This vacation home, built in 2002, is set on the edge of the Gandoca-Manzanillo National Wildlife Refuge near the Caribbean Coast of Costa Rica. Set on top of a hill with partial views of the sea, the house is constructed amidst the trees to preserve the jungle that surrounds it. During the day, the house captures sea breezes from the north; at night it is cooled by the mountain breezes from the south.
Featured in Architectural Digest in August 2002, you can download the complete article on El Refugio in PDF format.(1.3MB)