“La sostenibilidad es un tema importante para la empresa porque queremos estar en el largo plazo ... perdurar para las siguientes generaciones.”

What makes El Viejo worth sharing? And how do we share that with others? As we plan for the next chapter in the long history of this land, let’s not lose sight of the underlying motivations behind this important work.

Via Chicago is working with Azucarera El Viejo and Hacienda El Viejo to explore possibilities for future eco-minded development on carefully-selected portions of a large, family-owned sugarcane farm. The expansive property is located along the Río Tempisque at the foot of the Refugio Nacional de Vida Silvestre - a popular national preserve. While the historic Hacienda is already a popular destination for day-trips and river excursions - topped off with a delicious meal on the terrace - there is currently no chance to stay for an extended period of time and absorb the quiet, relaxing energy of this inland savannah. The planning study began with a visit to El Viejo, to familiarize ourselves with all the different personalities of the land and talk with the workers who know the hills intimately. We studied the potential viewsheds, seasonal breezes, and natural drainage patterns. We talked extensively about what draws people here today, and how different scenarios might benefit neighboring towns. Three months later we returned to Guanacaste for a three-day design workshop, sharing our initial recommendations and absorbing a wealth of feedback from the project partners. At the culmination of this exercise, the team developed a series of written “design principles” to ensure that any future development stays true to the underlying mission of El Viejo.