Rio Perdido West Bungalows by Studio Saxe

Tucked deep within the ecological heart of Bagaces County, Costa Rica, the Rio Perdido West Bungalows by Studio Saxe offer a refined yet deeply immersive experience of the country’s wild interior. Situated on a raised peninsula between two dramatic river canyons—the cool waters of the Rio Blanco and the thermal currents of the Rio Perdido—this collection of architectural pavilions floats lightly above the forest floor, anchoring luxury hospitality in sustainability, site-sensitivity, and tropical modernism.

What was once an overlooked canyon landscape—due to its limited accessibility—is now transformed into a sanctuary that engages directly with the region’s stunning geological formations, thriving ecosystems, and rich cultural context. The West Bungalows are the latest chapter in Studio Saxe’s long-standing commitment to developing eco-sensitive architecture that enhances the environment it inhabits, rather than displacing it.

Floating Architecture with a Light Touch

From the outset, Studio Saxe’s design philosophy was guided by a desire to tread lightly. Each bungalow is delicately raised above the forest floor on slender pilotis, allowing the uninterrupted movement of water, animals, and airflow beneath. The floating sensation is further enhanced by the use of frameless glass walls, which erase visual boundaries and open the interior to sweeping canyon views and lush tropical vegetation.

This architectural elevation isn’t only poetic—it’s practical. By lifting the buildings off the ground, the project avoids disrupting the area’s natural hydrology, while also enhancing passive cooling, ventilation, and long-term resilience to climate events.

A long roof overhang, extending beyond the glazed enclosure, provides crucial solar shading and rain protection, reducing the need for artificial cooling and reinforcing the project’s low-energy profile. Combined with locally sourced materials, the design showcases a respectful, high-performance approach to building in a sensitive natural context.

Privacy and Prospect: A Canyon Dialogue

The bungalows respond directly to their terrain and the experience of retreat and immersion. A strategically placed stone wall, referencing local building traditions, defines the transition between shared outdoor terraces and private interior zones. This feature anchors the building physically to the site while carefully modulating views and privacy.

Inside, a long horizontal window draws in the vast canyon landscape, turning nature into an ever-changing painting on the wall. The architectural narrative is one of balance—between enclosure and openness, raw nature and refined comfort.

An open-air shower, tucked discreetly beside each unit, ensures that guests remain in constant dialogue with their surroundings—hearing the river, smelling the forest, and feeling the climate, even during private moments. A seamless partition between bathroom and bedroom allows for spatial flexibility while maintaining privacy and continuity of view.

Interior Atmosphere: Woven Warmth and Natural Textures

Collaborating with New York–based interior designer Dania Saragovia, the interiors are curated to resonate with the architecture’s tactile, regional language. A warm palette of earthy tones, woven textures, and organic materials creates an inviting, relaxed atmosphere. Furniture and finishes—crafted from local wood, textiles, and stone—establish a sensorial dialogue between the contemporary built environment and the timeless forest landscape.

The interiors are neither ornamental nor austere. Instead, they exude a tropical simplicity, aligning with Costa Rica’s spirit of Pura Vida while elevating the design to a level of quiet sophistication rarely found in remote retreats.

Construction, Craft, and Conservation

The bungalows employ prefabrication techniques, allowing for precise fabrication off-site and minimal impact on the fragile ecosystem during construction. Though united by a common design language, each unit is site-adaptive, responding to subtle shifts in topography, vegetation, and orientation.

Studio Saxe’s approach is both technically innovative and philosophically grounded. Every design move—whether in structure, form, or finish—supports a larger environmental ethic, one that champions resource efficiency, ecological harmony, and regional craftsmanship.

A Model for Contemporary Tropical Architecture

The Rio Perdido West Bungalows are more than hospitality architecture—they are a case study in ecological integration and architectural restraint. Here, design becomes a medium for environmental appreciation, elevating the natural context without overwhelming it. Guests don’t just sleep in nature—they become active participants in a living ecosystem, surrounded by the sounds, textures, and rhythms of Costa Rica’s wild interior.

Through thoughtful spatial choreography, refined detailing, and a commitment to light-touch construction, Studio Saxe has crafted a retreat that stands in harmony with its landscape. It exemplifies how architecture can offer luxury without excess, experience without intrusion, and beauty born from authentic connection to place.

Photography: Alvaro Fonseca