Communities

Grand BoiS Community 

4.7047° S, 55.4859° E
MAHE, SEYCHELLES


SCALE: 190 hectares

Grand Bois was an ambitious vision for a challenging property on Mahe, Seychelles’ largest and hilliest island. Through extensive time spent on site and a rigorous analysis and masterplanning process, the distribution of this nature-based community retained 94 percent of the existing habitat, with most of the site-adapted architecture and circulation designed to be elevated and the larger common areas limited to previously disturbed areas.

El Bosque Community

9.9401° N, 85.6559° W
NOSARA, COSTA RICA


SCALE: 12 hectares

VIDA was engaged to masterplan a community inside a forested property that would play a regenerative role in the future growth of the area. Guided by Josie Plaut and the LENSES framework, VIDA implemented a research and analysis plan employing biologists and anthropologists to understand the regenerative opportunities lying in the three pillars of sustainable development: economic, social and environmental. Extensive analysis of the built environment, historical land uses, biological corridors, watersheds, transport, land uses and climate change threats added a deeper layer to VIDA’s masterplanning process that is not always achievable with all clients.

Central Valley Mixed Use Development (marnescas)

9.945308° N 84.099951° W
SAN JOSÉ, COSTA RICA


SCALE: 15.5 hectares

VIDA was presented with the opportunity to vision and masterplan one of the last remaining forested properties in central San Jose and complement an existing initiative called Las Rutas Naturbanas - which plans to create 25 kilometres of recreational space along two of the main river systems of San Jose, linking communities and activity centres while restoring damaged ecosystems from decades of neglect in the car-oriented urban area of San Jose. The mixed-use development contains a number of public spaces, including a skate park, nature-based children’s play, open space and a community amphitheatre and is a chance to inject energy and enterprise into the surrounding neighbourhoods and contribute to a long-term vision of a happier and healthier community. 

Místico

9.5606 ° N, 84.5597° W
PLAYA HERMOSA, COSTA RICA


SCALE: 76 hectares

After extensive on-site analysis, VIDA concluded that the developer should redirect their efforts and develop an alternative masterplan that responded better to the inherent site conditions of the property and the region. VIDA’s proposal provided a development that was more cost-effective to construct, had greater market appeal and respected, and enhanced, the natural assets of the property.

Spirit

9.645161° N 85.166278° W
SANTA TERESA, COSTA RICA


SCALE: 9 hectares

VIDA was engaged by an international client alongside Bali-based architect Rob Sample to develop a masterplan for a community in a town that VIDA knows well: Santa Teresa. The retention of interconnected areas of existing forest with trails, and home sites which maximise the ocean and forest views were key drivers of the masterplan that has since been permitted and documented. 

Dominical

9.250276° N 83.862919° W
PLAYA DOMINICAL, COSTA RICA


SCALE: 45 hectares

Through a 4 day VIDA Session a project vision and conceptual masterplan were imagined for this small laid back coastal town to rethink the town centre of Dominical. A mixed-use town centre with commercial, cultural and residential components complemented by a sloping, forested backdrop and ocean frontage, the project rethinks the future of this region.