A Homestead Ventures Build · Camp Chirripó

Roca Viva

Hobbit-Style Stone Home at Camp Chirripó

Two Levels · 88 m² Living Roof Cloud Forest

Project Overview

A stone home blended into the cloud forest.

This proposal outlines the construction of a unique two-level stone home that blends into the cloud forest near Mount Chirripó. The design features natural river stone walls and two distinct roof systems.

The main bottom floor (48 m²) will have a strong, flat reinforced concrete roof designed to eventually support a living roof. The upper level (40 m²), which serves as a bedroom area, will have a separate, lighter conventional roof.

The home will measure approximately 6 meters by 8 meters on the bottom floor and 5 meters by 8 meters on the upper level, for a total built area of around 88 square meters.

Dimensions

48 m² Bottom Floor · 6×8 m

40 m² Upper Level · 5×8 m

88 m² Total Built Area

2 Distinct Roof Systems

Phase 1 Proposal

Metal Skeleton & Structural Frame.

This phase focuses solely on building the complete structural skeleton of the house. The only concrete that will be poured during this phase is any small footers required for post support and anchoring into the existing rocks. All preparation for the cement floors (wooden forms and wire mesh) will be completed in this phase. Cement pouring will happen in Phase 2.

Scope of Work

Land clearing and site preparation
Anchoring the structure into the existing large rocks
Installing the full metal frame using square and rectangular steel tubing
Structural framing and supports for both levels
Layout and placement of all under-slab plumbing lines
Setting up wooden forms (formaleta) and installing wire mesh (malla) in preparation for the concrete pour in Phase 2

Materials

Recent quote — core materials.

Core Materials

10 pieces of 4×6 galvanized tube

$847

40 pieces of rectangular tube HN 2×4×2.38

$1,639

80 pieces of 1/2" rebar

$431

15 pieces of 30×30 1/4" plate

$198

10 kg of black wire #16

$15

20 pieces of green rectangular zinc

$480

4 pieces of flat armor #1

$93

1 welding wire spool

$11

10 pieces of 1×12 pine formwork (formaleta pino)

$158

200 pieces of 2" green roof screws

Transport

$297

Total Core Materials

≈ $4,180 USD

Note: An additional $2,000 is budgeted for miscellaneous materials, extra steel/hardware, wire mesh (malla) for the concrete floors, and all under-slab plumbing pipes and fittings (4-inch PVC for toilets, drain lines, water supply lines, etc.).

Cost Breakdown

Labor, timeline, and total estimate.

Labor

4 Workers

$1,120 / week

4 workers at $7 per hour, 40 hours per week. Total labor cost over 8 weeks: $8,960.

Builder's Fee

20% Creative Direction

20%

Charged for services as Creative Director of the project — including project management, worker supervision, and quality control.

Timeline

8-Week Build

8 wk

Phase 1 completion window. Includes site prep, structural skeleton, and full preparation for the Phase 2 concrete pour.

Rough Estimate for Phase 1

$14,500 – $16,500

Final figure adjusted per site conditions, material availability, and any unforeseen structural requirements.

Ready to move forward?

This proposal covers Phase 1 only. Phase 2 (concrete pour, stone walls, and roofing) will be quoted separately as the project progresses. Reach out to schedule a site walk-through or to request the detailed material schedule and worker roster.

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