PLAYground - Cultural, Design and Build

Professional Work

Architectural Design Build Intern at TallerKEN Studio

Our design-build approach hinges on active collaboration with Pueblo Islita, with their valuable input shaping a versatile playscape and amphitheater. These spaces cater to the thriving artistic community while fostering harmony amidst increasing tourist presence. Our mission: create a welcoming public space that empowers locals to proudly showcase their culture.

Sequential step-by-step diagram of stacking and arranging bricks in various configurations.
Outdoor patio with circular brick structures on gravel ground, string lights overhead, surrounded by trees and light-blue and white buildings.
Row of small wood stools lined up against a white wall with green trim and brick foundation, outdoors.
Outdoor brick steps with trees and a building in the background.
An outdoor stage with a band performing, and a wooden marimba in the foreground. Audience members are seated on benches to the right, and there are trees and buildings surrounding the scene.
Curving brick benches and pathways in a garden area with gravel ground and shaded by trees.
Stack of red bricks arranged in a stepped pattern on a gravel surface.

Costa Rica’s landscapes are famously dramatic and biodiverse, ranging from misty cloud forests and volcanic highlands to lush lowland rainforests and the sweeping Pacific and Caribbean coastlines. The country’s natural beauty is deeply tied to its culture — Costa Ricans call this connection Pura Vida, a phrase that captures joy, simplicity, and gratitude for nature.

Art and food in Costa Rica often celebrate the land itself: paintings, murals, and crafts frequently depict local plants, animals, and folklore, while the cuisine highlights fresh, regional ingredients like tropical fruit, seafood, rice, beans (gallo pinto is a staple), and dishes influenced by indigenous and Spanish traditions. Across the country, traditional festivals, music, and dances honor both the environment and community spirit, making nature an enduring theme in how Costa Ricans live and express themselves.

In the coastal town of Punta Islita, this connection between landscape, culture, and food is especially vivid. Perched on a protected crescent of the Pacific’s Nicoya Peninsula, Punta Islita is framed by tropical hills and calm beaches, where mangroves and dry forests support rich wildlife like scarlet macaws and howler monkeys.

The town itself feels like an open-air art gallery: colorful murals, mosaics, and sculptures created by local artists decorate homes and public spaces, and the open-air Museo Islita showcases handcrafted textiles, jewelry, and folk art rooted in local identity. Visitors can take workshops in traditional crafts and mask-making, connecting directly to the creative spirit of the community.

Culinary experiences here are grounded in freshness and locality — from traditional sodas serving simple casado and ceviche to restaurants and hotels emphasizing organic ingredients grown nearby or caught from the Pacific.

This blend of natural beauty, artistic expression, and local flavors gives Punta Islita a uniquely authentic place in Costa Rica’s cultural and gastronomic landscape.