Convergencies, Architecture in Ecuador

Francesco Russo

Short description

Ecuador is a country often ignored by travellers, mistakenly believing it has little to offer. They can’t be more wrong. In a country of relatively small territory you can find an incredible variety of landscapes and natural environments.  The Andes mountain range, densely punctuated by extremely high peaks and active volcanoes, splits the country in two, leaving the dense rain forest of the Amazon separated from the coastal region along the Pacific and the unique archipelago of the Galapagos.

The local architecture responds in different ways to these specificities leading to the creation of new designs where the vernacular and the modern converge whilst directly involving the commissioners or local communities in the process. A robust spread of young architects is working to demonstrate that good quality architecture can be produced within all budgets and can aim at improving everyone’s lives in Ecuador, from the underprivileged to the wealthy.

The selected architectural projects represent the country's inherent characteristics, specific construction techniques, indigenous and modern materials and diverse regional environments. This photographic research aims to create a series narrating the contemporary architecture produced in Ecuador by practices at all stages of their career.

Featured selected projects:
1. Casa Toquilla by RAMA Estudio, Isla Portete
2. Casa Perucho by Pedro Calle + El Sindicato Arquitectura, Perucho
3. Quilotoa Shalalá Overlook by Jorge Javier Andrade Benítez + Javier Mera Luna + Daniel Moreno Flores, Quilotoa Lake
4. Casa Pitaya by Taller General + Jose María Sáez, Mindo
5. La Balsanera by Natura Futura Arquitectura + Juan Carlos Bamba, Babahoyo
6. La Cantera by La Cabina de la Curiosidad, Baños de Aguasanta
7. Casa Endémica by ESEcolectivo, Galápagos
8. Casa San Pablo del Lago, Bernardo Bustamante Arquitectos, San Pablo del Lago