In Costa Rica it’s hot, and it feels like it’s getting hotter along the coast. Having the AC on all day will have your electric bills soaring, and who wants to sit in a closed off room anyways? We want to breathe in those newly charged negative ions fresh off the Pacific Ocean! And one would think in this heat who needs insulation, but long as it takes to heats, as long as it takes to cool. You’ll come to find a variety of materials are thought about differently in the tropics, as are design strategies. Concrete keeps it’s heat, so as good as an insulator it is, you won’t want the sun hitting the walls of your home directly. An easy fix is large overhangs and plants near the outside of the home to block direct rays. Materials such as glass only act to amplify the heat of the day, turning building into fish bowls. Tinted glass works wonders and so do shaded extensions – we also want to be outside but hidden from the sun. Here are some more ways you can work with the elements to cool your home and make it a true tropical design.
Create shade
Don’t cut those canopy trees, or if you do, plan to plant something in its place. One of my favorite’s is the almond tree. They grow fast and can be manicured to specific shapes. They also attract scarlet macaws, which has been fun to watch them arrive and have a snack. My guests love it! Just don’t plant almond trees near water tubing, as they love water and they need about a 5 meter diameter.
“Study nature,
-Robert Alan
love nature,
stay close to nature.
It will never fail you.”
