Teahouse is a house product of minimalist and practical principles of the client, among them the Pareto principle or the 80/20 rule, in which it was decided to invest the highest concentration of area in an open and multifunctional ranch that would be used 80% of the time, free to read, cook, practice yoga, or have dinner with friends.
teahouse
guiones, costa rica❋
typology: residential
scope: preliminary studies, master plan, schematic design, construction documents, site visits, work coordination, sourcing, interior design
location: guiones, costa rica
status: completed
year: 2020
area: 214 m²
a house that is truly itself in ten years not just today
❋ patina over perfectionbuilt to improve with age, not deteriorate. Every material was chosen for its ability to weather the Pacific climate gracefully, reducing maintenance, replacement, and waste over the life of the home.❋ passive cooling by designno AC dependency. The layout, orientation, and openings were engineered to capture prevailing winds and shade, keeping interiors comfortable through architecture alone.❋ honest materials, minimal footprintwood and concrete: durable, low-intervention, and contextually appropriate for a coastal tropical site. Sourced and specified to minimize embodied carbon and long-term upkeep.❋ expert-led sustainability strategydesigned in collaboration with SPHERA Sustainability Consulting, Teahouse integrates environmental performance as a core design principle, not a certification checkbox.
