the mint hotel is hidden in the natural beauty of costa rica

the mint hotel welcomes you to a world of blue and green, a chance of escape from urban reality. located in santa teresa — the heart of costa rican surf country — the hotel designed by studio saxe comprises a series of platforms woven into the landscape and elevated above ground. terraces trace the curves of the hill, where forest plants grow between teak suspension bridges. while the sharp lines and bright white of the buildings sharply contrast the lush green backdrop, there is a yin and yang between nature and concrete, where neither dominates the other — they shares the space. as lovely as the architecture is itself, saxe knows that manmade beauty is only an embellishment to the beauty of nature. he keeps the design simple and unimposing, leaving the spaces elegant and serene. 

images by andrés garcía lachner

the ocean is only a stone’s throw away, and you can hear the waves before you turn on the faucet in your shower. the suites are open air. they unfold across the natural beauty of the landscape. the design by studio saxe embellishes the fantasies of the swedish investors who had hired the costa rican firm. the owners fell in love with the region on a surfing safari years before. studio saxe — a practice that focuses on learning form from nature — helped turn this hidden paradise into the ultimate latin american retreat. it’s a total of 660 square meters, but makes a conscious effort not to not occupy too much of the landscape, only enough for the perfect experience. good architecture is a balancing act. 

studio saxe is known for its immersive design and its dedication to craftsmanship. as always, it has worked hard on the wholistic process of the project. each aspect of the resort was given great thought, from the way the spaces occupy the landscape, to where the wood for the lounge chairs come from. the materials were locally sourced, and local craftsmen were commissioned to create the furniture, which combines traditional processes with modern design. once again, studio saxe has accomplished transformative architecture.

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project info:

location: santa teresa costa rica
date of completion: 2018
client: jonas thorrel / johanna johansson
area: 660m2
architecture team: studio saxe
design director: benjamin garcía saxe
project architect: cesar coto
project coordinator: laura morelli
structural engineer: sotela alfaro ltda. 
electromechanical engineer: dynamo
studio builder: matta duran
photography: andrés garcía lachner