Hip-E Habitat, started circa 2010, has evolved to EcoDesignLife. The founder and director, Kim Obermeyer, is still dedicated to helping people take the steps to create a well-planned design for their land that includes access, water supply, power, food production, a home, and their health and happiness. Along the way we can provide advice and guidance should you wish on range of topics about living and growing (fruit, businesses, kids (often in that order)) in the tropics of Central America.

We design redundancy into systems (eg. solar, multiple water supplies, food forests) and design and build environmental homes using materials from giant bamboo and stone to cement and steel depending on the needs of the client.

Our philosophy is to design functional and aesthetic, value built homes that work well with the land and local climate. First, I consider the build site’s predominant weather patterns and resources and how a design will fit the climate and use passive cooling principals. The house must also fit the needs of the client and of the landscape and any natural features, like slopes, trees, and views. Then I choose the best materials that perform the function, look good and are the best value for the cost and long term maintenance and durability. Design and materials relates to minimizing the environmental foot print both with the build and the long term operation of the house.

With 15 years living in Costa Rica and Central America and over a dozen houses built and more properties developed, we can help you get set up and going, then creating, and making the dream a reality.

Projects

Cloud Casa- House, casita and permaculture food forest in Playa Hermosa, Costa Rica

Between 2021 and 2024, Kim designed and built out a 1.2 hectare (approx. 3 acre) property in the hills of Playa Hermosa, Osa, Costa Rica. Two houses and a giant bamboo casita with reforested slopes (from former cattle grass) with around 40 species of native and introduced fruit and super food species planted on contour terraces.

200-acre permaculture farm design and implementation– Tierras Morenas, Osa, Costa Rica

In 2023 and 2024, Kim helped design and carried out the implementation of access, water supply and planting for a 200 acre permaculture farm high in the hills above Platanillo. The farm spans from a ridge dropping over 500′ to a steep gradient river below. Lots of steep slopes, shifty soils, multiple springs, pasture grass and cows to deal with. The challenge was how to bring a road from top to bottom accessing multiple building sites (caretaker’s casita, guest casitas, main house, green house, workshop, etc.) with multiple steep stream crossings. The road mostly followed an old existing rough cut road but was improved by diverging in key places.

The owners’ dream of living on the property and day to day movements and uses guides the design and placement of various structures. The ambitious road, with all its erosion control measures, is a case study of the tradeoffs with vehicle access vs. cost, maintenance and impact.

House, casita and pool at Tierra del Suenos, Nicaragua

In June 2018 Kim completed the complex at Steve and Danika’s Suenos lot consisting of a two story 1900 sqft. house, 700 sqft. casita and pool. Spanish tile roof, stonework and custom woodwork throughout complement this modern take on a hacienda classic.

For rent at https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/27726022

Two story house at Brisas

Two story house with extended outdoor living area downstairs. With two bedrooms and baths upstairs it featured about 1800 sqft. of low maintenance living. Built with an engineered concrete and steel structure, it will be finished with plantation teak and salvaged cedar for doors and kitchen cabinets to soften the concrete work. When building in Nicaragua it is important to source sustainable wood as many local building companies use illegally harvested unsustainable wood. The galvanized steel beams in the vented roof will be hidden by tongue and groove teak and an outdoor shower is lined by local flagstone laid by our craftsmen.

Casa Amarilla – 3 Bedroom, 2 bath approx 1900 sq ft.

This house is nearly the same design as our home (see below). The clients visited our home and decided they wanted the same thing with a few minor tweaks. You’ll see the similarities. Available for rent at: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/13283419

Lot 22 Brisas Del Alma

When we found out Holly was pregnant with our first baby, we decided that the thatch roof cabana (see below) would no longer be sufficient as our home. We had purchased a 3/4 acre lot in Brisas Del Alma and Kim designed and built our 2200 sq. ft. 2 bedroom, 2 bath house that would become our home. The contractor was given the task of completing the house in less than 9 months, to be ready by the time the baby was born. We broke ground in January and completed the house in August. Mission Accomplished!

Available for rent at: https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/10511208

Rancho Supremo – in construction 2016

Open-air blend of traditional Nicaraguan and modern building for a couple of surf buddies and their girlfriends. The shell is done and we’re working on the finishing little by little…

Najualapa Beach House and Surfboard Storage Shack

The struggles began with just buying a concession (leased) beach front lot – no easy task! After that we designed and built our first two story structure. We originally planned to use the house as a storage unit for the surfboards for Surf With Amigas and also for part time living. The beach environment turned out to lack sufficient privacy for our living tastes, so it is now utilized only as surfboard storage and a daytime escape from the sun during long beach sessions. We may fix it up to turn it into a rental unit in the future.

Workshop and bodega.

We own a gorgeous ocean view lot in the new community Tierra Del Sueno. Before water and power infrastructure were installed we built an 18′ x 40′ workshop/bodega/convertible casita to store wood and other materials for our various construction projects. In some ways its a perfect utilitarian structure with a lockable room at the back and an open floor in front. We’re planning to renovate it into a rental casita soon, stay tuned.

Our First Project – An Eco-Friendly Thatch Roof Cabana

This was our very first home in Nicaragua and our first building project. It was built on the property of our friends at El Coco Loco resort and is now one of their rental cabanas. It was a great learning experience for us and we documented the whole process.

Eco:Design:Life

Design-build

Projects

Projects

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