Ecotourism Impression
G ETTLIFFE A RCHITECTURE
BOULDER . MANAGUA
Inspired by the models of participatory community and private development through ecotourism that we have encountered around the globe, we create gathering spaces and eco-retreats that celebrate nature and human connection. The planning and design of ecotourism facilities is an area that unites our Colorado and Nicaragua partner studios, and engages our international roots and passion for locally-inspired architecture. Together, we apply our expertise in sustainable design and construction with vision, imagination and a lively creative process.
Ecotourism as a Lifestyle.
We design sustainably built environments that connect people to nature and express the local context. From personal retreats to larger-scale ecotourism projects across the globe, our clients are drawn to sustainable tourism as an investment in experiences, ideals and society. Our architectural values of inspiration, discovery and simplicity inherent in our designs and process align with and are sought out by ecotravelers in their destinations.
Connecting to nature through sustainable design.
Architecture is an opportunity to enrich the relationship between people and the environment. The fluidity between built and natural environments is key to our design palette. Motivated by the desire to bring people new experiences of space through architecture, we design artistic structures to create a kinesthetic experience, and awareness of space. Our sustainable designs encourage outdoor living - sun, shade and breeze collaborate to create sensory delight, while carefully framed views and transitions to inviting outdoor areas connect people to nature. On a broader scale, climates and daily and seasonal cycles also play their part in architectural design. Ecotourism design and sustainability work hand in hand to support the environment, the global climate, the societies and economies of current and future generations. We design to make the most of what is at hand, while sourcing materials ethically and with minimal impact on the environment. Creating spaces that inspire, we incorporate the highest standards of environmental sustainability and design to bring nature into our clients’ lives.
Celebrating people, community and local knowledge.
Connecting people to their surroundings and each other through architecture, we strive to broaden social networks, share knowledge and be involved in the social dimensions of ecotourism. Taking into account social, economic, and ecological factors, the master planning and design of each structure grows from the surrounding environment and local context. Community areas, such as gathering spaces or landmarks, are purposefully designed to encourage interactions and create an atmosphere that is conducive to exchange. Similarly, the scale and identity of spaces and the hierarchy and fluidity of transitions between private and public areas are integral to effective community design. We are sensible to the outcomes and implications of each step of the design process, and aim to create positive impact through ecotourism and socially minded design.
A global perspective.
With our global outlook and international roots, we thrive on the constant interchange between our two bases in Nicaragua and Colorado. Our team is readily involved in cross-disciplinary and cross-cultural projects that promote a sustainable future for communities across the world. Our experience with a global clientele and international projects supports our sensitivity to diverse cultural values and aesthetic standards. Through these collaborative endeavors, we have shaped a global network of involved, motivated and resourceful people, long lasting relationships and new experiences for all.
Creative collaboration.
Our multicultural teams share a strong motivation to make a positive difference in the lives of those who live in, use, and experience the architecture we create. Projects such as ecotourism facilities and co-housing are a meeting point of cultures, ideas and interests, all of which influence the design and flavor the social environment. Because collaborative creation is central to our work, we engage with clients and communities to ensure that every design respects and expresses the environmental, cultural and social context. With a rich network of relationships within the field of sustainable tourism and a shared commitment to green design, our team evaluates sustainable options, from master planning through construction. Our partner firms promote collaboration and exchange through participatory processes that support long lasting relationships.
Nicaragua’s Pacific Coast
Retreat and energize.
Inspire.
Strawbale Getaway Colorado, USA
Clarify and simplify.
Strawbale Getaway Colorado, USA
Connect to nature.
Strawbale Getaway Crestone, Colorado. USA
Mountain Home Colorado, USA
Embrace natural light.
Open Town Living Colorado, USA
Enjoy the climate.
Discover natural cooling and passive heating.
Create thermal delight using sun, shade and natural ventilation.
Strawbale Getaway Colorado, USA
Minimize site impact and reveal existing features.
Blackbird Caye Eco-Village Turneffe Island, Belize
Celebrate the natural and cultural context.
Blackbird Caye Eco-Village Turneffe Island, Belize
Exchange knowledge, skills and interests.
Project Site Visit
Balance personal space with places for community.
Tropical Retreat Los Suenos, Costa Rica
Engage in a collaborative process, from design through construction.
Project Design Meeting
Integrate residential and commercial spaces.
Shanidiin Organic Farm Colorado, USA
Center for Climate Change La Paz Centro, Nicaragua
Express cultures, environments and identities.
Create community.
Center for Climate Change La Paz Centro, Nicaragua
Collaborate.
Project Master Plan Meeting
Develop user inspired master planning.
Shanidiin Organic Farm Colorado, USA
Our Teams.
With an international and globally experienced team, we are uniquely positioned to mediate architectural interests across cultures and throughout the world. A reliable network of contractors, consultants and other project collaborators form our extended team. From green construction materials and sustainable sanitation solutions to specialty woodwork and environmental consultation, our networks contribute new perspectives and ideas to projects both nearby and abroad Applying our decades of experience, locally and abroad, our partner studios in Managua, Nicaragua and Boulder, Colorado offer architectural design services for projects ranging from co-housing to eco-lodge design, across the globe.
Our Process.
Our process begins as an organic and collaborative evolution from the discovery inherent in site analysis and programming, through the inspiration of conceptual design and master planning. Then, the interchange of information and ideas during design development enables the accurate communication of construction documents. Engaging with local cultures and knowledge is central to our process. Working together through resource inventory enables us to better understand, local construction techniques and materials along with appropriate systems for water, energy and sanitation, among others. Finally, the involved construction process gradually realizes the vision as it emerges into physical reality.
Dominique Gettliffe, AIA 3014 Bluff Street, Unit 101 Boulder, Colorado 80301 usa. 303.449.9155 info@gettliffe.com www.gettliffe.com
Boulder, Colorado
G ETTLIFFE
A RCHITECTURE Managua, Nicaragua
Alejandra Baltodano, AIA Managua, Nicaragua nic. 505.2276.2844 usa. 720.279.9037 alejandra@gettliffe.com
Reaching out to the world from partner locations in Nicaragua and Colorado, our multicultural team creates socially responsible and sustainable designs that are moving, uplifting, and bring new perspectives to life.
www.gettliffe.com