Costa Rica House

So here's an animation that I did a while back for our house that's being built in a remote region of Costa Rica. I recently was asked to lead a seminar on using a Mac for 3d and 2d Architectural work at the Apple store in SoHo and decided to use this project as the precedent. So here it is: a short video showing the formal qualities of the house, rendered in actual lighting and materials.The model is as accurate as our 'blueprints' so that we could use it as a problem-solving tool as well as a rather convincing piece of digital media. A little on the project itself: This project is the first of several to be undertaken for a single client on the coast of the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica. Inheriting an abandoned steel frame and concrete slab structure, we were asked to develop 18000 SF of indoor/outdoor residence on a jungle mountainside overlooking the bay. The primary criteria for this project were to be environmentally sensitive, technologically advanced and modernist by design. The jungle wraps the house as the house wraps a piece of the jungle. The spectacular view out to the bay merges with the infinite pool. The flexible edges of the enclosed portion of the home provide a seamless flow from inside to out. The house is entirely self-sufficient. Photovoltaic cells on the roof gather power from the sun, which is stored to run the few appliances and low-consumption lighting planned. Solar hot water panels provide domestic hot water. Maximizing cross ventilation and providing efficient solar shading has eliminated the need for air conditioning in this year-round tropical climate. These technological features, architectural planning and sensitive detailing create an indigenous yet distinctly modern piece of architecture. Enjoy _j And here are some stills...