Esparza House

Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio

ESPARZA HOUSE

Yuso

ARCHITECTS
Yuso

LOCATION
San Rafael, Costa Rica

CATEGORY
Houses

PROJECT TEAM
Otarola Constructora, Yuso

BUDGET
48.500.000 Colones/ $84.300 Usd

LEAD ARCHITECT
José Antonio Salas, Guillermo León

MANUFACTURERS
Aserradero San Gabriel, Epa, Grupo Sur, Metalco, Prodex, Xilo

AREA
1345.4 ft2

OWNER
Luis Bonilla, Ana Ballestero Y Ester Bonilla Ballestero

PROJECT YEAR
2017

PHOTOGRAPHS
Roberto D´Ambrosio

ELECTRICAL DESIGN
José Incer

LEAD ARCHITECT
José Antonio Salas, Guillermo León

COLLABORATORS
Rossana Picón

Text description provided by the architects.

The challenge (and opportunity) of this project was to design a low-budget home that would adapt bioclimatically to its environment through passive design strategies, incorporation of local materials and an optimal spatial relationship with its surroundings to amplify the perceived size of the 125 m2 construction to give the impression of a much larger dwelling.

Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio
Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio

The project is characterized by the word "HONESTY", a concept that was present in all stages of design and construction.

HONESTY WITH THE ENVIRONMENT

The construction project was designed to adapt to the environment through.

Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio
Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio

The setting of the building within the surrounding landscape, bioclimatic housing design to ensure the residents’ comfort in an environment characterized by humid tropical forests with high temperatures and humidity, use of materials with low carbon footprint such as wood, implementation of a rainwater harvesting system for domestic use, as well as a wastewater treatment system to separate organic and inorganic waste.

HONESTY WITH MATERIALS

From the very beginning of the project, the owners of the dwelling, Luis and Marce, requested the use of materials in their natural dimension and form.

Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio
Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio

In other words, the materials were not manipulated in any way that would alter their aesthetic or structural qualities.

For example, the wood used in the building retained its natural finish, metals were only treated with acrylic paints, the PVC was left in its original white finish, and the same goes for all the materials used.

On the other hand, the design of the house was adjusted to go hand in hand with the commercial measures of each material, and any excess materials were used in other decorative and architectural elements, such as ceilings.

Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio
Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio
Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio

This approach resulted in reduced construction waste in benefit of the environment, as well as reduced construction costs.

HONESTY WITH CLIENTS

The owners Luis and Marce had very clear ideas from early on of what they desired from this house, and this vision was discussed in detail during numerous meetings throughout the long design process.

Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio
Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio

During this process, no large-scale presentations or render images were used, which tend to portray a project reference that in most cases does not correspond to the final result.

Instead, a digital three-dimensional model was used in all meetings to build a virtual model of the house in cooperation with the clients.

Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio
Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio

As in any project, modifications arose during the construction process and those were included in the same three-dimensional model.

All adjustments were carefully reviewed with the clients before implementing them. In the end, the virtual model ended up being a faithful copy of the finished house.

Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio


Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio
Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio
Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio
Esparza House
© Roberto D´Ambrosio


Esparza House
Ground floor plan
Esparza House
Roof floor plan


Esparza House
North facade
Esparza House
East facade
Esparza House
South facade
Esparza House
West facade


Esparza House
Detail 01
Esparza House
Detail 02
Esparza House
Detail 03
Esparza House
Detail 04
Esparza House
Detail 05
Esparza House
Section


Esparza House
Spatial Scheme
Esparza House
Bioclimatic Scheme


Esparza House
Bioclimatic Scheme
Esparza House
Diagrama