Welcome to the Jungle! Casa Contenta, nestled in the stunning landscape of Islita, Guanacaste, Costa Rica, epitomizes a harmonious blend of contemporary architecture and the natural beauty of its surroundings. This residential project is designed to provide a tranquil oasis, fostering a deep connection between indoor living spaces and the lush environment. With a focus on comfort, functionality, and aesthetic appeal, Casa Contenta is an exemplary model of modern tropical living.

Architecture by Instinto Estudio | Interior Design by Taller Ken Nosara, Guanacaste, Costa Rica Casa Kallo is a pair of tropical homes designed to merge architecture, interiors, and landscape into one seamless experience. Two interconnected volumes balance solidity and openness, using textured masonry and vertical wood screens to frame light, breeze, and views of the surrounding forest. Taller Ken crafted the interior design with a warm, tactile palette—natural hardwoods, handcrafted tiles, terrazzo, and custom millwork—creating spaces that feel refined yet deeply connected to place. Sliding glass panels extend the social areas into shaded terraces and outdoor dining spaces, embracing Nosara’s climate and lifestyle. Casa Kallo is a relaxed, immersive retreat shaped by materiality, light, and the rhythms of coastal living.

Casa V is located in San Jose and set into a hillside that opens up towards a backyard with a tropical bamboo surround. The modern residential property was designed by local firm Parq Architecture, while the interior design was carried out by Taller KEN, which has offices in San José, Guatemala City and New York. It was created as a primary residence for a couple who collects contemporary Latin American art which adorns the residence.

Design studios Zürcher Arquitectos and Taller KEN took cues from the lush forests around San José while designing this courtyard house. Casa Las Vistas is set into a hillside that overlooks the landscape surrounding Costa Rica's capital city.

This residence explores contrast as a spatial narrative—where warmth and depth meet clarity and light. Rich wood paneling wraps the social areas in a continuous architectural gesture, integrating storage, display, and art into a living backdrop that feels both curated and intimate. Against this textured envelope, sculptural furniture in vivid tones introduces moments of play and personality, activating the space with energy and softness. Expansive glazing dissolves boundaries between interior and landscape, drawing nature into daily life. In private areas, darker materials and controlled light create a contemplative atmosphere, transforming bathing and rest into immersive experiences. The project balances precision with warmth, creating a home that feels expressive yet grounded—an environment designed for connection, comfort, and discovery.

Multi-use Commercial Space | 4,500 sf | Completed 2015 | Highway Roosevelt, Guatemala City This café and event space draws its inspiration from commercial roadside icons. To draw the attention of passing traffic, the building exterior is conceived as a four-sided billboard: a provocative fifty-foot matte-black cube studded with colorful car chassis.

Optometry Store | Completed 2017 | Zone 10, Guatemala City Okio, an eyewear store in Guatemala City, takes its merchandise as inspiration and makes clear its function to the street traffic nearby. A pair of large circular openings with oxidized iron frames act as architecturally-integrated signage, while also bringing in natural light and inviting passersby to window shop. A large interior “oculus” skylight combines with the exterior openings to bring a bold interplay of light and form to the interior of this small boutique.

Retail Showroom | 915 sf | Completed 2015 | Fontabella, Guatemala City Conceived as a modern chapel, the central room, anchored by an altar-like display island, opens up to small votive niches which offer a more intimate experience with the shop’s jewelry. One, a sculptural cave that you slip into through a slim, framed doorway, features mirrored, faceted gold-toned walls with a slim horizontal inset housing a sparkling jewelry display. Another holds a private showroom with custom-designed furnishings and a soft, curtained partition to offer privacy.

"Saul '14" is a house with many charms. Under one roof, we combine fashion, design, art, objects and food. Here, a union of culture and commerce full of surprises and small treasures entices clients and visitors to take the time to enjoy diverse experiences. It is a place to meet, to stop for a drink at the café, to shop at the store or to visit the terrace to have a long meal or just sit to read.

The design's playful qualities draw from cultural references.

For this flagship retail space, design becomes a stage—bringing sensual brand identity into architectural form. Crisp spatial organization, rich materials, and subtle spatial surprises invite customers to explore and connect with the curated collection of fashion and accessories. 

Overlooking a small bay in Costa Rica, Casa Monitos embraces the natural forms and textures of its surroundings. Architecturally, the residence is split between several independent structures connected through a central covered outdoor walkway. The interiors, designed by architects Taller KEN, reflect this permeability between interior and exterior, resulting in a home infused with delight and surprise.

An artistic intervention that reframes perception through space—eliciting sensory curiosity and interaction.