Tucked into the trees where the rainforest meets the sea, the Sirena House is a Costa Rican retreat that combines separate pavilions to cause less impact on the local surroundings. The home features sustainable elements such as rainwater catchment, water recycling and energy-generating systems.
Specifically located in the town of Santa Teresa, this beachfront hideaway, completed in November 2020, spans approximately 1,000 square meters. The architects at Studio Saxe decided to integrate the jungle experience into the design to help it blend in, creating a series of separate pavilions rather than one single structure.
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The pods have overlapping roofs with varying volumes and are divided into bedrooms, common rooms and service areas connected through both indoor and outdoor spaces. The fragmented layout means that less trees were affected by construction and that residents could become fully integrated into the landscape each time they moved from one area of the retreat to another.
The foundation is concrete, and the home construction uses wood and steel. Thin columns support the overlapping rooftops to give them the sensation of floating above the trees. The project’s multi-volume design allows for optimal cross-ventilation and creates comfortable temperatures without the use of electricity, while the extended rooflines help protect from the sun and rain. The addition of rainwater harvesting and water recycling systems help give this tropical retreat a sustainable edge.
Each bedroom pod can open or close through floor-to-ceiling windows to extend into the lush exterior. Bedrooms are oriented toward the pool and offer views of the beach landscape or the verdant jungle, with secret spots to recline and relax hidden throughout the property. An inviting oasis, the home has a respectful presence in a quiet, unique setting.
Via Wallpaper
Photography by Andres Garcia Lachner via Studio Saxe
