benjamin garcia saxe: a forest for a moon dazzler best private house at WAF 2010

‘a forest for a moon dazzler’ by benhamin garcia saxe in guanacaste, costa rica all images courtesy of benjamin garcia saxe

‘a forest for a moon dazzler’ by UK-based architect benjamin garcia saxe has won first prize in the private house category at this year’s world architecture festival held in barcelona. the small bamboo structure in costa rica was designed for the architect’s mother to provide a simple dwelling with a view of the moon. at night, the cone-like surface of the bamboo house opens up to allow the inhabitant to look up to the sky.

‘the architect addressed the practical and emotional needs of his mother’s security by creating a home for her to occupy alone, while also satisfying his inventive curiosity with a new form of bamboo moucharabieh screen that responds to movement and light. in his narrative there was sincerity in how the character and needs of the client related to the final architectural outcome,’ said the jury.

view of kitchen module at night

the simple layout features a bedroom on one end, a kitchen on the other and an internal courtyard/garden in between with a bordering wooden deck. constructed out of over 4000 pieces of bamboo, the house is largely open to the air with the option of complete exposure with shutter doors.

roof structure

view from the bedroom

internal patio and garden

(left) inside terrace (right) detail of bamboo and burlap

detail of bamboo pieces

side view of the kitchen

main entrance

bedroom wing from the exterior

exploded axo

ventilation and movement diagram (plan view)

ventilation and movement diagram (section view)

sightlines and circulations diagram