Tropical home designs should capture cool breezes, shade you from heat, and keep your furniture out of the rain when raining. Learn about sustainably building methods, green dwellings and living spaces designed and created by nature and according to natural environments in Costa Rica and Panama Tree House in Costa Rica is 100% sustainably built from Teac, Bamboo, Melina, recycled materials and canvas roof. Built from 3 naturally fallen hardwood rainforest trees on our property near The Lapas Nest Tree House in Costa Rica, Central America.

Architectural Services in Southern Costa Rica
So you wanna live in paradise! You’ve got a great pc. of property in Costa Rica, great view, but don’t know how to go about designing your home or project. Hopefully our website and experience living here in Costa Rica will help you on your journey towards tropical living. Most importantly while your designing your home – have fun! Building from the ground up is a great way to express your creativity, and compliment your life. Your tropical home design should capture cool morning breezes, block afternoon sun and heat and invite the sites and sounds from your surroundings. Your eves and overhangs should keep rain and water out of your home, however allow natural indirect light into each room. Your design should include the basic floor square footage you and your family and quests will need to live comfortably. You should consider your current lifestyle, comforts and privacy features that you want to include in the design of your new home. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box a little. Walls are only necessary for privacy however can also block cool breezes or heat. In order to build sustainabably we must consider all options and styles of construction to help offset our footprint. I can tell you with confidence, construction material costs are on the rise and getting a 2 story home built for under $150-200K is a challenge these days, especially when hardwoods are not available as they shouldn’t be. Try to only use resources that are closest to you and hire local labor as in the example of our Lapa’s Nest Tree house. Costa Rica Architects Build smart, inexpensive and local is the preferred way to go about designing and building your sustainable home.

As an architect working in Southern Costa Rica, I recommending Buying local renewable resources, which may not always be the cheapest alternative, however, in many cases it’s the only way to build inexpensively and sustainably. Either way your homes footprint should blend on your land with the least amount of negative impact as possible. Your project should create harmony and balance within your nature surroundings. Try adopting certifiable methods of building, and reduce your footprint. Learn about the benefits of solar, hydro, geothermal cooling, cistern tank development ideas and who to buy from within your local community. Living space, homes and cabinas should be built from local & renewable resources such as teak, Melina, bamboo, stone and recycled products. In order to truly have a sustainable project, you should consider hiring local contractors and create local jobs for local Ticos and gringo artisans and craftsmen.
Jobs are the key to sustainable living. This effort strengthens and supports local community. Your project should support local education initiatives and should not contribute to the deforestation of precious hardwood trees found here on The Osa Peninsula or anywhere for that matter. Buy local , build sustainable and soon you will be enjoying your new home.

Outdoor living spaces are one of the great benefits of living in the tropics. You will see in most of my designs that I bring nature into the design and bring the design into nature, removing borders and walls with a design that encourages you to feel like you are a part of nature, and nature is a part of you, My home designs accomplish this.

Fun Floor Plans & Outdoor Living Areas -
Before we begin, we get a few dozen questions about your lifestyle out of the way. Generally a site vist is next where we determine the best view, sunrise, sunset, shade and privacy concerns, and which way the breeze comes from. The rest is easy. My rates are affordable and on some occasions you can have some nice concept drawings your hand for under $ - 1500 -2500. Most 2500-3000 sq. ft. homes cost approx $ 2500-6000 to complete. I charge $50 per hour and work steady toward completion, and keep you informed via e-mails and scans as we go along. In just a few short days or weeks, you’re home design could be on its way to being permitted and built.
So in summary, think about open living concepts that take advantage of morning and afternoon breezes, stay out of the hot afternoon heat and rain, maximize available light throughout your entire home.. Use sustainable materials, recycled products, practices, recommendations and most importantly use local labor when possible. If you would like my help and consultation, please e-mail me at osamike@gmail.com. I would be happy to provide you a quote or work hourly on your project. If you are building an Osa Peninsula Eco Lodge, hotel or private home or cabina, Thanks for spending your time surfing through my site and I look forward to hearing from you !

Check Out Our Costa Rica Tree house YouTube Videos and read our Costa Rica Rental Home Trip Advisor guest reviews Complete with Parrots Gettin " Jiggy with it" No kidding. 3 Br, 2 Bath, Glass Bottom Shower, Fridge 50' up in a rainforest tree house, circular staircase made with teak and bamboo, completely supported on the ground, only wrapped around each of the 6 tree house levels in Costa Rica