Costa Rica-based architects Studio Saxe designed this series of villa retreats which sit high up in an elevated, secluded spot in the rainforest above a river below. Located on a peninsula at a spot where two rivers converge, the Rio Perdido West Bungalows were built to allow guests to retreat into nature, immersed in the landscape in quiet comfort. Suspended on slender pilotis above the forest floor, the bungalows float above the ground, wrapped on all sides by the lush landscape.
For a long time, the area was overlooked for development due to its remote location, but the pristine canyon is now home to this smattering of compact cabins across its hillside. The architects ensured minimal environmental impact from the project, the raised structures foregoing heavy foundations, while allowing rainwater and wildlife to pass freely beneath them. Sustainability was central to the project, with natural materials used alongside the elevated design to encourage the bungalows to merge into their surroundings.
Wrapped by frameless glass walls, with expansive terraces surrounding them, the cabins blur the line between inside and out, offering uninterrupted views of the forest and canyon beyond. Hammocks, outdoor baths and showers further draw nature into the luxury of the guest experience, with each unit designed with a certain level of privacy while preserving the openness to the land. Warm, earthy interiors incorporate woven textures and locally sourced wood and stone in the walls, floors, and built-in banquette seating, while only subtle partitions were installed across the open plan spaces to elevate the sense of lightness and tranquillity.
Photography © Alvaro Fonseca
