ARC300H0S 1 L0102 / ARC2016H0S 1 L0102 
Instructor: Mauricio Quirós Pacheco 
Summer 2025
Travel Dates: TBD (Three weeks in August 2025)

Overview

Costa Rica is a country where dramatic topographies and lush landscapes shape its cultural identity. A democratic republic, it represents a confluence of diverse cultural identities, continental reliefs, and tropical climates. Historically, early populations in Costa Rica sought solitude within its landscapes, prioritizing remoteness over abundance. This pursuit fostered egalitarian land practices, deeply influencing the country’s architecture, particularly in agrarian production and rural life. These principles continue to inform Costa Rica’s architectural evolution today. 

Costa Rica: No Artificial Ingredients is an intensive traveling program that focuses on investigating and designing agrarian prototypes tailored to Costa Rica’s unique climatic, material, and urban conditions. 

The program explores three climatic zones: 

1. Tropical rainforests 

2. Tropical dry forests 

3. Tropical wet-and-dry climates 

Tectonic research will focus on commonly used materials, including corrugated metal, concrete blocks, wood planks, and cement boards. Participants will develop prototypes for three site contexts: rural, semi-urbanized, and intensely urbanized areas. 

The itinerary is structured in three phases: 

1. Research 

2. Site visits 

3. Individual project design 

ARC300H0S 1 L0102 / ARC2016H0S 1 L0102 is a half (0.5) credit course. 

Application 

This course is available to undergraduate Architectural Studies and Visual Studies students in all streams who have completed 1.0 credit of ARC courses at the 200-level before Summer 2025. This includes fourth-year students graduating in June 2025. It is also open to MARC, MLA, and MUD students. 

To apply, students are required to submit a paragraph describing their interest in the Costa Rica: No Artificial Ingredients course, five samples of student work, and a short CV.  

Applications should be submitted online HERE (Please note the form is limited to one submission. Further editing and amendments are NOT allowed after the form has been submitted.)  

The deadline to apply is Wednesday, February 26, 2025 at 11.59 pm EST.