MG design studio's casa ching in costa rica is defined by porosity + amplitude

located in a residential area of tres ríos in costa rica, the casa ching developed by MG design studio is formed from two basic volumes that separate private and social zones by means of a garden.

all images © andres garcia lachner

one of the main features that characterize MG‘s project is the feeling of amplitude and permeability created when looking from the streets into the inside of the house. ‘when you enter the lobby, you will find a double layer of glass that gives a transverse view to the bottom of the garden, playing with depth. the volume of concrete contains an open floor plan with varying heights, distributing the common area, mezzanine, studio and a dark room of photography,’ notes the team. meanwhile, to generate privacy between rooms, these were placed at the ends of the volume of zinc separated by a wet block. 

even more, the volume of zinc uses the route of the sun to create shadows and change the spaces according to the hours of the day. in other words, light becomes one of the main elements, behaving like a texture that generates changing atmospheres. this is complemented by a range of colors (white, black and gray) chosen to delimit and frame the spaces. 

basic materials such as concrete and zinc were sought to accentuate the simplicity of the project. for example, the stones used in the gardens are the only mineral elements chosen — and with a gray tone to maintain the sobriety of the whole. 

wanting to maintain a sense of serenity, the gardens function as patios and contemplative spaces of the house  — producing a sense of silence and tranquility that bounces back inside. to wrap it up even further, the textures of concrete and zinc reinforce the pure and simple lines of the house. 

CASA CHING by MG desgin studio
video from MG design studio

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edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom