Casa Carazo
Carazo Arquitectura, an architecture firm in Costa Rica that focuses on sustainable design, is opening a new office in San José. Located in the center of the city, the new office can be accessed by public transportation and bicycle. The office, Casa Carazo, is a reflection on the future of workspaces and showcases the firm’s focus on creating healthier, happier, and eco-friendly spaces.
Casa Carazo is both a restoration and a new building project on historic property. For Carazo Arquitectura, the reutilization and revitalization of disregarded urban centers are opportunities to integrate nature and create new ways to live, experience, and understand the capital city.
An energy-efficient cooling system, external shading devices, water-efficient plumbing fixtures, and more will be installed to reduce the office’s energy and water usage. A green roof will also contribute to energy savings. When possible, the existing floor, roof, walls, and window frames will be re-used to reduce the project’s embodied energy in materials.
Casa Carazo has received an EDGE Advanced certificate from the Green Building Council Costa Rica.
Predicted Savings of EDGE Certification
47%
Energy Savings*
21%
Water Savings
64%
Less Embodied Energy in Materials
Technical Solutions
Energy
Reduced window-to-wall ratio, external shading devices, insulation of the roof, a variable refrigerant flow (VRF) cooling system, and energy-saving lighting in internal and external spaces.
Water
Dual-flush water closets, low-flow faucets in all bathrooms, and water-efficient faucets for kitchen sinks.
Materials
Light gauge steel cassette for the floor, ferro cement for the roof, plasterboards on metal studs with insulation for internal walls, steel-clad sandwich panels for external walls, and the re-use of existing floor, roof, internal and external walls, and window frames.
*Part of the energy efficiency percentage may be associated with virtual energy for comfort depending on the presence of heating and cooling systems. Note that virtual energy does not contribute savings to utility bills.
Atualmente, a EDGE é financiada pelo governo do Reino Unido com financiamento original da Secretaria de Estado da Economia da Suíça (SECO).
Suporte adicional foi fornecido pela Áustria, Canadá, Dinamarca, ESMAP, UE, Finlândia, GEF, Hungria e Japão.