at coast zones where the energetic consumption of the air conditioner represents a mayor expense.
Spatial organization:
The project consists in a social area with swimming pool, rooms for rent and a house for a French family who wanted to live close but keeping their independency. The architectonic program allowed us to organize the spaces around the "house's heart" the central patio, where the family is united by visual connections and social areas. The main site strategy was organizing the spaces around the trees, looking for areas where the impact was minimum and coexisting in harmony with the forest.
