The Gilded Iguana Hotel in Nosara, Caribbean Accommodation Building, Architecture Images
The Gilded Iguana Hotel in Nosara, Costa Rica
Accommodation and Pool Project in Costa Rica, Central America ? design by Studio Saxe Architects
4 Jul 2018
The Gilded Iguana Hotel
Architects: Studio Saxe
Location: Nosara, Costa Rica
The Gilded Iguana Hotel

Playa Guiones, in the town of Nosara, Costa Rica has long been known by the wider international community of surfers as a hidden gem and off-grid paradise of white sand beaches and constant waves. Decades ago the first wooden house in town was built close to the beach-break and in time this simple structure became the perfect resting place for transient surfers as well as a gathering venue for music, food, and interaction. The Gilded Iguana was born!
Today Nosara still attracts avid surfers from around the world however it has also become a destination for yogis, the wellness community, and families looking for healthy fun and adventure. Everyone shares a common goal to preserve the natural habitat and the low-key unpretentious essence of the place.

Studio Saxe was commissioned to expand and rethink the entire Gilded Iguana Hotel as a destination that addresses modern comforts and adapts to the new wave of travelers coming to the area whilst preserving the rich historical importance of the location.

Together with the owners, we decided to restore and revitalize the existing dilapidated house structure as a tribute to the memory it h...