ALEGRIA

COSTA RICA

Architecture to Heal

THE CRISIS

The UN describes climate change as the defining crisis of our lifetime. Architecture’s response to the crisis has been sustainable and green design. However, with the disastrous  consequences of climate change occurring more frequently, meeting the minimums of a sustainably designed project is simply not enough. Architecture will need to be regenerative.

VISION

Regenerative spaces and structures that are designed to be rehabilitating, enriching and strengthening and that will reverse the damage done to planet earth.

Alegria Village is a new ecological community located in the hills of San Mateo, Alajuela, Costa Rica dedicated to the best practices in regenerative living and design. Nestled on 170 acres of fertile farmland, Alegria includes extensive permaculture food forests with thousands of fruit trees, edible community gardens, abundant springs and creeks that supply our water, and hiking and biking trails for exploring the natural surroundings.

SOCIAL
ECONOMICAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
MINDFUL

COMMUNITY

A gravel path that follows the natural contours of the site stems off from the main road and connects three homes to one another, enhancing the sense of community within the Alegria Village. At the center of the path is an earth mound in the form of a spiral. A symbolic celebration of life on earth. Each of the three homes provides residents with optimal views of the surrounding landscape. They are nestled into the site bringing users into direct contact with nature and the wood screens add to the act of blurring the boundaries between the built environment and the natural environment.

ECOLOGY

In addition to celebrating the ecological community that each structure is a part of, the steel and timber homes all have built-in sustainable features.  Passive cooling is felt throughout the residence due to the high roofs and the open gables at the roof edges.