EPIQ, second project by BIG in Quito
24/02/2024.
[Quito] Ecuador
metalocus, ANTONIO CORREDERA
metalocus, ANTONIO CORREDERA
Danish architecture practice BIG has completed its second project in Ecuador's capital, a mixed-use building called EPIQ located next to La Carolina Park, an urban green space in the center of Quito, the city sits on the slopes of the Andes at 2,850 m.
The capital of Ecuador in recent years has been showing a rapid expansion process following a model already experienced by other cities, in which international architects are invited to carry out large projects. contemporary, while facing history and landscape.
The 24-story tower, a design released in 2019 by BIG in partnership with local-based developers Uribe Schwarzkopf, has a privileged location rising on a corner intersection across from an entrance of the newly opened metro.
The capital of Ecuador in recent years has been showing a rapid expansion process following a model already experienced by other cities, in which international architects are invited to carry out large projects. contemporary, while facing history and landscape.
The 24-story tower, a design released in 2019 by BIG in partnership with local-based developers Uribe Schwarzkopf, has a privileged location rising on a corner intersection across from an entrance of the newly opened metro.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
Ground floor plan. EPIQ building by BIG.
The 101-metre-tall was designed by BIG as a high-density residential building, adapting to the curved shape of the plot. A block tower, which BIG describes as “buildings within a building”, rises by stacking two smaller curved blocks of different sizes that as they grow leave large openings with large terraces.
From afar, on the other side of the park, the building appears as a single element, but as we get closer, the stacked blocks show different shades of the same pigmentation, different from the red cement tiles that are intended to be a contemporary reference to the architectural heritage of the most traditional Quito, ceramic pieces commonly used in the city, for the roofs of churches and the facades of old colonial buildings.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
The structure consists of two sets of stacking blocks, which BIG describes as “buildings within a building”, that create panoramic vignettes and outdoor terraces as they intersect. The facade weaves between the green walls to provide balconies of varying sizes.
Besides apartments, the building houses residential amenities such as daycare, a rooftop pool, a bowling alley, a movie theatre, and a squash court, the office spaces are spread over its first three floors, and retail spaces are on the ground floor.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
From afar, on the other side of the park, the building appears as a single element, but as we get closer, the stacked blocks show different shades of the same pigmentation, different from the red cement tiles that are intended to be a contemporary reference to the architectural heritage of the most traditional Quito, ceramic pieces commonly used in the city, for the roofs of churches and the facades of old colonial buildings.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
The structure consists of two sets of stacking blocks, which BIG describes as “buildings within a building”, that create panoramic vignettes and outdoor terraces as they intersect. The facade weaves between the green walls to provide balconies of varying sizes.
Besides apartments, the building houses residential amenities such as daycare, a rooftop pool, a bowling alley, a movie theatre, and a squash court, the office spaces are spread over its first three floors, and retail spaces are on the ground floor.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
Project description by BIG
With BIG's first building IQON recently completed in Ecuador, BIG once again joined forces with Uribe & Schwarzkopf to bring a vertical neighborhood to Quito, the greenest capital in South America.
The 24-story mixed-use tower EPIQ is located on the southern tip of La Carolina Park in the center of the city. The shape of the site is a quarter of a circle and occupies the west corner intersection of Avenida de la Republica and Avenida Eloy Alfaro, across the street from the new Quito subway. The rounded corners of the building allow for panoramic views of the city while maximizing daylight exposure.
At its base, a pedestrian through-block connection forms a new gateway to the park and the recently completed subway station.
EPIQ building by BIG. Photograph by Bicubik.
Throughout its height, soft openings are carved into the building mass to create eight distinct blocks. These 'buildings within a building' are connected by large, communal green terraces at different elevations.
While the façade pattern is based on the scale of the individual apartments, the red and pink hues give each volume its own identity.
Together, these residential blocks form a vertical neighborhood that exemplifies a new approach to integrating outdoor space into a high-density residential building aimed at fostering a community.
More information
Architects
BIG. Partners in charge.- Bjarke Ingels, Thomas Christoffersen. Project designer.- Lorenz Krisai. Project architect.- Tran Le, Amir Mikhaeil.
Project team
Project leader, interiors.- Francesca Portesine, Pauline Lavie-Luong
Project manager, BIM.- Oliver Thomas.
Project team.- Ace Nguyen, Alvaro Velosa, Angel Barreno Gutiérrez, Anton Bashkaev, Beat Schenk, Benjamin Caldwell, Benjamin Novacinski, Clara Sanfeliu, Deb Campbell, Douglass Alligood, Emily Chen, Emmett Walker, Florencia Kratsman, Jan Leenknegt, Josiah Poland, Lucia Sanchez Ramirez, Magdalena Narkiewicz, Margaret Tyrpa, Maria Sole Bravo, Megan Van Artsdalen, Stephanie Choi, Stephanie Hui, Stephanie Mauer, Terrence Chew, Tracy Sodder, Veronica Acosta, Won Ryu, Ziad Shehab.
Project manager, BIM.- Oliver Thomas.
Project team.- Ace Nguyen, Alvaro Velosa, Angel Barreno Gutiérrez, Anton Bashkaev, Beat Schenk, Benjamin Caldwell, Benjamin Novacinski, Clara Sanfeliu, Deb Campbell, Douglass Alligood, Emily Chen, Emmett Walker, Florencia Kratsman, Jan Leenknegt, Josiah Poland, Lucia Sanchez Ramirez, Magdalena Narkiewicz, Margaret Tyrpa, Maria Sole Bravo, Megan Van Artsdalen, Stephanie Choi, Stephanie Hui, Stephanie Mauer, Terrence Chew, Tracy Sodder, Veronica Acosta, Won Ryu, Ziad Shehab.
Collaborators
Uribe Schwarzkopf, Fernando Romo, JB&B, Rene Lagos, Geoestudios, Incoyam, Ciel Atelier.
Developer
Uribe Schwarzkopf.
Area
44,000 m² / 473,000 f².
Dates
Design.- 2018.
Completion.- 2024.
Completion.- 2024.
Location
Av. Eloy Alfaro y Av. República. Quito, Ecuador. Quito, Ecuador
Photography
BJARKE INGELS
Bjarke Ingels (born in Copenhagen, 1974) studied architecture at the Royal Academy in Copenhagen and at the School of Architecture of Barcelona, obtaining his degree as an architect in 1998. He is the founder of the BIG architecture studio - (Bjarke Ingels Group), studio founded in 2005, after co-founding PLOT Architects in 2001 with his former partner Julien de Smedt, whom he met while working at the prestigious OMA studio in Rotterdam.
Bjarke has designed and completed award-winning buildings worldwide, and currently his studio is based with venues in Copenhagen and New York. His projects include The Mountain, a residential complex in Copenhagen, and the innovative Danish Maritime Museum in Elsinore.
With the PLOT study, he won the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2004, and with BIG he has received numerous awards such as the ULI Award for Excellence in 2009. Other prizes are the Culture Prize of the Crown Prince of Denmark in 2011; and Along with his architectural practice, Bjarke has taught at Harvard University, Yale University, Columbia University and Rice University and is an honorary professor at the Royal Academy of Arts, School of Architecture in Copenhagen.
In 2018, Bjarke received the Knight's Cross of the Order of Dannebrog granted by Her Majesty Queen Margrethe II. He is a frequent public speaker and continues to give lectures at places such as TED, WIRED, AMCHAM, 10 Downing Street or the World Economic Forum. In 2018, Bjarke was appointed Chief Architectural Advisor by WeWork to advise and develop the design vision and language of the company for buildings, campuses and neighborhoods around the world.
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