Residential
Home for Alma
A contemporary single-storey family home on a hillside in the mountains of Costa Rica. The design responds to spectacular natural surroundings with large glass fronts and a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. A fully autonomous infrastructure makes the house self-sufficient in a remote, off-grid context.
Home for Alma is a single-storey residence on a remote mountain hillside in San Luis de Morete, Puntarenas, Costa Rica. Designed for off-grid living, the house draws from the landscape rather than imposing upon it — low-slung, open-faced, and deeply embedded in tropical nature.
The site presented both an opportunity and a challenge: a spectacular setting with panoramic mountain views, but no connection to public utility networks. The architects Friederike & Aiko Domke developed a fully autonomous infrastructure — solar PV with battery storage, electric boiler, and a 220V distribution network — allowing the home to function entirely off-grid.
The spatial concept centres on an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen zone as the social heart of the house. Multiple bedrooms each have their own private bathroom, while a generous covered terrace frames panoramic mountain views. Clear separation between private and social zones ensures domestic calm.
The building envelope uses aluminium frames in black (Extralum Akira) with clear glazing throughout — sliding, fixed, and combined window elements from types F01 to F09. Safety glazing was specified for all shower enclosures. Bathroom detailing is documented to millimetre accuracy: precise tile layout plans, separate installation wall details per bathroom, and Spanish-language instructions prepared for local craftsmen.
Location
San Luis de Morete, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Year
2023
Area
approx. 250 m²
Team
Friederike & Aiko Domke
Phases
LP 1–8
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