19 Contemporary tropical architecture is a great way to integrate a building into the environment, as its processes see human comfort accomplished through energyefficient consumption systems, bioclimatic design strategies, and advanced technologies. Taking these principles and deploying them across Costa Rica, which is a haven of biological diversity and natural beauty, Salagnac Architects is up there with the most acclaimed and innovative companies working in this space today. Below, we explore its recognition here as the Architecture Company of the Year 2026 – Costa Rica. 2026 marks 20 years since Evangelina Quesada and Lucca Spendlingwimmer established Salagnac Architects in Nosara, and this two-decade legacy has seen the company grow in both size and stature as a result of the personalised and exclusive service its clients are delivered. This stems from the fact that every project it takes on is truly one of a kind, as they are all born out of research and a deep analysis of both the location and the client. Evangelina and Lucca are both architects who trained and graduated in Costa Rica, meaning their studio knows this landscape from the inside out. From day one, their mission was to support construction projects that develop and contribute to the evolution of the country’s architecture, and this meant injecting sustainability into every aspect of the design. This is where their commitment to contemporary tropical architecture comes in, and nowhere is this more prolific than in Salagnac’s innovative use of bioclimatic design principles. Bioclimatic design has become an integral part of what Salagnac stands for in this space, as it sees designs created that perfectly blend in with whichever part of Costa Rica’s beautiful landscape a client calls home. As mentioned above, this all starts with the team here conducting an analysis of the environment to assess the likes of local weather conditions, the immediate surroundings, and other factors that will come into play as they mix their unique bioclimatic designs with the latest technologies to achieve the desired balance. “This innovative style of architecture integrates, in a creative way, the environment, technology, and aesthetics.” A bioclimatic study is done for every one of the draft designs Salagnac carries out, and it is complemented by a 3D presentation that will be shown to the client to highlight the design and project concept before work begins. This is just the beginning, as this draft design is followed by a complete set of blueprints which must be approved before work can begin on a site. These include site location, architectural, structural, mechanical, and electrical plans. The team will handle all of this, including the permits required for some projects. Once everything has been signed off and it is time for the construction to start, Salagnac provides technical supervision to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch. From reviewing methods to assessing materials and guiding the contractor to a more holistic understanding of the project, this team do it all. Aside from this, they will also keep a client up to date on the progress of their build through weekly reports. Reports cover all of the outstanding work for everyone and everything across the entire building process. Last but not least, rounding out the services Salagnac delivers is a full scope of interior design solutions spanning the sourcing, transportation, and installation of furnishings and the other defined elements of a space. Available for new homes or those looking to remodel their existing environment, the company’s forte lies in its ability to define a style that both meets needs and matches tastes, all without ever losing sight of this strict natural focus. The combination of an encompassing service and a commitment to designs that blend seamlessly into the world around them has seen Salagnac spearhead some impressive projects over the years, from commercial properties to residential homes. Touching on a few of these, a striking highlight from across Salagnac’s portfolio is Hotel Bodhi Tree Resort, which sits nestled in an area densely packed with trees, and uses both natural tones and wood-heavy finishes to see that it becomes part of this landscape rather than overpowering it. Before we move on to talk about the residential landscape, which is the area where Salagnac’s authority is perhaps on display the best, it would be a shame not to mention the company’s own studio, which embodies everything it upholds when it comes to sustainable, environmentally driven, bioclimatic design. Made primarily of wood and glass and containing a great deal of green, the studio is a constant reminder for the team of what their projects should be: unique and yet in perfect harmony with the natural world. Again, these principles are on full display across Salagnac’s residential projects, especially Loma Sagrada, which remains a highlight since its completion more than two years ago. A number of buildings comprise the site, the most notable being the main house, which is built on a 35-degree slope. For this, the team chose a fully wooden, triangle structure, with this wooden theme carrying on across the other buildings on the site, including the pool, ranch, and kitchenette. All of the wood utilised was also grown on local plantations. The rigorous sustainable focus of Loma Sagrada does not, however, end with its use of wood. Natural stone was used throughout the property in areas where wood could not (such as showers and kitchen countertops), and plants and food are both grown on the site, harvested not only by the homeowners but also by neighbouring animals. In this way, the property serves almost as its own ecosystem, as well as a testament to Salagnac’s quality. Finally, to share an example of the innovation Salagnac strives for concerning sustainable design, one of its most recent projects in Costa Rica’s residential environment saw it build a house with a huge tree at the centre, the top of which pops out of a purpose-built hole in the ceiling. A sight to behold, we have never seen anything like this before, which is yet another instance of how Salagnac underpins every project with luxurious sustainability. Taking all of a client’s considerations on board and then blending these with the natural world around them, a more harmonious lifestyle awaits those who invest in Salagnac’s expert services. With even more analysis, research, and experimentation planned for the future, it is clear that this is a company that is continuing to build beautiful, comfortable spaces that set a new standard for mitigating the construction industry’s environmental impact. Salagnac Architects has been on the receiving end of numerous awards over the last few years, including featuring in this magazine across four different occasions since 2021. Recognised on this occasion as the Architecture Company of the Year 2026 – Costa Rica, we wish Evangelina Quesada, Lucca Spendlingwimmer, and the rest of the team behind the company all of the best as they continue to pioneer, highlighting the lasting success they have had on the region through their company’s placement within these pages. For more on any of the projects or services mentioned above, please visit Salagnac Architects at the website below, and see firsthand its unmatched work across Costa Rica. Contact: Lucca Spendlingwimmer Company: Salagnac Architects Web Address: https://salagnacarquitectos.com/
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