If you’re looking to get away from civilization, the Iseami House by Robles Arquitectos may be the perfect home for you. Located on a hill above the ocean on the Peninsula de Osa in Costa Rica, the house is over 18 miles (30 km) from the closest town. Because of its isolated location, the project is 100% self-sufficient and powered by an on-site hybrid electric system, which uses solar energy and hydroelectric energy as a power source. To deal with hot and humid weather, the structure has an open, airy design that allows breezes and cross-winds to maintain a comfortable base temperature. The existence of a water concession on the protected forest inside the property allows the home to tap into a natural potable water source. Robles Arquitectos followed their design process named SDRA which, during the investigation stage, evaluates 10 important elements: site, climate, energy, water, materials, environment, atmosphere, cost, innovation, use of passive strategies, and implemented processes. These elements are analyzed to develop a design plan during the building life-cycle in order to reduce the negative impact on the natural environment.
