The Jean Desarzens Compound: Redefining the Relationship Between Brutalist Architecture and Tropical Nature
A Photographic Retreat Between Concrete and Nature
When a professional photographer of National Geographic caliber designs their own retreat, every architectural detail is meticulously considered to complement their visual vision. At the Jean Desarzens compound, in a Brutalist style in Atenas, Costa Rica, it seems as if the forest itself has become an extension of the lens: everything, from concrete and steel to precisely calculated sightlines, is aimed at directing attention to the landscape in a deliberate and clear manner.
The house sits on a cliff bordering a bird reserve in the Central Valley, and this residence, built in 2017, rejected the prevailing neoclassical templates of the region, favoring raw materials and earthquake resilience over any ornamentation or mimicry.
Collaboration Between Artistic Vision and Architecture
Desarzens collaborated with Costa Rican architect Jaime Ruijon to create a suspended complex featuring a two-bedroom main house and three guest villas. This project is more than just a dwelling; it is a study in the impact of photography on architectural form: how can the forest and architectural lines interact to reflect the designer’s vision?
Here, the complex makes no concessions to local tropical character; everything reflects a philosophy of material honesty in design, without decoration or visible neighbors, focusing on exposed concrete, industrial glass, and the unfiltered sounds of the forest.
Material Honesty and Engineering on Unstable Ground
Ruijon’s philosophy centers on “honesty with materials,” which here translates into a building with no wood, relying solely on cast concrete, metals, and glass. This decision was not purely aesthetic, it was also necessary, as Costa Rica sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, requiring structural rigor to withstand seismic activity.
The shear walls anchor the main house to the cliff, distributing lateral forces through a foundation designed to absorb movement rather than resist it directly. Meanwhile, the suspended upper floor, which houses the primary living area and infinity pool, hovers above the slope without appearing unstable, reflecting a precise hidden dance of balance within a simple, elegant form.
Architectural Sensitivity in a Costa Rican Context
Architect Jaime Ruijon, whose portfolio includes luxury residences such as Casa Val and Casa Las Olas, brings a postmodern sensitivity to Costa Rican site conditions. His work balances horizontality and floating roofs, making his compositions read as much like sculptural pieces as they do as residential shelters.
At the Desarzens compound, this approach manifests in a series of stacked volumes along the hillside, with each floor offering unobstructed views of the Central Valley. The exposed concrete visibly endures weather fluctuations, with patches and patina adding a sense of permanence and enhancing the site’s raw character. The contrast between the texture of concrete and glass creates a clear visual language, without the need for intermediary elements such as tiling, paint, or decorative screens; every material performs its structural role with full honesty.
Structure Versus Comfort
The compound reads less as a traditional residence and more as a purpose-built dwelling, reflecting Desarzens’ goal: a space that prioritizes utility and sensory immersion over overt signals of comfort.
What distinguishes Ruijon’s execution here is restraint. Brutalist styles often lean toward visual heaviness, making volumes feel oppressive. In this design, he maintains a sense of lightness through proportions and transparency, leveraging glass to dissolve the boundaries between interior and exterior, while keeping the concrete framework clear and legible.
Spatial Organization Through Height
The main house is organized vertically: a master suite on the upper floor, a guest suite below, with a dedicated office/studio that Desarzens used for photography.
The upper floor opens onto a courtyard and infinity pool, carefully positioned to eliminate sightlines toward neighboring properties. Spatial logic prioritizes curated views, maximizing connection to the natural reserve while maintaining isolation from surrounding development. Circulation between levels is meticulously considered, with each transitional stage providing newly reframed perspectives of the tree canopy and the valley below.
Independent Villas to Enhance Privacy
Desarzens added three guest villas to support temporary stays, each designed to meet specific needs: a three-bedroom, two-bath unit for families, a studio villa with an en-suite bathroom for couples, and a small casita with one bedroom for solo travelers. The villas operate independently of the main house and are distributed across both sides of the hillside to maintain privacy, while sharing access to the broader landscape.
This fragmentation, separating programs into distinct blocks rather than combining them under a single roof, enhances the sense of living within the terrain itself, rather than merely building on the hill. The design avoids conventional sequences like a grand entrance or central courtyard, instead relying on a flexible network of paths and terraces oriented according to topography and sightlines, favoring exploration over traditional architectural rituals.
The Photographer’s Eye Encoded in Concrete
Desarzens’ National Geographic background is evident in the organization of spaces, where each primary window functions as a framing tool to isolate specific elements of the landscape: a tree canopy, a slice of the valley, or a segment of the sky, with precision akin to a telephoto lens. The infinity pool serves as a visual extension toward the horizon, creating layered depth inspired by photographic composition.
Ruijon’s horizontal roofs reinforce this effect, directing visual lines outward. Prioritization of light follows photographic logic: morning light illuminates the master suite, while midday light bathes the upper living area and pool terrace. Glass is positioned to capture different angles of sunlight throughout the year, making light a dynamic element that changes the character of each space with the seasons. Shadows move across interior surfaces, forming temporal patterns rarely found in traditionally finished buildings.
Rejecting the Neoclassical Vocabulary
Desarzens described surrounding homes as “nothing special,” due to their reliance on neoclassical templates that ignore the site’s unique conditions. In contrast, his compound focuses on geology, climate, and environmental context, employing bare surfaces and suspended bridges instead of traditional columns and domes. This contrast reflects an explicit architectural critique, translating luxury into direct, unmediated access to the landscape, rather than decorative embellishments.
Personal Retreat and Market Transition
The compound was designed to function as both a personal retreat and an income-generating asset, with the villas producing revenue independently of Desarzens’ presence. With his move to Portugal, the compound transitions from an inhabited project to a marketable commodity, raising questions about the ability of architecture tailored to a single vision to maintain its integrity under different ownership.
Lifestyle Economics and the Expat Market
The Atenas area attracts expatriates from the United States, Canada, Germany, and the Netherlands, thanks to its mild climate, affordable cost of living, proximity to San José International Airport (40 minutes), and Pacific-facing beaches (one hour).
Desarzens’ decision to sell reflects the high operational costs and complexities of managing Airbnb rentals, serving as a clear example of the challenges inherent in combining a personal retreat with commercial functionality in luxury real estate.
Maintenance and Sustainability in a Tropical Climate
Maintaining an all-concrete structure in a humid tropical climate requires specialized attention, as high humidity and climatic fluctuations affect the materials over time. The compound’s remote location further limits access to specialized maintenance services, increasing the challenges of property management.
Location and Real Estate Market
The $2.195 million asking price positions the compound within Costa Rica’s luxury real estate market, where architectural distinction commands premium prices. For design-focused buyers, the compound offers a rare combination of:
- Earthquake-resistant engineering.
- Robust, exposed Brutalist materials.
- An immersive experience with access to the surrounding protected nature.
The Trade-Off: Architecture with a Specific Vision
The trade-off is operational complexity and uncompromising aesthetics; this property is not a turnkey residence that can easily adapt to diverse tastes. Rather, it is a fixed architectural statement, rewarding occupants who share Desarzens’ priorities or who are willing to engage with the architecture on its own terms, making adaptation to the building itself part of the living experience.
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
The Jean Desarzens compound can be considered an example of how artistic vision and architectural design can be integrated within a specific natural environment. Its stacked volumes and unobstructed views provide a model for studying the impact of architectural compositions on visual interaction with nature. The use of exposed concrete and glass as structural materials offers a clear demonstration of material honesty and function-driven design, reflecting an architectural understanding of the balance between simplicity and sustainability.
However, the project raises several questions that may interest engineers and architects. The highly specialized design, focused on the singular vision of a professional photographer, may be limited in its adaptability to different users or changes in ownership, making it less flexible for broader architectural contexts. The extensive reliance on concrete in a humid tropical climate increases maintenance and sustainability challenges, requiring specialized management to prevent material degradation over time. Furthermore, the separation of programs into independent villas and the absence of traditional entrances may limit collective use or future development possibilities.
Despite these considerations, the project can serve as an educational example for:
- How to employ lines and sightlines to create precise visual experiences within architectural design.
- Studying the relationship between raw materials and function, particularly in environmentally and seismically sensitive sites.
- Exploring the tension between private, vision-driven design and public utility, along with the associated challenges in management and sustainability.
Prepared by the ArchUp Editorial Team
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