Casa Kike / Gianni Botsford Architects
A few months ago i spotted this house with an amazing private library in Domus magazine, on an issue dedicated to contemporary libraries. It has a very detalied wood work. I love the bookshelves between the structure. the text from the architect, more pictures and drawings after the break.
Architects: Gianni Botsford
Location: Cahuita, Costa Rica
Client: Confidential
Budget: UK £55,000 (US $108,971)
Contractor: Lechenne Construction
Structural Engineers: Tall Engineers
Photographs: Christian Richters
By coupling indigenous techniques and materials with modern design technologies and aesthetics GBA has created this intimate double pavilion for a writer in Costa Rica.
A main studio space, with library, writing desk and grand piano, is the writer’s daytime space. The pavilion’s wooden structure, sourced from local timber, sits on a simple foundation of wooden stilts on small concrete pad foundations. Roof beams of up to 10 m long and 355 mm deep allow for an interior with no vertical columns. The mono-pitched roof elevates towards the sea shore, while the interior is through ventilated via a completely louvred glazed end façade.
Set at a short distance along a raised walkway, a second smaller pavilion mirrors the first. This contains sleeping quarters and a bathroom. Externally, the pavilions are clad in corrugated steel sheeting, another locally used construction material. The overall effect is that of a building which blends with its surroundings, both visually and environmentally.
© photographs copyright christian richters
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- site plan
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- ground plan
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- roof plan
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- elevation 01
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- elevation 02
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33 comments »
Is humidity a problem in that area? I’m wondering about the condition of the books in what seems like an essentially open structure…
i was thinking the same exact thing when I saw it the books. Such a beautiful house though!
I vow one day to have a study like that!
although the exteriors are too much for me. i really like the interiors. the library is beautiful and spacious.
quoting cozby: “I vow one day to have a study like that!”
Talk about ALWAYS having good reading light.
Funny structure!
really wood use of wood
Stunning! A beautiful sculptural work that is understated externally and richly textured internally. Gianni is on top of the game.
a lucky used book store owner won this bid.
The area is really humid. This project is located in the most humid region of Costa Rica, although its closeness to the shore provides reasonable wind, so air circulation (in and out) of the house can be an answer to potentially severe humidity problems. Actually, traditional houses (19th-early 20th century)in that area are made of wood and are quite open for this reason.
I usually don
I am planning to build a small retirement/ vacation home in the same area of Costa Rica (Manzanillo). How does the owner secure the property when it is left unattended?
I’m planning to build a retirement /vacation home in the same area of Costa Rica. (Manzanillo) I’m concerned with securing theproperty when it is left unattended. How does the owner of this beautiful space keep the property secure.
Keep up this good blog;great job!
No, the book are protected, even for the horizontal rain. I so a project on National Geographic, and I so the same thing about that protection. I the roof is covering well that part of the house. Anyway it is a cool loking house for a reader or a writer. And also I love the wood structure of the house
http://noticias.lugarcerto.com.br/imoveis/template_interna_noticias,id_noticias=31529&id_sessoes=13/template_interna_noticias.shtml
I think you should see this.
for me, this is plagiarism
Could you please check the following address: http://admin.estadodeminas.vrum.com.br/imoveis/modulos/modulos/galeriadefoto/retornarArquivoFoto?arquivo=12505515317856919765.jpg
The picture above is about an office ridiculously copied by a decorator in Brazil, during an event named Casa Cor 2009, which is happening right now. Please Check http://www.casacor.com.br/minasgerais/ should you decide getting in touch with the organizers of that event. It was the most stupid plagiarism I ever saw!
I think you should read de text the brasilian architect wrote about her project. She is pretty clear about her admiration for Gianni.
It doesn’t hurt to research before making acusations…
Unfortunatelly architecture and design are not such matter that requires instructions to use nor to perceive. A copy is still a copy no matter what. As a matter of fact what really hurts is the justification alleged by the author of the copy, in a millieu of professionals that are very keen about originality.
According to that idea, nobody could ever use any piece of furniture designed by somebody else. She never said it’s her design. It’s just like using another designer’s chair in a project.
In her text she wrote his last name wrong and his nationality!!
Accoring to her his name is Gianni Bots Ford and his from London! She is the one who shoul do a research!!
That´s not admiration… that was a lame excuse to copy someone else design. And that´s called lack of creativity!
Thanks. I liked your post, do you have more like this? The topic needs lots of research, most people don’t have it.
El Sensei Miyagi fallecio de muerte natural a los 73 a
Hello! I think you`re right. My girlfriend disagree but she is always wrong.
Definitely a bookmark. Thanks!
wow, wonderful wood structure
say, how do ppl innovate new structures??
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