Before you begin your custom home or break ground on your new construction project you should always consider nature first. Spend time on your property during the early morning and late afternoon hours and decide where the coolest areas of your building site are.

Notice the shade during the afternoon hours and also which way the prevailing breezes come from. You might find that early morning cool air also creeps up from the hillside as well. Getting to know your property before building your project is extremely important.

Regardless if you decide to consult with me online or pay my travel expenses to visit with you, it's important for me to have an accurate view of your vision, site plan, and property dimensions.
Your building site will become your life and it's important to capture all of the natural resources that exist on your property. Breeze, view, shade and water resources.

Capture the view, the breeze and light
Stay out of the heat and rain.
Mimic nature in design
Buy Local and support local community first.

Here's an example of the questions you should be thinking about as we consult together ;

How many bedrooms? units ?
How many people does your project need to sleep ?
How many levels is your home / project ?
How many baths / shared or private ?
Do you like outdoor showers?
Kitchen large or small?
Do you like peninsula style or island kitchens?
Do you entertain while cooking in kitchen ?
Do you want a formal dining room ?
Do you generally eat at breakfast bar or in dining Do you need an office or enclosed area for work ?
Do you like walk in closets?
Will you need a carport or garage attached to home Will you have a live in caretaker on your property Is security an issue in your area ?
Do you need air conditioning ? If so, which rooms What is the approximate square footage?
Do you have a budget in mind?
Solar, hydro or on the grid power ?
Water source ? Do you see a need for a cistern ?
Is your home / project private or rented?
Will you have a swimming pool ?
Which direction ( N.E.S.W ) is your view ?
How do you feel about bamboo and teak ?
Are sustainable construction methods a priority ?
Do you like open air concepts like you see on my website ?

Most of my clients are comfortable working from Q.& A.'s a few photos and many times my homes are designed without ever meeting the client. 1/2 dozen homes have been built this way.

If our travel schedules match up, maybe you prefer a site visit before we get get your vision onto paper?

The better you answer these types of questions, the more photos you share with me online will give me the ability to understand, comprehend your project online and more important thoroughly.

I always try offer affordable solutions to complex challenges to build sustainably in Tropical Central America. Mostly providing architectural consultation, custom home designs and lodge owners in Costa Rica and Panama.

When compared with hiring architectural firms not located in tropical areas, I am committed to meeting your design needs much quicker and efficiently and reducing your overall design costs.

Before breaking ground and starting your construction project, it's important to consider nature and community first in your strategy and planning. Working with your local community and creating employment opportunities will only strengthen your neighborhood as the benefits of your project will remain within your local community. It's always better to hire locally rather than bring in outsiders for construction.

It's important to consider all of the natural resources, assets and even the possibilities of harsh and hot sun, wind and other things which affect your living space. A properly designed home can attract early morning breezes and cool air from the evening, all while blocking the hot afternoon sun by designing your roof line and solid walls behind closets to face South West in order to keep you cool inside your home during the late afternoon. In hot and tropical climates, it's always best to have the main living areas of your home on the North East or North West corner where you remain in the shade 90% of the time. The view is always a top priority in my designs and every effort is made to keep your view open and awesome. Working with both Costa Rica architects and Panamanian architects practicing sustainable building techniques, should consider nature in their building footprint, and design their entire project around this concept and philosophy. This should all be part of the master plan prior to breaking ground on your new custom home in Costa Rica or Panama.