Mansion global: The agent of Casa Flotante, or “The Floating House,” describes it as a blend of “tropical luxury” and sustainable design. The home’s architect, Benjamin Garcia Saxe, is known for designing environmentally conscious homes that integrate seamlessly into their environments, without sacrificing comfort and beautiful design.
The Floating House, which was built in 2013 from entirely local materials such as teak, bamboo and cedar, has won five awards, including the 2014 International Architecture Biennial of Costa Rica. Its owners, Dahlia Nahome and Jez Gooden, who work in marketing and ocean conservation, share an interest in sustainable design and positive living. They are selling the house to focus on professional growth in the U.K., where they are based. The Floating House is the first of Mr. Garcia Saxe’s designs to hit the market, as owners tend to be reluctant to part with his stunning designs, according to listing agent Andres Riggioni.
The treehouse-like home is comprised of three pods raised up on stilts to float at the level of the jungle canopy, connected at the rear by a bamboo corridor.
The design of the home was a direct response to the challenges posed by its environment.”The biggest challenge we encountered,” Mr. Garcia Saxe said, “was that the plot of land was predominantly comprised of a very steep slope, and the view of the ocean could only be seen from the upper-mid portion of the site.”Raising it up on stilts not only opened up the view, but meant that the structure would not interrupt the natural water flow of rainy season, which runs down the mountain under the house.
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