casa altamira in costa rica by joan puigcorbe

‘casa altamira’ by joan puigcorbe, ciudad colon, costa rica
image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé
all images courtesy of joan puigcorbé

 spanish architect joan puigcorbe of paas arquitectura has traveled across the globe to complete the ‘casa altamira’ nestled on a vibrantly green hill in ciudad colon, costa rica. the unique floor plan consists of layered tapered wings jutting out onto the site, each with it’s own unique view, each converging into a common hallway that leads to a large living area/outdoor patio. the walls are cast in concrete and clad in local volcanic stone on both the interior and exterior. utilizing a monochromatic color scheme, the inside is marked its cavernous ambiance illuminated by strips of bright led lights. individual bedrooms stem from the central angular corridor bringing the user in contact with the exterior through a large curtain wall. the swimming pool begins at the covered terrace and projects out through a sudden grade drop. along the south, a series of steps are carved out of the hillside to make an amphitheater-like space shaded by a large tree.

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

in the architect’s words:

‘we propose a journey, without scarcely moving, where space folds and multiplies.
a trip across a bioclimatic architecture which looks to the immediate environment, with multiple possibilities.  
a trip across matter and its absence.
a trip across light, and its variations.
a trip across the sounds, and of the silence.’

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé 

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

living room
image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

lower section of living room
image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

hallway
image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

bedroom
image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

dining area
image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

kitchen
image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

bathroom
image © rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé

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project info:

location: ciudad colón
architect: joan puigcorbé.  paas
collaborator: carolina  pizarro. arquitecta
promotor: costa rica natural design
construction: costa rica natural design
sculptures: domenech batalla. barcelona
paintings: chikako taketani. japón
construction: 2010/2012
tables and kitchen: joan puigcorbé. paas
lighting: joan puigcorbé. paas con bsv light
sanitary design: lagares/rcr arquitectes / joan puigcorbé. paas / roca
electrical: jung
furniture: altea
collaborating companies: lagares / jung / bsv
built area: 802 m2
lot area: 2.484 m2
photographs: rodrigo montoya / joan puigcorbé