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What do you do with an old building that’s falling apart? Do you just tear it all down and start
over again?
While that might seem the simplest solution, it is neither the most economical option nor the
best for the environment.
Instead, you can keep what works of the old structure and give it new life.
That’s what we did with these two old apartment buildings near the soccer field in Manuel
Antonio. Check out how this architectural project turned out here!
These apartment buildings were in horrendous shape when we arrived. Part of the structure had
no roof and there was rust and decay everywhere. It was almost to the point that the buildings
should have been demolished.
However, there was also a lot of sound concrete structure that was still standing strong.
(Concrete architecture is amazing!) So we set to work saving the sound concrete structures and
reinforcing them with new metal structures where needed.
Once the building was structurally sound and safe again, it was time for the fun part.
I wanted to create a very light and airy feel with the interior design. The buildings are up high enough that they offer a stunning view over the rainforest and the ocean and I didn’t want to distract from that. Plus, I wanted the furniture to be the main focal points indoors.
To accomplish this look, I started with a white canvas. Inside and out, we painted the entire structure a bright, fresh white.
Then it was time to bring in the accents. To combine with the rainforest vibe, I chose natural wood looks for most of the furniture, cabinets, etc. For the cushion fabrics, I picked nature colors like blue, white, and green that would blend well with the wood look.
We also added built-in wooden planters and filled them with palm fronds and bright pink
bougainvillea for a splash of color.
We kept many of the adornments pretty simple. The pool deck was the one place where we stepped it up a notch. I chose a beautiful earthy tile with gorgeous browns and tans. I wanted to create a natural space where people could relax and I think we accomplished that nicely!
I’m proud of the work we did in this architectural project. It’s lovely to use my skills in architecture and interior design to save old
buildings from demolition and create a beautiful space for people to live. Building a habit of reusing the old instead of throwing it away helps us all move toward a more sustainable future!
Curious to check out more of the projects I’ve been working on? Check out this amazing space I
designed in the Marina Pez Vela! https://aurea-designs.com/projects/barefoot-luxury-guest-center/