EL CORAZON RESTAURANT - SANTA TERESA, COSTA RICA
El Corazón is a vegan/vegetarian restaurant perched on a hill, high above the dust, in the centre of the small, remote surfing town of Santa Teresa.
Immersed in the jungle and surrounded by nature it was important, when designing the restaurant, to incorporate that but also create something different from the usual rustic charm of most local restaurants. A trip to the Spanish colonial town of Granada, in near by Nicaragua, provided the inspiration, with its tall, gracious buildings, pillars, tiled floors and terraces .
Owners, Milo Bastow and Alfie Darlington, contracted CRN Architecture group to realise the vision, construct and collaborate with the project.
An open concept, with high celings, incorporating a polycarbonate roof, brought light and airiness to the build. Metal pillars supporting the structure gave a modern twist and complemented the black and white chequered floor tiles.
The concrete bar and central plant bed continued the contemporary theme softened and brought to life by Amanda Sutton’s impressive bespoke bar mirror and tropical plants spilling from the central bed.
The terraced garden design, by Graham Weiner of Graham’s Gardens envelops the restaurant in a jungle green beating heart which is, El Corazón.