Suitree Experience Hotel by Studio Saxe: Floating Pods in the Costa Rican Jungle

A New Chapter in Jungle Hospitality Architecture

Perched above the lush treetops of Sardinal de Carrillo in Costa Rica, the Suitree Experience Hotel by Studio Saxe reimagines eco-tourism through architecture that floats, rather than settles. Inspired by the magic of childhood treehouses, this innovative hotel offers a modern sanctuary for travelers seeking peace, immersion in nature, and a deep connection with the forest canopy.

Design Vision: Architecture That Embraces the Landscape

The project began with a bold client vision: to create an immersive, canopy-based guest experience that celebrates the layered biodiversity of the Costa Rican jungle. Studio Saxe responded with a series of floating jungle pods, delicately elevated to hover over the forest floor. These structures are not merely built on the land—they are designed to coexist with it, offering expansive views of the mountains and treetops without disturbing the thriving ecosystem below.

Tree-Inspired Form and Function

Each pod is supported by four strong columns that root it lightly into the terrain, mimicking a tree’s own grounded yet upward-reaching gesture. Constructed from a robust steel frame and clad in natural wood, the pods reflect a minimalist yet organic design language. Gently curved edges echo the rhythms of the forest, creating a subtle architectural symphony with the natural world.

Central to the experience is a vertical circulation core—a sculptural staircase that winds up from the earth, weaving terraces and walkways into the forest canopy. These transitions blur the line between interior and exterior, reinforcing the notion that the structure is not separate from its environment, but rather a part of it.

Sustainability at the Core

From the outset, sustainability guided every aspect of the Suitree Hotel’s design and construction. The floating architecture ensures that water, flora, and fauna move freely beneath the structures. No trees were removed during construction, and every pod is equipped with its own rainwater harvesting system, contributing to an integrated approach to water management.

Studio Saxe employed off-site prefabrication methods to minimize the project’s environmental footprint. This process enabled quick assembly and significantly reduced disruption to the site. The result is a hotel that feels light on the land, echoing the rhythms of the jungle rather than interrupting them.

Construction Innovation: A Living Structure

Using advanced construction techniques, each pod was engineered for seismic and structural stability without appearing heavy or invasive. The design’s genius lies in its balance between permanence and lightness—creating a “living” architectural organism that coexists with its host environment.

The clean material palette—steel, wood, and locally sourced finishes—creates tranquil, tactile interiors that reflect the hotel’s philosophy of serenity, comfort, and immersion in nature.

A Treehouse for the Soul

As described by the clients, the hotel is a modern reinterpretation of the childhood treehouse—a place of wonder, escape, and rediscovery. Suitree Experience Hotel invites guests to disconnect from the noise of modern life and reconnect with themselves, the forest, and the present moment.

Whether enjoyed from a peaceful terrace, through panoramic pod windows, or along forest paths connecting the structures, the experience is deeply personal, rooted in biophilic design and emotional resonance.

All the photographs are works of Danta Collective