House Design To Frame The Surrounding Nature And Capture The Cosmic Energies

Nestled on the remote mountains of Palmichal de Acosta, Costa Rica, and surrounded by cloud forest, lies Casa Salvaje, a brutalist tropical haven. The house is 100% OFF-the-grid and relies on solar energy for power and on spring water captured uphill on the property. The architect’s intent for this project was to frame the surrounding nature and capture the cosmic energies of such a privileged site. The materials for the house were carefully chosen to age well in the grueling elements of the tropics, but also to blend with the landscape. However, the pure geometrical shapes of the design, create the desired contrast between the architecture and the natural surroundings. The house is entered through a poured concrete geometric space, that we call the ’vortex’. Healing crystals were incrusted on the concrete floor, right beneath the circular sky opening, in order to capture moonlight, sunlight, rain, and celestial phenomena. These energies are then passed on to every visitor as they enter the