Nicaragua Beach House

Location: Rancho Santana, Nicaragua

Specifies: Beach-Front Home on Pacific Surf Break

Status: Completed 2017

fresch Architects served as the design architect for this residence in a community featuring Spanish and Mediterranean inspired homes. The home sits on a compact steeply sloping lot with height limitations protecting views of homes on properties behind this site. In this area, much time is spent outdoors in open-air shaded spaces. Uniquely, this location features a near constant off-shore breeze. To build to these site features the home is organized around two enclosed (air-conditioned) elements located on each side of the property with a large open-air covered patio between them. This arrangement of volume allows the dominant breeze to flow through the house and its covered loggia as it comes down the slope behind the house. Bedrooms, kitchen and living room are all arranged for prominent views of the Pacific Ocean and the well-known point break surf zone approximately 200 meters beyond the home’s infinity pool edge. As with the Mediterranean architecture that inspired this residence, the focus of activity is around the central courtyard where breezes and shade provide a comfortable environment.