Playa los Banos Waterfront Park

As part of a larger project initiated by the Government of Costa Rica, IBI Group prepared the master plan, landscape and architectural design for Playa Los Baños waterfront park in Limón, Costa Rica. The design vision was to create a public square with the waterfront at the center, acting as a focal point for the community. The public square has been designed to accommodate large political events, festivals, markets, arts and craft shows, and sporting events.

Investing in urban improvement, a goal of the project was to establish a sustainable design that protects the cultural heritage and revitalizes the natural conservation of Limón. The IBI design team incorporated innovative design principles that reflect the preservation and revitalization of the area.

A cooling strategy for the public square has been integrated through a wind tower design principle that moves air throughout the Waterfront Centre and cools the interior, while shading and canopy integration help improve micro-climate and comfort. In addition, shade trees, shade structures and solar shading devices will protect the interior and exterior spaces from the sun, in turn allowing for more energy-efficient building systems.

Smart city technologies have also been used throughout the design, with solar panels providing all necessary energy to power the entire public square. Smart lighting technology has been used throughout the park and a smart tower has been placed at the top of the Waterfront Centre to announce a change of weather to the community through colour change, while providing free Wi-Fi to visitors and users of the park.