Materials with a Story

Materials with a Story

The materials throughout ARTISTA were chosen for more than their appearance. Their origin, makers, composition, use and environmental impact all played a role in the selection process.

Wood is one of the clearest examples. At least 50% of the wood used is FSC-certified or recovered directly from the site. For the remainder, ARTISTA prioritized national and local suppliers considered low-risk within Costa Rica’s forestry context.

The project also looked for ways to make better use of every piece. A modular structural system helped reduce unnecessary cutting and waste, while usable wood offcuts found new purposes in doors, support structures and landscaping. Other pieces were redirected to Hotel Belmar and Finca Madre Tierra projects or donated to local art and cultural initiatives.

Some materials have even more unexpected beginnings. Costa Rican-made Bagapanels and Bagacal, developed by Zegreenlab, incorporate agricultural by-products such as sugarcane bagasse, turning what was once considered waste into part of the building itself.

ARTISTA also incorporates EcoBlock made from recovered plastic, alongside finishes such as Chukum and lime wash, locally produced flooring and materials selected for attributes related to health, environmental performance and greater transparency around what they contain.

More than 20% of investment in materials and construction was directed toward local and regional sourcing, while at least 80% of construction waste was diverted from landfill through reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and donation.

At ARTISTA, every material is part of a larger story—one of origin, creativity, and resourcefulness. But materials do more than shape architecture; they can also carry identity, memory, and different ways of understanding a place. That connection continues through art and the people who create it.

Continue reading → Building with a Smaller Carbon Footprint‍

‍Continue reading → Art Rooted in Place

‍‍Continue reading → Designed for Nature and Wellbeing‍

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