Architectural Design

This renovation began with an immediate need to rethink the layout, as construction on the adjacent lot was going to compromise most of the residence’s lateral natural light.

The blocked windows were closed with matching brick, and by using a translucent wash of paint we preserved traces of the original dark brick. New frameless windows were installed throughout, drawing as much light as possible from the one remaining exposure.

We used marble, wood, mirror and vintage fabrics to create a warm and quietly luxurious interior.

The new stairs became the centerpiece of the home. The stair leading to the master floor above is elemental, ladder‐like, allowing light to filter through, while the stair descending to the screening room and art studio is solid, its volume extending into benches for the room below.

The railing is a gesture of the hand — it is like a piece of jewelry.

Río Perdido Hotel, part of Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), is hidden between two converging canyons in Guanacaste, Costa Rica, where the cool Río Blanco meets the thermal Río Perdido.

The bungalows’ structures, designed by Studio Saxe, are raised above the terrain, preserving the natural flow of the landscape and allowing the forest to remain largely undisturbed. Environmental responsibility is central to the hotel’s philosophy and way of life.

For the interiors of the bungalows, we developed a warm palette using natural materials and woven textures. Most of the furniture was custom‐designed and fabricated in the hotel’s in‐house woodshop.

The design was developed in close dialogue with the architecture and the surrounding landscape, aiming to create an atmosphere of understated luxury that feels warm and natural.

The journey to Río Perdido Hotel’s Spa begins by crossing a hanging bridge over the river and a walk through the woods, often accompanied by howler monkeys.

We conceived the spa as an extension of the forest, blurring the boundary between inside and outside.

Guests arrive to the open air reception. Built with natural materials from the region it’s a subtle transition from the path, where a wooden ceiling shelters the space and the enclosed corners provide a warm place to sit and refresh. Flowers and herbs from the hotel’s garden bring the color, texture, and fragrance of the landscape into the spaces.

Beyond the reception, paths follow the natural terrain leading to the treatment cabins, which are built on pilotis to preserve the forest floor and its natural habitat.

The single and double treatment cabins, each equipped with a bathroom, are defined by a wooden façade that establishes a sense of privacy on arrival. Upon entering, the space opens to the forest through imperceptible mosquito screens, and the sounds of monkeys, birds, and often times rain, become part of the treatment experience.