House of Vid and Higurea Captures Pacific Views
House of Vid and Higurea sits on a cliff above Ostional, Costa Rica, where the Pacific wind and turtle nesting cycles set the rules. Designed by LSD architects, the house reads as a single level from approach, yet slips down the slope to preserve views and the site’s fragile rhythms. It’s a house first, but its stance is environmental—quiet, resolved, and tuned to place.
A salt-tinged breeze arrives first. The roofline stays low against the cliff, and the horizon opens with a clean cut of blue water and moving light.
This is a house on the Pacific edge in Ostional by LSD architects, conceived in 2023 as a coastal dwelling that treats the site’s ecology as directive. The work centers on context—how to live with a turtle nesting beach, strong sun, and a steep fall to the sea without blinding glare or wasted water.
Protect Night Light
At Ostional, nesting turtles require darkness. The project answers with special lighting calibrated to reduce spill, automatic curtain systems that block interior glow after sunset, and non-reflective wall finishes that avoid harsh bounce at dusk. The result is calm and compliant, with interior life turning inward when the beach needs night.
Gather Rainwater
Every roof is a catchment. Sloped planes collect and route rainwater while vegetated layers temper heat gain and soften the building’s profile against the landscape. In dry months, stored water and the planted roofs steady daily use; in wet months, flow is managed rather than shed—which matters on a cliff.
Make Your Own Power
Photovoltaic arrays supply the house’s energy. The system keeps mechanical demand in check and pairs with the planted roofs to curb interior temperatures during peak sun. With less draw and on-site generation, the house lives within its means, a simple loop that matches the site’s strong climate.
Terrace The Program
From the upper entry, social rooms, service areas, an office, and a secondary bedroom align toward water while the master suite slips to the most private, elevated corner. Down one level, two more bedrooms and a gym tuck into planted cuts, their edges wrapped by forest and mountain views rather than pure horizon. The arrangement reads as one plane from above, yet it steps with the cliff—minimizing excavation and keeping sightlines continuous.
Blend Tone And Texture
Natural materials and a restrained palette sit close to the colors of local vegetation. Surfaces mute glare, control reflection, and keep focus on wind, shade, and the ocean’s steady line (the quiet choices matter most here). That restraint carries through doors, walls, and terraces, allowing rooms to cool, breathe, and frame the view without noise.
The day closes with warm air and a low hum from the trees. Roof gardens hold the last light, and inland mountains cool the edges as the beach turns dark—by design. Set into its cliff and tuned to its coast, the house keeps its promise to place and to the creatures that drew the boundary.
Photography courtesy of LSD architects
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