Overlooking the pacific ocean, benjamin garciasaxe has completed ‘casa flotanta’, a family home located inpuntarenas, costa rica. Situated on a steep gradient, sea views are onlyavailable from the upper levels of the plot. Consequently, the design rises upthrough the trees. Exploring different typologies appropriate for the site’scontext, the design team considered cutting back into the earth, using largeretaining walls to ground the house – a technique common with neighboring homes. Finally, it was decidedthat the opposite approach would be taken – instead allowing the slope,the vegetation and the wildlife to flow beneath the elevated units. Raising thehouse also saves on the cost of retaining walls, ensuring a lightweightintervention above the terrain, still providing views across the ocean. Themodular house features recurring elements linked by flying bridges that hoverover the landscape below. Prefabricated components allowed the structure to beassembled on-site, comprised of a standardized repetition of living modules.
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