A Brutalist-Inspired, Off-Grid Retreat Rises in a Remote Costa Rican Cloud Forest

When architect María de la Paz Alice first saw the forested site where her client sought to build a home in the mountains of Palmichal de Acosta, Costa Rica, she was skeptical. "It’s two hours away from the city of San José and is quite remote, not only because of its location but also because of the inaccessibility of the site," says the architect. "The last ten kilometers [toward the home] are narrow, very steep dirt roads [that] present huge challenges for getting materials up to the site." 

Not to be discouraged, the founder of Mazpazz Arquitectura set out to answer her client’s call for an intimate, off-grid jungle retreat. "The client is a film producer and ocean conservationist," says Alice. "She dreamed of a place where she could disconnect from the world, but connect to nature and to herself." The answer is Wild House, or Casa Salvaje—a 100 percent autonomous and self-sustaining stone-and-concrete home that frames its tropical surroundings with a series of geometric openings.

The home’s entrance, which the architect refers to as "the vortex," takes the form of a poured-concrete cube with two prominent circular openings. Crystals encrusted in the floor capture and reflect light that passes from the sun and moon through the overhead oculus. The entryway doubles as a greenhouse for ferns, orchids, and other plants. 

"The vortex is probably my favorite space," says the architect. "As you walk in, the circular window framing the mountain view is the focal point, and the sky window above immediately connects you to your surroundings. It has a special energy." 

The client’s spiritual practices and love of nature are expressed throughout the home in details such as the local stone used on exterior walls and the wood-shingled roof, which was handcrafted on-site with Costa Rican teak. "The exterior materials also needed to endure the unforgiving elements of the tropical jungle and age well with no maintenance," says Alice. 

Inside, rooms are covered from floor to ceiling in a local wood called roble coral. "It’s as if you’re walking into a wooden womb," says Alice. Interior designer Ileana Guerrero worked with local artisans to craft custom furnishings for the living spaces, resulting in an eclectic vibe that’s reflective of the client’s bohemian sensibility.  

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Outside, the landscape was designed by Jorge Salgado as an edible and medicinal garden with spring water pools and endemic plant species. The home integrates with its surroundings not just aesthetically, but functionally. "To be one hundred percent sustainable was not only a goal, but also a necessity, because the remote location has no power or water services," explains Alice. "On-site water springs and good sun exposure for photovoltaic energy made it possible to achieve this," says the architect.

In all, Wild House reflects the architect’s commitment to crafting structures that engage on a deeper level. "In every project, I try to provide at least one space that promotes a transcendental experience," she says. "I strive to create spaces that will benefit and expand people emotionally and spiritually, just as much as they do aesthetically."  

Related Reading:

An Olson Kundig Tree House Peeks Over the Treetops in Costa Rica

This "No Footprint" Prefab in Costa Rica Embraces Tropical Modernism and Sustainable Design

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: María de la Paz Alice / @mazpazz_arquitectura

Builder/General Contractor: Constructora Zarate

Structural Engineer: EEB Ingenieria

Civil Engineer: Constructora Zarate

Landscape Design: Jorge Salgado

Lighting Design: María de la Paz Alice / @mazpazz_arquitectura

Interior Design: Ileana Guerrero

Cabinetry Design: María de la Paz Alice / @mazpazz_arquitectura

Window Installation: Vental / @grupovental