Fernando Alda

OBJETIVO

The house in Ojochal has been developed as a prototype for serial production, based on a larger toolbox of residential typologies. It was prefabricated in the Central Valley of Costa Rica and transported to the target location on one single truck. The process of making and inhabiting the prototype created valuable experience to optimize the series. In its initial phase, the NFH comes in three different pre-designed sizes that can be auto-configured with regards to the internal distribution and connections, material finishes and desired level of services: from “tiny” (36m2) to mid-size (81m2) and family home (108m2). Each building is customized from a catalogue of prefabricated components, the first of its kind in Central America. The selection of all elements and materials is based on a thorough investigation regarding origin, processing, and environmental footprint. Component options that form part of the NFH catalogue include structural wood and steel, different types of louvres and perforated panels for the facades, bamboo and wood ceilings or floors, as well as a series of mineral, synthetic and natural finishes for walls and furniture pieces. They can be chosen according to the specific needs and likes of each client. Fully customized configurations that are based on the systemic design of the project can be produced and have already been delivered to different locations in Costa Rica. Several iterations of the pre-designed typologies are currently being constructed. The structural wood system of the NFH offers an option for a fully “home-grown” building in Costa Rica, it has been developed by A-01 in collaboration with a Swiss-Costa Rican company called Novelteak. Solutions like this one are based on a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) that was made for the overall project. The LCA of the NFH was first presented at the United Nations conference for climate change in 2019, it forms a roadmap to continuously improve the performance of the overall project.

CONTEXTO

The No Footprint House (NFH) is located in Ojochal, a small village at the edge of the vast tropical rain forests along the South Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Placed in a humid tropical climate along the iconic Whale Bay (Bahía Ballena), the building responds to its surrounding habitat by passive climate control through natural ventilation and solar shading. The NFH is organized around a central service core, which includes all machinery, intelligence, closets, bathrooms, kitchen and laundry area. The compression of utilities in one compact unit enables an open floor plan all around the core. Moreover, it contributes to the building efficiency in terms of assembly, maintenance and usage. Additional furniture pieces are “plugged” into the double-layered facade, which is created by the vertical structural columns and the inclined outer enclosures. The inclination decreases direct impact of sunlight and precipitation, protecting the elevated floorplan from overheating and splashing water. Façade panels can be opened or closed individually in order to regulate views and exposure, augment or reduce air flows, create privacy and security. They convert interior to exterior spaces and play with the dynamic among nature and the built environment, one of the key features of tropical architecture.