zU

Santa Teresa, Costa Rica  2024

Architecture :  zU-studio architecture 

Development :  WZ 

Creators : Javier Zubiria & Pierre Wizman 

N2 Private House in Santa Teresa Costa Rica 2024

N2 Private House in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is one of the most interesting countries to watch many types of different birds fly , there are more than 80 species flying around .

The project is willing to express freedom of movement and connection with nature .

The house, is opening up to the magnificent ocean views . while observing the sun during the entire day from sunrise to sunset.

The house is inspired by a local bird that is overlooking the horizon imagining patiently where to fly next . It is a celebration of the moment when it takes off by moving her wings. 

We wanted to find a simple but , at the same time, original way of building that fits into this particular context.

A systematic way of building that creates simplicity and elegance , while generating new and fresh situations both inside and outside the house

The sculptural form of the roof is inspired by the plumage of a bird and  is generated by a very light structure.

It is  a succession of plumage shape platforms at different heights , allowing the light enter through the gaps between them , as well as creating some interesting windows from the bedrooms on the first floor.

Some of these platforms are accessible for the humans experiencing the house  and they act as an extension of the terraces .

The importance of using natural shapes , almost a superposition of leaves , that all together are generating an interesting space opening up to the very unique views 

Crossed ventilation has been a key design element.

The house opens up to the views .

Thanks to the round shape of the house there are more meters looking on the ocean

The importance of using natural shapes , almost a superposition of leaves , that all together are generating an interesting space opening up to the very unique views 

The maximum height of the house is limited to 7 meters at the central part and it is descending towards both sides , trying to be as organic and connected to the context as possible 

The landscape around the house is be very important .

The way you discover the house and arrive to this central courtyard full of flowers , that acts as welcoming but also as gathering space , benefitting from the shadows generated by the sculptural roof ,

It is a house that celebrates the interior -exterior relation in the three floors.

The groundfloor accommodates most of the common areas , such as the connected living area and kitchen , the central courtyard that welcomes the guests into the house and the atelier on the back side of the structure .

There are three private bedrooms , all overlooking sea view.

The open semi circular terrace platform contains a pool and it is directly linked to all the different areas on the groundfloor .

On the first floor there are two suites, master bedrooms . 

The light on each room  comes through  three facades .

Both have generous terraces that are connected to the roof platforms .

This house is transmitting the way zU-studio understands architecture .

The main goal in architecture is , in our opinion,  to create the right environment , atmosphere for people to experience eudaimonia or human fullfilment . 

Life is a constant exploration and our cities and buildings should allow bring that exploring process and that curiosity to the maximum expression . The spaces we experience should allow us experiment , they need to inspire us and make us grow both individually and collectivelly .

01 Freedom  of creation . Follow you intuition.

Connection with our own intuition as artists  .

The possibility to tune into a universal consciousness that connects us with an endless source of inspiration .

Sometimes architecture tends to be rational and rigid , almost as if architects are creating using a recipe that could work same way for all different scenarios .

We are more interested on listening to our natural instincts when we visit a particular location with a specific context , and we talk with the people who are going to be experiencing the new creation .

All situations are new , all people you work with are unique and we as architects have the responsibility to understand and respond to each particular situation differently .

It is beautiful to feel how ideas are flowing and coming into life almost on a natural way , new fantasies are coming to our minds , and we , as creators, we should be on a specific conscious state to allow and invite them to become real through our craft.

Projects that are created and built with emotions, will eventually transmit emotions to those who will be living and experiencing them.

Feel free as a creator to create new things each time . Trying to release all the unnecessary pressure, but obvioulsy always making sure to have the right intensity.

Try not to repeat ourselves, even if our kind of sensibility is always somehow present , but more in the soul of the project rather than in the shape or materiality of it .

The freedom that we experience while creating will be transmitted to real experience .

A project is energy . And the energy generated during the creation will be expressed on the end result , that but the way , is also in constant change , since the everything is in movement and the light conditions, for example, are constantly changing.

02 Symbolism of the project

Some projects should transmit an idea and a symbolism .

Sometimes the symbol belongs to a specific culture, sometimes it represents a specific historical context .

A symbol that humans can identify with or can relate it with a story that is familiar to them.

Architecture is a powerful instrument to manifest strong ideas .

Deep and meaningful well thought projects , are able to express a magical soul.

If the idea is strong, its power will guide you over all decision making during the process .

Architecture can be connected directly to cultural symbols or/and it can become a cultural symbol in itself .

03 Structural composition.

Structure not only from a pure engineering aspect so the building it is stable enough and  does not collapse, but we need to  curate it as the main decorative and space creating element .

Articulating the different spaces that configure the program of the building through the right composition of the structure .

The importance of composing well the position and the dimension of each structural element.

Every element should fit into the collective harmoniously, every element should be proportional and well measured taking into account the scale of the project .

Structure is the real creator of the  space , through the new volume that is built and the light /shadow generated on both inner and outer facades.

Well designed structure will allow natural light come in on a special way.

The rhythm that we create through composing the structure is key .

Vitrubio said firmitas, utilitas, venustas to define strength, utility and beauty.

These three characteristics are deeply related to each other , and they need to work harmoniously .

04 New functions adapted to the new era 

How is the contemporary spiritual sacred space that we humans so much need to connect as individuals and as collectives ?

Are the current functions on our cities obsolete?

How can meaningful spaces inspire our interactions ?

Can we , as creators, work together with the developers inventing new functions that might be profitable and good for the healthy growth of our cities?

We need to work on long term visions, that are benefitial for our neighbourhoods .

Everybody talks about mental health , but is our current infrastructure ready to face these issues ?

Some years back there were no gyms , and now we see an evolution on these spaces where people are working out physically .

How will the spaces where people will work out their emotions and their mental health ?

Could we create a space to observe our thoughts and eventually to be able to share them and exchange vulnerabilities?

05 Simplicity and honesty in materials  

06 Form follows function or viceversa   

This relation is different on every project. It is nonsense to try to have a generic answer for every project 

Sometimes the most beautiful projects are those who create a free scenario where users can even invent ways of using them that were not anticipated by the architect, but the revolutionary form has inspired them to do so.

On these projects revolutionary shapes and geometries might trigger humans curiosity more than a totally rational conventional and boring architecture .

The goal as architects is to create places where the humans can feel a connection with , a place that evoke new emotions .

07 Timeless pieces

Good architecture will last , will last physically and will last on people´s memory .

If humans love a building they will try to preserve it .

Preservation does not mean , that the building cannot evolve with the time , maybe being adapted to new functions as time passes. But, it can evolve as the soul remains.

08 Experience is a sum of elements 

Composition of the space , the way the program has been curated , structure , light, …

The building has a spefific energy , that is generated by responding and making many decisions.

As architects, we can transmit and create certain energy , that the users of that bulding will feel.

The design and the construction processes are key to create the right energy .

If it is a happy and fulfilling process , there are chances to create a good meaningful atmosphere. These comes into details as the relation that you have as an architect with a constructor or with the developers, and even the relation with all the professionals that are involved on the execution.

09 Focusing on the right direction

Architecture is about questions and answers , but if questions are not good enorugh it is imposible to access to quality answers.

Therefore, it is very important to spend time thinking and working on the right questions, in order to have interesting answers .

Details are very important , they almost define the quality of the project.

But as important as individual details on the project is that the project as an entity feels good and feels correct for its purpose.

10 Celebrate beauty .

Beauty as a need , not an exclusive luxury. Take beauty very seriously.

Es Devlin says, poetry is not a luxury . It is a vital necessity for our existence . It forms the quality of the light within which we predicate our hopes toward survival and change , first made into language , then into idea, then into more tangible action.

Living around beauty will heal our soul , will transmit peace and serenity .

Human kind can detect beauty .

It is important to work to create beautiful societies and try to learn as much as possible about how we can create more beautiful and meaningful buildings, as they were concerned on previous generations.

Many people believe beauty is subjective. But I believe any human in this planet can detect beauty and can appreciate it.

Elegant , discrete but monumental

Serenental

(Serene but monumental)

Two characteristics that seem opposite , but well used can be compatible

Serene , elegant , non pretentious 

But at the same time , unique , ambitious and very special