Projects · Tourism
Architecture for tourism developments in Costa Rica
Every tourism development starts from the land, the water, the vegetation and the climate of the site. We plan hotels, lodging and trails in stages, with the cost of each component so you can decide what to build first.
How we think about it
Every project reviews about a hundred topics, from the site and the light to cost and operation. On each one we take a position. The sum of those positions is what gives the project its shape.
Some we often consider.
Building on what exists
We walk the site before drawing a line. Trees, streams, slopes and views decide where each piece goes. More on design shaped by climate, water and vegetation.
Space and light
Building on a slope, under heavy rain and in the tropical sun means thinking in volume, not only in plan, with the section, the shade and the water from the start.
Do more with fewer elements
A few well-placed pieces and lightweight construction systems reduce the impact and the investment. The plan is organized in stages to decide what to build first.
The building ten years on
Materials that age well in a humid climate and maintenance the operator can take on.
From territory to detail
We review the site and the building in all their dimensions before proposing. We return to that reading at every stage of the project. See also environmental clearance in our guide.
- TerritoryEcology, climate, soil and energy of the site.
- PhysicalEcology, climate, soil and energy
- CityMobility, land use, urban image and community.
- UrbanInfrastructure, mobility, land use and urban image
- SocialCommunity, culture, economy, politics and regulations
- BuildingSpace, form and function at the service of the people who use it.
- SpaceRelationships, organization, hierarchy and proportion
- FormVolume, composition and architectural system
- FunctionProgram, circulation, access and building services
- DetailLight, color, texture and the way each material comes together.
- TectonicsConstruction system, materials and building time
- PerceptionLight, color, texture, views, air and scents
We support the whole process with one team. Design, permits, costs and construction inspection, so that what was designed gets built.
Frequently asked questions
Can you build in the maritime terrestrial zone?
The first 50 meters from the high tide line are public and cannot be built on. The next 150 are used under a concession from the coastal municipality with ICT approval and require a valid coastal zoning plan. We review it before drawing anything.
What does SETENA require for a hotel?
Every tourism development needs environmental clearance. SETENA sets the instrument according to the project size and the fragility of the site. It is best to know it before the schematic design because it changes timelines and design.
Can it be built in phases?
Yes. We plan the whole complex from the start and split it into phases that can operate on their own, so the project opens and grows with its own income.
How is the operating cost lowered?
From the section. Cross ventilation, shade and eaves lower energy use before adding equipment. Materials that withstand rain and sea breeze lower maintenance.
Planning a hotel or a tourism development?
We start with the site and the landscape, with a yield study, a preliminary cost and the permit path.