Many homes are designed to blur the boundaries between inside and outside, but few commit to this idea like the Open Jungle House. Unique homes do not have traditional walls and windows. This means residents are exposed to the elements of the Costa Rican jungle, as well as all the wildlife.
The idea for the Open Jungle House was born when architect Ximena Borczynska traveled to Costa Rica. She and her partner chose a nice piece of land, pitched a tent and spent several months getting to know the area. They then began building their home, incorporating what they learned from living in tents into their designs.
The resulting structure has a floor area of 150 square meters (1,600 square feet) and features a simple layout with living, kitchen and dining areas and bedrooms with mosquito nets to protect against creepy crawlies. It is characterized. There are multiple seating areas inside and out, as well as a small storage area. The house’s rainwater is collected from the roof into wooden gutters and fed to both a groundwater tank and a small pool. Although not pictured, there is also a separate bathroom nearby, similar in open design but with a thatched roof above.
Ksimena Borczynska
Structurally, the Open Jungle House consists of a lightweight corrugated roof supported by thin posts and beams made from local semi-hardwood. The pillars are anchored to a small concrete base, but inside the house the natural clay ground is simply covered with a layer of gravel, on top of which a platform of wood and concrete is placed. Curtains are installed for some protection from the elements, and the surrounding trees provide shade.
Borczynska says the open design works very well in areas where seismic activity and soil movement are common. Not to mention the lack of modern comforts such as air conditioning and heating, even in Costa Rica’s relatively mild climate. Contact with so many insects and other jungle wildlife would make it unstartable for most people.
Ksimena Borczynska
“Living in this house means always being in close contact with nature,” she explained. “We can feel every change in light, wind, temperature and humidity. Smells are endless. We got to know their habits, we were woken up by the song, parrot and monkey voices with ever-changing melodies throughout the day.
“We have never had a bad experience with animals. We remove venomous snakes with tongs and release them into the jungle. Customized spacious mosquito nets provide the necessary protection at night. Home ‘s very simple design has no hidden or layered parts, so we can tell which creatures want to coexist with us.
Source: Ksimena Borczynska
