Quito, a city of coexisting contrasts influenced by its diverse ecosystems, ethnicities, and traditions, is the capital of Ecuador, and a UNESCO world heritage site; it features the best-preserved and least altered historic center in South America.
Inspired by its natural backdrop, MAD aspires to offer a design solution for integrating nature into high-density living with a vision of an ecological future. Qondesa’s exterior facade emulates twisting vines weaving around the building to taper at its top, and sprout greenery, which form planters throughout the building’s balconies. In addition, the exterior shape is designed so as not to block natural light and views from the surrounding buildings.
The stone-coloured facade is a nod to the stone facades in Quito’s Old Town, where historic buildings used the volcanic stone from the nearby volcano. The playful organic lines of the façade are paired with the protruding, native vegetation to create an elegant aesthetic.
Qondesa’s scale, design, and functionality is complemented by eco-efficient engineering, which incorporates sustainability parameters through responsible consumption of resources and energy, as well as comprehensive waste management right from the construction stage. This important urban contribution is part of the new urban plan for Quito, which aims to create a more environmentally friendly city with an overall higher quality of life for its inhabitants.
