Villa Nuri by Studio Saxe, A Cantilevered Haven Over the Pacific
Architecture Design of Villa Nuri
Description About The Project
Discover Villa Nuri by Studio Saxe, a hillside ocean-view villa with cantilevered pool, planted terraces, and open interiors. Designed for light, landscape, and sustainable living.
The Project “Villa Nuri” Information:
- Project Name: Villa Nuri
- Location: Reserva Conchal, Guanacaste Province, Brasilito, Costa Rica
- Project Year: 2025
- Designed by: Studio Saxe
A Home Shaped by Landscape and Light
Perched on a hillside overlooking the Pacific Ocean, Villa Nuri is a residence defined by its fluid relationship with the terrain. Designed by Studio Saxe, the villa embraces verticality, light, and cross-ventilation, transforming the slope into a multi-layered living experience. Here, planted terraces, a cantilevered pool, and panoramic glazing blend seamlessly with the natural environment, creating a dialogue between architecture and landscape.
Lead architect Benjamin Saxe explains: “We wanted the house to feel both elevated and grounded at once. It steps with the terrain, responding to topography while opening toward the horizon, inviting residents to live in full immersion with the surroundings.”
Concept: Living Above the Land
The design prioritizes ocean views and a connection to nature. Social areas, terraces, and the master suite are located on the upper level, floating above the slope like a sculptural platform. Secondary bedrooms occupy the middle floor, taking advantage of the natural incline for unobstructed vistas. Below, service areas and the garage are recessed into the hillside, providing stability and a clear separation of functional zones.
As Benjamin Saxe notes, “Instead of fighting the terrain, we embraced it. The home becomes a vertical composition, where each level has its own purpose and relationship to light, air, and landscape.”
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Architecture of Layers and Light
The narrow, sloping site demanded a careful choreography of spatial layers. The grounded concrete and stone base anchors the villa, while the upper volumes—constructed of steel and timber—open expansively toward the ocean. A cantilevered pool hovers above the landscape, creating a dramatic yet harmonious extension of the living areas.
“The pool is more than a visual element,” Saxe observes. “It becomes a stage for experience, where water, sky, and architecture merge.”
Large windows, shaded openings, and planted terraces frame views and allow natural light to penetrate deep into the interior. Cross ventilation, combined with thoughtful orientation, creates a passive cooling effect, ensuring comfort throughout the day.
Interior Architecture: A Nest in the Jungle
Villa Nuri was conceived as a contemporary nest, open yet intimate, with strong connections to local culture and nature. High ceilings, long ventilated corridors, and abundant glazing enable natural airflow and allow birds and light to animate the interior.
Bold material gestures punctuate the spaces: a living green wall at the entrance, black-and-white patterned tiles referencing Costa Rican tradition, and pops of cobalt blue in furniture that mirror ocean and sky. Each element tells a story, tying interior experiences to the surrounding environment.
Benjamin Saxe reflects: “Every room has a narrative. We designed spaces to frame views, create moments of pause, and connect residents to the environment in subtle, meaningful ways.”
SEE MORE: IC Residence by Anastasia Arquitetos Blends Tropical Modernism with Landscape Harmony in Lagoa Santa
Sustainability at the Core
Villa Nuri is a testament to environmentally conscious design. Solar panels, strategic openings for ventilation, thermal mass from stone and concrete, and surrounding vegetation reduce energy consumption and create a self-sustaining microclimate.
“We always aim for a house that is generous with its beauty but responsible in its impact,” says Saxe. “The goal was to connect architecture and ecology seamlessly.”
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Construction and Materiality
The villa employs a hybrid structural system. A concrete base anchors the home to the slope, housing service functions, while prefabricated steel supports the lighter, open upper levels. Materials transition thoughtfully: heavy stone and concrete below for stability and permanence; lighter timber and steel above to enhance transparency and visual openness.
This approach allowed precise construction, careful modulation of volumes, and a material expression that responds to exposure, function, and atmosphere.
SEE MORE: 10M House by CUBO Design Architect Embraces Tranquility Between Ocean, Orchard, and Bamboo Forest
Client Experience
The homeowners describe Villa Nuri as an elevated retreat: “Floating at the end of the cantilevered pool feels like being a bird over the ocean. Every space makes you feel connected to nature while enveloped in architecture.” The open, integrated indoor-outdoor living areas provide a sense of freedom rarely found in hillside residences.
Photo credit: | Source: Studio Saxe
For more information about this project; please contact the Architecture firm :
– Add: Av. 9, Nunciatura, San José, Costa Rica
– Tel: 506 4030 6053
– Email: info@studiosaxe.com
More Projects in Costa Rica here:
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- Sirena House, blend of Beachfront living & Jungle serenity by Studio Saxe
- Black Pearl House, Contemporary Tropical Oasis by QBO3 Arquitectos
- Patio House, Splendid Home with Open plan Design by Garnier Arquitectos
- Casa Azucar, an Oasis Blends Indoor and Outdoor Living by Studio Saxe
