BLUM HOUSE

This Tropical Residential Architecture home is located on a hill overlooking the sea in the Ojochal area of Uvita, in southern Costa Rica. Designed for a single man, the house is organized around a central living room and kitchen space, completely open to a terrace that enjoys ocean views and sea breezes.

Set in a warm and humid tropical coastal climate, its design is based on bioclimatic strategies that allow for thermal comfort without relying on air conditioning. The house is raised off the ground, and the central space has a raised roof that generates natural cross ventilation, while the side bedrooms have air conditioning units for only the most critical moments of heat.

The central space also includes a functional laundry and storage area, above which is a flexible mezzanine that can be used as an office or reading space. The materials combine a lightweight steel structure with masonry walls in clay brick and lightweight enclosures. Teak wood was used for the ceilings, with a delicate relief that adds warmth and texture to the space, and for the covered outdoor decks of the living room and master bedroom.

Given the topography of the site, the shape of the volume allowed for the incorporation of a bedroom and bathroom under the main area, adapting respectfully to the natural terrain. Access was resolved by means of a cobblestone street—a material that is semi-permeable to rain—and a covered walkway leading to the main entrance.

Casa Blum stands out within the landscape of architecture in Ojochal as a project that embraces simplicity, tropical comfort, and sustainability. The skill and care in articulating each component have resulted in a house rich in lived experience — one that allows a fluid way of living, open to its surroundings and responsible in its energy use. We consider it a conscious project, one that integrates environmental elements into its design and lifestyle, immersed in a natural setting of sea breeze and forest sounds.