Casa Komorebi, Bahía Ballena home, Costa Rican luxury real estate, architecture photos

Casa Komorebi in Bahía Ballena, Costa Rica luxury home

14 April 2026

Architecture & Landscape Design: Studio Saxe

Location: Bahía Ballena, Costa Rica

Photography: Depth Lens – Alvaro Fonseca

Casa Komorebi, Bahía Ballena, Costa Rica Property

Above the Pacific coastline of Costa Rica, pavilions unfold around a garden and connect beneath a single floating roof. Nature becomes the pathway, guiding movement between views of ocean, forest, and sky.

Overview
Set high in the mountains above Bahía Ballena on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Casa Komorebi is a home designed around movement, light, and nature. A series of pavilions are connected by outdoor walkways and bridges, gently leading inhabitants through gardens and open-air corridors under the shelter of a single, expansive umbrella roof. This layout transforms the act of moving from one space to another into a sensory experience surrounded by nature, ocean views, and mountain breezes.

Concept
We broke apart the house into distinct volumes, using the topography as a guide. This allowed for circulation between spaces to happen outdoors, in constant contact with vegetation and the landscape. A shared roof hovers above the pavilions, protecting walkways while framing views of the ocean, the mountains, and the central courtyard. This approach encourages a way of living where architecture dissolves into the natural environment.

Design
Instead of orienting the house toward a single ocean view, we opened it in multiple directions to embrace a wider range of experiences. The surrounding mountain range, lush internal gardens, and distant ocean horizon became equally important elements in the composition. As a result, the home feels anchored in place while remaining light and open, blending privacy with constant connection to the outdoors.

Sustainability
By separating the pavilions, natural cross ventilation is encouraged throughout the home. The double-layered roof acts as a thermal shield, allowing warm air to escape and cool breezes to enter. These passive bioclimatic strategies create a naturally comfortable environment without the need for mechanical cooling. Our commitment to low-impact living and harmony with the local climate guided every design decision.

Construction
The house sits on a solid concrete base that anchors it to the slope, while the lighter steel pavilions above were prefabricated in modules for easy transport through the mountainous terrain. This construction method reduced the need for invasive equipment and allowed for a faster, more sustainable build. The modular approach made it possible to work efficiently in a remote location, while maintaining precision and durability.

Client’s Perspective
“We were searching for a firm with experience in both Costa Rica and abroad, but more importantly, one that could help us bring a vision of unity with nature to life. Studio Saxe was the obvious choice.

We’ve loved Costa Rica for many years, and we knew our house had to become part of this place. We imagined spaces that felt like a natural oasis, not just for us but for those we welcome here. Finding a name for the home was part of the journey. We discovered the Japanese word Komorebi, which describes sunlight streaming through the trees. That play of light and shadow captured the feeling we hoped to create.

Our favourite place is what we call the nature deck. It’s covered and open at the same time. You are right in the forest, and when the monkeys, macaws, and toucans arrive, you realise you’re not just near nature—you are part of it.

Building this home in another country was an adventure, and we’re grateful to all the people who helped bring it to life.”

Casa Komorebi in Bahía Ballena, Costa Rica – Property Information

Architecture & Landscape Design: Studio Saxe – https://studiosaxe.com/

Design Director: Benjamin Saxe
Location: Bahia Ballena, Osa, Puntarenas, Costa Rica
Date of Completion: March 2025
Size: 470m2 approx.
Client: Casa Komorebi
Builder: Tempo Construcción
Interior Design: Natalie Simon