sonatero
spatial experience design | social impact | branding
Sonatero is a comprehensive eco-vacation destination comprised of relaxing and enriching spacial experiences that teach and exemplify the ecological ideals of a sustainable country.
resort experience
The experience, based on the sonar communication capabilities of bats, offers a series of hollow metal pathways, allowing visitors to feel the movement of others around the resort. This experience extends to the integrated app, allowing visitors to view 5 different infrared cameras, showing wildlife moving in and around the area.
biomimicry & the central american tent bat
The tent bat is native to Costa Rica and other surrounding Central and South American countries like Honduras, Trinidad and parts of Brazil. The Central American Tent Bats travel in groups or colonies, this makes the tent-making process faster and more streamlined. These bats strategically chew palm leaves so they drop and form a tent for shelter. The cabina's structure is based off the shelter structures of these bats, folding on itself to make a weather resilient form
The resort is built with minimal impact. Raised on pillars, the structures of the resort are minimally invasive so not to invade or impact the territories of native species. The pillar system also allows for minimal deforestation and adjustments to the platforms due to heavy rainfall and erosion, which is common in Costa Rica.
Guancaste Tree
Guanacatse is a native tree to the Uvita region of Costa Rica. Often these trees fall due to storms or disasters. Local artisans use these fallen trees for creating beautiful furniture and home goods. These artisans works are incorporated into the experience at Sonatero.
yellow bamboo
Yellow bamboo is an invasive species that is thought to have been introduced in Costa Rica in the late 1700s. To repurpose and control this species, the bamboo has been removed from the grounds and placed in planters to be used as spatial dividers.
Repurposed materials
Sonatero's site is located at the top of a hill, with limited access. Repurposed and discarded materials are used to construct most of the resort, limiting issues in transporting building materials to the site, also reduction the eco-fooprint of construction.
EXPERIENTIAL RESEARCH
After 10 days of field research in Uvita, Costa Rica, our design team returned to Los Angeles to craft this spatial experience based on our findings and experiences.
