House in Nicaragua
Concept design package, April 2026
Concept design package, April 2026
Nicaragua is defined by contrast and intensity. A land of volcanoes, lakes, and tropical forests, it moves between a humid rainy season with sudden, heavy rain and a dry season that reshapes the landscape. Strong coastal winds and occasional hurricanes reveal its exposure to larger climatic forces, while inland vegetation remains lush and abundant. Its raw, untamed nature continues to draw tourism.
Palms, hardwoods and flowering trees create layered canopies, while shrubs and ground plants quickly regenerate after dry periods. In wetter regions, greenery remains thick year-round, reinforcing the sense of a resilient landscape.
The country is affected by the weather particularly along the Caribbean coast. Intense rainfall and sudden pressure changes impact both natural and built environments. Inland, the effects are also felt through heavy storms and shifting weather patterns, making it an important factor in how the territory is inhabited.
The building in this project develops around a central courtyard which functions also as the main entrance and common garden. This space is protected from winds and shaded by larger trees growing inside it.
Vernacular architecture in Nicaragua is shaped by climate, materials, and practicality. Buildings often use locally available wood, earth, or concrete, with elevated floors to manage humidity and flooding. Roofs are typically steep and extended, allowing rapid drainage and providing shade, while openings are designed to encourage cross-ventilation. The result is a direct, functional architecture that responds to weather conditions without excess.
The new architecture takes inspiration from the vernacular: an elevated deck that also covers the central garden, wood is used for the roof and as a wall finish and the interiors have windows on both sides for ventilation. The facades are shaded by the broad eaves and the inner courtyard helps with natural ventilation and evening cooling.
Tourism has become a steady source of income, especially in regions known for natural landscapes. Locals adapt their homes to accommodate visitors, renting out individual rooms or separate units while continuing to live on-site.
This creates a hybrid condition where domestic space and hospitality overlap, allowing owners to generate income while maintaining a presence within the property. The arrangement remains informal in many cases, shaped more by opportunity and seasonality than by strict models of development.
My design takes these customs into account, proposing 4 apartments connected as a single building. One of them can be used by the owner or the caretaker while the other 3 can be rented to guests. A similar strategy can be adopted for construction with the house being built in steps, one or two apartments at the time.
Daily life in Nicaragua is closely tied to outdoor space and shared routines. Social activity often extends beyond the interior, with cooking, resting, and gathering happening in semi-open areas such as terraces and patios. Neighbors and family remain in constant proximity, and hospitality is informal and present in everyday interactions. This way of living values shade, airflow, and collective presence, shaping how spaces are used more than how they are enclosed.
The vegetation around the house carries strong, saturated tones shaped by sun and moisture. Deep greens dominate during the rainy season, shifting to lighter, dustier hues as the land dries. Flowering plants introduce sudden bursts of color—reds, yellows, and purples—against this backdrop. Small fauna moves within this palette, with birds, insects, and reptiles adding flashes of contrast, reinforcing the sense of a landscape that is visually active and constantly in motion.
The dark tint of the wood used for facades and the roof of the house creates a contrast with the heavily saturated natural colors, becoming a distinct element that reinforces the palette. The long side of the house, undulating between vegetation, reminds one of a friendly black snake.