Thank you for taking the time to engage with my portfolio. This document encapsulates eight years of architectural practice across Nicaragua and Costa Rica, where I have strived to push the boundaries of traditional architecture, interior design, and activism in the region.
Since graduating from the Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia in 2014, my approach to architecture has evolved considerably. My professional experiences have continuously prompted me to critically examine and expand my role as an architect within society.
Central to my design process is a problem-solving methodology that balances passion, creativity, and logic— spanning from heuristic exploration to scientific rigor. The selected projects reflect a diverse range of scales and typologies, illustrating varied processes, forms of representation, and contextual challenges. My work seeks to bridge the gaps between art, activism, and research, always with a focus on context-oriented design.
This curated selection aims to demonstrate my capabilities in design, analysis, and collaboration with multidisciplinary teams. It highlights my creative process, management skills, digital tool proficiency, and commitment to enhancing the quality of life through critical spatial practices.
Sincerely,
Iker Luna
Architecture & Interior
_Earth office
The earth office project is located in Tola, Nicaragua. In a tourist developed called Rancho Santana. This experimental prototype aimed to create an environmentally responsive architecture based on natural building techniques and contemporary construction practices within a low budget. This hybrid structure was finished within three months thanks to the technical support of CASADETIERRA.
The idea was to use earth bags on the south and west walls to increase the insulation value and moderate the internal temperature. The East wall was built with a technique called ‘waddle and daub’ using adobe as the primary material. It has large windows to allow natural ventilation from the predominant winds. The North wall was made using recycled wine bottles, which allow light to pass through and create an attractive focal point.
office. Rivas, Nicaragua.
Arch: Iker Luna.
Arch: Iker Luna.
Janier Jacomo.
Patricia Benavides.
Ivette Garcia. Landscape: Ali Midland. Budget: Patrick Kearney. Earth builder: Austin & Michell
Drills. Building team: Agapito Diaz. / Mariano Calero. / Junior Berroteran. / Haby Cortez. / Manuel Obando. / Victor Castillo. /
Gazo. / Byron Quedo.
_Apapachoa
Community butterfly garden & laboratory.
Creating a butterfly garden at the Apapachoa Foundation has a dual purpose. On the one hand, it will contribute to the generation of income in the foundation by being an eco-tourist attraction and, on the other, it will contribute to the environmental education of the people who visit the Foundation.
The Foundation already has adequate infrastructure for implementing the butterfly garden, and being located in a Nature Reserve; it facilitates the conditions for ecotourism. Due to its accessibility, it offers the conditions for individuals and families to enjoy an open space connected to nature where they can learn more about biodiversity and forest conservation.
On the other hand, implementing a butterfly garden is an opportunity to contribute to the environmental education of nationals and foreigners. Nicaragua has a reduced offer of environmental education tourist centres located in Nature Reserves near the capital, which is why the butterfly garden aims to be a recreational and educational space where children, adolescents and adults can learn more about Nature Reserves.
The importance of forest conservation and a practical and attractive way to generate knowledge in Entomology, integrating the biology of butterflies and the ecological role they play in nature and the biological relationships they establish in its natural environment.
Cordia dentata
Clerodendrum ligustrinum Inga vera, Mimosaceae
Cestrum Solanaceae ssp
Clerodendrum paniculatum Duranta erecta
Caesalpinia pulcherrima Ixora coccinea
Alpinia purpurata
Heliconia spp
Lantana urticifolia
Stachytarpheta cayennensis
Stachytarpheta frantzii
Zinnia peruviana
Stachytarpheta angustifolia
Stachytarpheta calderonii
Stachytarpheta jamaicensis
Asclepias curassavica
Penta lanceolata
_Casado’s Residency
Beach house
In 2020, I was commissioned to design a villa in the forest at Hacienda Iguana, located in one of the most prominent and fancy areas of the Pacific coast of Nicaragua. The primary objective for the Casado family was to create dwellings that generate an intimate relationship. This project is the dream of a retired couple who wanted a contemporary tropical house that could become a place for rest, relaxation and meditation.
The design idea was to divide social and private areas into two volumes and create a central courtyard, guaranteeing that every space in the home has been angled to view towards a natural cross ventilation. Also, long overhangs protect from the sun and the rain in the most critical part of the day, creating comfort without using energy. The construction is based on concrete blocks using clay bricks for focal points in the facades and interiors.
Recently, I was commissioned to design three apartments focused on health, wellness, and surfing set in the tropical landscape of Popoyo, Nicaragua. The project is in a long line of sustainable buildings from the practice that blends contemporary low design and local craftsmanship—hugging the natural environmental surroundings with particular attention to the spectacular views.
Individual structures are set in the overgrown landscape, creating privacy and openness to private gardens. Following detailed research into wind and sun patterns, each dwelling has been carefully arranged to create comfort through bio climatic design while ensuring they are all provided with privacy and unique views.
Midland.
Liana Vega.
Berner Carcamo.
During my time as project architect in Studio Saxe, my first project was Saunder´s dwelling, a vacation home located in a 360-degree spectacular view site; the design tried to evoke the Japanese concept Komorebi, which is an untranslatable word that eloquently captures the effect of sunlight streaming through the leaves of the tree; this Japanese concept captures the essence of what the clients hoped to create with their home. An escape from stress and hurry just as the sunlight escapes through the leaves of a tree—a oneness with nature.
“As residents of a country other than Costa Rica, we entered the planning and design process with much trepidation. Working with Iker quickly made us far more comfortable, as we knew his goal was the best outcome for us. Every step of the way, he patiently explained the steps, the timelines, and the various parties involved in the process. Iker never made us feel like we were interfering or somehow slowing the design schedule.
We have been consistently impressed with Iker’s knowledge of design, of the role of each entity – engineering, interior design, landscaping – and the priority of a quality product. He worked to meet our needs. He was our constant advocate and intermediary in a way that gave us confidence. His understanding of our needs was complete, and his empathy with our concerns made us feel heard.”
Frederik Dolmans.
Iker Luna.
Iker Luna, Natalie Simons, Ma. Jose Trejos.
Iker Luna.
José Luis Campos.
Javier Bolaños, Michael Ferencz
This was my second project working in Studio Saxe. Andrew, the client, is a young entrepreneur from New York who fell in love with Santa Terese; he recently bought a lot with a spectacular view in the middle of a tropical jungle forest. This project is a secondary dwelling and was designed to maximize the ocean views and enjoy the flora of the lot. The interior was a texture mix between natural stones, wood, metal and polished concrete with some accents of contemporary art.
“Iker was immensely helpful throughout the process - from the early planning and design phases to coordinating with engineering firms, interior designers, and landscape engineers. Iker’s input and expertise were instrumental in driving the process forward, and I couldn’t be happier with where we are today. As an American, it was important to me to work with someone who speaks fluent English. ”
Sotela.
Bolaños,
Ferencz
Bobby and Maria are young entrepreneurs coupled with a deep
This project aims to remodel an existing cabin on the tropical Pacific coast of Nicaragua using low-cost materials and create a unique experience for expats. The general concept is to bring a natural garden under a big roof to create different living outdoor spaces.
Prototypes & Research
_Bio-ceramic system
Open thesis fabrication at IAAC.
Scale XXS.
Date
Typology Sector
Academic.
Location People Involved 2014. Material research.
This research describes a studio experiment developed by Iker Luna, under Luis Fraguada, inside the Open Thesis Fabrication program in the Smart Urban Elements research line at IAAC.
The project aims to explore the bio receptivity of ceramics, taking advantage of the material’s porosity that allows it to retain water and using natural fibres as complement elements to benefit other properties. Another important aspect was the methodology by hacking Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) technology as a way to observe moss growth and health.
Project appraisal by Holcim Awards jury Europe (2014-15) The jury commends the research objectives of the experiment - and investigation into the material properties of “Bio-ceramics”. Particularly promising is the improved characteristics of mineral matter when combined with an organic substance. The investigation offers the grounds for a potentially new understanding of materials in construction, combining natural and fabricated elements.
Spain.
Iker Luna.
director: Luis Fraguada.
Advisor: Marc Viader.
Advisor: Areti Markopolou.
Advisor: Silvia Brandi.
Advisor: Victor Arribas.
Ceramic expert: Toni Cumella. Agronomy engenieer: Silvia Bures.
Ceramic plataform
Camaera Plataform Infrared
_Furniture desing
Based on digital fabrication protocols, the following catalogue aimed to design a series of furniture for interior spaces for various uses. I created each object with an algorithmic process, assembling parameters and design rules to define the relationship between design intent and response. In other words, most of these items were designed with changes depending on the client’s needs, as long as all the parts do not cross the boundaries of a standard plywood sheet of 4’x8’.
CNC machine protocols open up a whole new set of possibilities regarding wood joinery. Another objective of this catalogue was to create highly intricate connections free of glue or other industrial pieces using beams, hidden mortise and tenon, lap, through finger tenon, and hinge joints. All of them with plywood sheets of 1/2” or 3/4”.
_Mellowship
The essence of the MelloShip is the combination of two incredibly relaxing sensations: resting in a hammock and floating on water. It was first conceived and built in Nicaragua, where Womack has lived on the Pacific Coast for 12 years. In the spring of 2015, he created the first one out of PVC tubes, fence posts, and wire.
After his first ride, he realised he needed to bring this to the world but with technical and industrial methods. After 18 months, endless work, and many prototypes, the MelloShip is now fabricated within professional facilities and ships worldwide by his owner.
_Ai tools
Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have been extensively used to solve problems in architecture. Many practitioners, researchers and designers have explored these tools primarily in vector optimization to solve design problems. AI tools increase the possibilities in creative processes at an early stage and in different workflows.
With the proliferation of technologies based on the creation of images from text in recent months, the pandora’s box has been opened; it’s there; we can deny it or use it to find out what else can be done, how can we use these new tools to enrich our creative processes? The following images represent a exploration based on texts within artistic and architectural context.
Costa
Thank you for your interest in my works sample. arquitectoikerluna@gmail.com
