Sustainable
Tower “Peels”
the
Costa Rican City Skyline
By Danielle Rago
Driven by a progressive environmental
strategy that will exploit sustainable
energy design, Spanish-based firm Moho
Arquitectura’s design for a mixed-use tower
in San José will become a new benchmark for
eco-friendly design in Costa Rica.
In addition to its eco-conscious features,
the unique “peeling” quality of the tower is
sure to turn some heads!
Located in front of Sabana Park, a major
recreation hub of San José, the proposed
development offers sustainable living
options for inhabitants of the city by
balancing energy consumption between its
mixed-use program that includes commercial
and retail spaces, as well as the inclusion
of a hotel and casino.
Constructed mostly from concrete, the tower
will be clad in a wooden brise-soleil
facade, specifically designed to allow
natural light and ventilation to enter the
complex, reducing the need for artificial
light and air conditioning systems.
Rising twenty-five stories above the city,
the tower splits as it rises upwards into
the sky, creating room for outdoor open
spaces or sky gardens filled with plantlife.
Expected to be complete in 2012, the
development will provide the necessary
amenities for the city of San Jose in
addition to protecting its inhabitants from
the hot Costa Rican climate.
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