Architects: Ksymena Borczynska Photography: Ksymena Borczynska Construction Period: 2022 Location: Costa Rica, Costa Rica
Traveling through Costa Rica when the pandemic began, my partner and I found a piece of land in the jungle and decided to create a home there. We set up a tent and spent a few months living there and getting to know the area. Then we began to build the house, little by little, following the ideas and needs that arose from the knowledge of the place.
What we were clear about was that we wanted to spend our days outdoors, exploring nature, and that we wanted our house to have a minimal impact on the environment. We also wanted to design and build as much as possible ourselves. I designed and hand built most of the structure and furniture. My partner developed off-grid electricity and water systems and created the lighting concept.
The slight undulating roof is supported by fine double columns and double beams, all made of the same local 2”x2” semi-hardwood called laurel. The columns are anchored in a series of small concrete foundations. Inside the house, the natural clay soil and its topography are preserved and covered with a layer of gravel, from which wooden and concrete platforms rise. Rainwater, which flows from the roof into the wooden gutter, supplies a water tank and a small pool. The shades close during heavy rains, providing translucent protection that dances in the wind. The lightweight and flexible design works well in this area, where seismic activity and ground movements are common. The use of lightweight components allows a single person to build the structure.
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