No Footprint Wood House

Residential Architecture for A-01

The No Footprint Wood House is located along the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Its bioclimatic design integrates with the surrounding lush tropical forests and natural habitat. The project forms part of the multi-award winning No Footprint House series. Climate-responsive building variations are based on passive design strategies. Industrial building techniques and prefabricated components are combined with locally harvested and regenerative construction materials. The project promotes integral sustainability in terms of its social, economic, environmental and spatial performance.

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No Footprint Wood House by Oliver Schütte

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Residential Architecture by Oliver Schütte

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Oliver Schütte No Footprint Wood House

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Unique Properties

The No Footprint Wood House is located along the southern Pacific coast of Costa Rica. Its bioclimatic design integrates with the surrounding tropical forests and natural habitat. The project forms part of the ongoing No Footprint House series. Climate-responsive building variations are based on passive design strategies such as site-specific positioning and the use of natural resources. Industrial building techniques are combined with locally harvested and regenerative construction materials.

Tags

Bioclimatic, Architecture, Sustainability, Regeneration, Residential, Development, Tropical, Climate, Modular, Design

Production Technology

The different modulations of the No Footprint House series are based on a three-by-three-meter spatial grid layout. Spaces can be configured by the clients according to the personal necessities and budgets. In the case of the wooden house, the specific client asked for two separate private areas of two levels each on both sides of the overall structure, combined with a nine-by-nine-meter double-height social area in between the two private wings. The two private areas are serviced by a central service core on each side, including the staircases, bathrooms and closets. It was the wish of the client to materialize the whole building in wood.

Design Challenge

The main challenge of the No Footprint House series, including the No Footprint Wood House as an expression of its ongoing material development progress, is to unite a broad variety of entities in a joined multistakeholder approach. Such broadness and systemic thinking are required to find solutions for some of the greatest challenges of our time, which includes the decarbonization of all sectors that significantly contribute to global carbon emissions, proposing concrete actions and solutions.

Project Duration

The actual project duration of each project depends on the specific building size and its respective location. Beyond the building of the house, many of our clients also engage in related strategies of sustainability and regenerative development. This can include strategies reforestation, the creation of food forests, permaculture, local energy production and continuous life cycle improvement. The duration of these aspects can be described as ongoing and potentially endless.

Operation Flow

The No Footprint Wood House has created different levels of interaction. On one hand, there is the classic relation from our team of architects and interior designers with clients and client groups. Moreover, the research arm of the No Footprint House project engages with universities and local material providers to continuously work on the development of improved building solutions that create community benefits with reduced environmental impact and cost, improving overall project performance.

Research

Costa Rica has shifted from a strategy of sustainability to regenerative development. This condition creates numerous implications for housing. In this context, the No Footprint Wood House drives innovation through the development and incorporation of renewable and locally sourced materials in combination with passive design strategies and local energy production. The project is optimized through industrial and prefabricated building techniques, the first of its kind in Central America.

Inspiration

The No Footprint Wood House is based on the some of the history of prefabricated housing schemes in distant locations, such as the Maison Tropicale by Jean Prouve or the Dymaxion House by Buckminster Fuller. The project is also based on a roadmap to level carbon emissions Costa Rica. In this context, the modular building design options provide individual home owners with a variety of opportunities to contribute to the collective goal of balancing carbon emissions.

Image Credits

A-01 / Fernando Alda

Project Overview

No Footprint Wood House Residential Architecture has been a Platinum winner in the Sustainable Products, Projects and Green Design award category in the year 2024 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Platinum A' Design Award is recognized for honoring designs that stand at the forefront of creativity and innovation. It is the highest accolade bestowed by the A' Design Awards, acknowledging works that blend remarkable innovation with impactful societal contributions. These designs not only showcase exceptional artistic and technical proficiency but also highlight their creators' commitment to advancing the boundaries of art, science, design, and technology. Recipients of this award are celebrated for their role in shaping the aesthetics and trends of our time, contributing significantly to the enhancement of quality of life and promoting sustainable development.

Platinum Recognition

Oliver Schütte was recognized with the coveted Platinum A' Design Award in 2025, a testament to excellence of their work No Footprint Wood House Residential Architecture.

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