FT House

FT House is a contemporary residence in Managua, Nicaragua, shaped by the wooded landscape and tropical climate that surround it. Rather than imposing a new geometry on the land, the 850 m² house follows the site’s natural topography, distributing the main residence and social spaces across two levels to minimise intervention and preserve a close relationship with the landscape.

Arrival unfolds gradually through a shaded, planted entry sequence. A slender wall supports a cantilevered volume that draws the path toward the main entrance, creating a transitional space between garden and interior. Deep overhangs, vegetation and covered terraces temper exposure to the tropical climate, allowing the architecture to move gradually from exterior heat toward sheltered living spaces.

Materiality gives FT House much of its character. An acid-wash finish, sourced from Mexico, wraps the exterior in a warm, oxidised texture that shifts against the surrounding greenery. Inside, a chukum-like mineral finish is paired with clay flooring, clay roof tiles, timber and exposed concrete, establishing a tactile palette that feels grounded in place rather than applied to it.

At the heart of the house, a cast-concrete vault gives hierarchy to the principal living space, while the social areas open toward an uninterrupted view of the garden. Interior and landscape remain visually connected throughout the residence, creating spaces defined as much by shade, vegetation and changing light as by the architecture itself.

FT House has received international recognition from ArchDaily and Amazing Architecture. In 2025, ArchDaily selected the project among six Central American works exploring passive cooling and climate-responsive architecture through transitional spaces.