- Project: Courtyard House
- Architect: Studio Saxe
- Location: Costa Rica, Nosara
- Year: 2022
- Area: 464 m2
- Photography: Roberto D'Ambrosio
Courtyard House by Studio Saxe in Nosara, Costa Rica, is a luxurious tropical residence that redefines the relationship between architecture, nature, and human experience. Conceived for eco-conscious family business Andaluz, the project embraces its lush jungle setting, weaving existing trees into its design while creating a sanctuary of comfort, sustainability, and sophistication. With nearly 5,000 square feet of living space, the home offers a seamless dialogue between the indoor and outdoor realms, emphasizing natural light, ventilation, and panoramic views of both jungle and ocean.
Project Overview
Perched on a hillside in Nosara, the Courtyard House was carefully sited among mature trees, ensuring minimal disruption to the natural environment. The residence is organized around a central courtyard, which acts as both a protective heart and a connective node for the dwelling.
The design embraces a dual pavilion strategy:
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Living and social areas occupy one horizontal volume.
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Private bedroom suites are placed in a parallel volume.
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A central courtyard garden anchors the home, acting as both transition and sanctuary.
This layout creates a home that is inward-looking yet outwardly connected, offering framed views of the ocean and forest while fostering a feeling of security and retreat.
Design Concept: Blurring Boundaries
Studio Saxe’s guiding principle was to dissolve the line between nature and architecture. Instead of isolating interiors, the design allows light, vegetation, and breezes to permeate spaces.
Key strategies include:
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Large sliding openings that erase barriers between pavilions and courtyards.
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Floating roof planes that provide shade and extend the living areas outward.
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Courtyard garden that introduces natural greenery into the heart of the home.
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Careful placement of volumes around trees, ensuring architecture adapts to the site.
The result is a residence that feels like a contemporary tropical pavilion — open, airy, and in harmony with its setting.
Materiality & Atmosphere
The Courtyard House uses a restrained palette that balances durability with warmth:
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Concrete and steel structures anchor the house and provide long-lasting stability.
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Timber accents in ceilings, louvers, and doors soften interiors with natural textures.
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Glass walls maximize transparency and allow for constant interaction with the outdoors.
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Native stone and natural finishes reinforce a sense of belonging to the site.
This mix ensures both resilience in Costa Rica’s tropical climate and a timeless, elegant character.
Sustainability & Bioclimatic Design
Sustainability is embedded in both design philosophy and construction techniques:
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Bioclimatic strategies: Orientation, cross ventilation, and roof overhangs minimize reliance on mechanical cooling.
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Natural shading: Trees preserved on-site provide additional cooling and comfort.
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Durability & longevity: Andaluz’s commitment to quality materials ensures low maintenance and resilience over time.
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Beauty as sustainability: Studio Saxe believes that aesthetically compelling and emotionally resonant architecture is inherently sustainable, as it fosters lasting value.
By combining passive design strategies with ecological awareness, Courtyard House embodies a holistic definition of sustainability—one that prioritizes human experience alongside environmental responsibility.
Atmosphere & Living Experience
The courtyard garden is the experiential core of the home, creating a sheltered oasis while linking all pavilions. Living spaces are flooded with daylight, cooled by natural breezes, and animated by changing jungle shadows. Bedrooms enjoy privacy while maintaining visual connections to both courtyard and forest.
The pavilion arrangement ensures that life unfolds between sheltered interiors and open-air terraces, reinforcing the sense of living with the landscape rather than apart from it.
Courtyard House by Studio Saxe represents a contemporary tropical vision for living in harmony with nature. By working with the jungle rather than against it, the architects created a home that is immersive, protective, and deeply connected to its environment. Anchored by a central courtyard and crafted with Andaluz’s commitment to quality, the residence is a timeless model of sustainable luxury in Costa Rica.
