Outdoor Classroom
Zen Garden
Instituto de Monteverde

Case Study: Outdoor Classroom & Zen Garden

Client: Instituto de Monteverde
Location: Monteverde, Costa Rica
Role: Design, Build, Artistic Direction, Project Management
Timeline: April 2012 – September 2024
Collaboration: Ward Kane

 

Challenge

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Design a beautiful, multifunctional outdoor space that blends seamlessly with the forest—ideal for classes, group meetings, and quiet reflection. The space needed to feel organic and warm, while also providing shelter from Monteverde’s intense rainy season.

 

Approach

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Listening to the Land

We began by walking the site with the client, tuning into the rhythms of the landscape and selecting a location that offered both natural shelter and serenity.

 

Sustainable Design Principles

• Biophilic Inspiration: Rooted in natural patterns and a sense of harmony

• Geometry: A hexagonal layout offered structural balance and flow

• Local Resources: Cypress trees planted 40+ years ago on-site were harvested intentionally for this purpose

 

Materials & Craft

• Bottle Wall: Recycled glass bottles form a glowing, colorful rear wall

• Timber Frame: Post-and-beam logwork with greenwood-bent rafters

• Custom Details: Handmade branch furniture and hand-carved wood finishes

• Stone Landscaping: Locally quarried stone defines the garden edges and walkways

 

Collaborative Build

• Concrete foundation laid by a local crew

• Timber structure led by Lynx

• Bottle wall, mosaic floor, and glasswork executed by Ward Kane and team

• Volunteer participation from students at the Monteverde Institute

 

Outcome

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The finished space is serene, functional, and visually striking—serving as:

• An outdoor classroom

• A community gathering place

• A contemplative zone immersed in nature

 

Signature Elements:

• A six-sided curved roof, often compared to the hull of a boat

• Floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors

• Hand-carved details that seamlessly blend art and architecture

 

Zen Rock Garden

Adjacent to the classroom, a minimalist rock garden invites meditation and quiet reflection—adding another layer of calm and connection.

 

Impact

Sustainability-Driven: Built entirely with local, reclaimed, and repurposed materials
Educational Legacy: A living classroom in ethical, place-based design
Community Engagement: Built through collaboration with students, volunteers, and local artisans

 

Reflection

Constructing a hexagonal building is a practice in balance—both structurally and symbolically. This project offered a unique opportunity to merge traditional logwork with curved geometry, crafting a space where form meets function, and spirit meets structure. The result is a timeless, living classroom that honors the forest, uplifts community, and invites deep reflection.