This house is located on a small 104,00 m² plot in a residential neighborhood of Loja, in the Lower Andes, south of Ecuador. The house is conceived as a flexible spatial container while exploring the concept of structure as the generator of architecture and the engine behind its spatial activation.
Project Name: Fundamentos House
Studio Name: Holger Cuadrado Arquitectura
Location: Loja, Ecuador
Year of Construction Completion: 2024
Built Area (m²): 262 m²
Architect: Holger Cuadrado
Collaborators: Ronald Loján, Malú del Castillo, Brenda Barrios, Mateo Cuadrado, José David Sisalima, Mateo Figueroa.
Structural Engineering: Eng. Carlos Aguilar
Photography: bicubik
The structure, understood as both the support and protagonist of the architecture, defines the interior spatial order through the use of two lateral walls and two intermediate diaphragms. These elements provide the house with a sense of spaciousness and facilitate smooth movement flows within the interior.
A second design strategy is based on the principle of spatial flexibility. The program is organized with parameters that allow for the reconfiguration of spaces across all levels. The house consists of four floors dedicated to residential and work uses. The ground floor and basement connect directly to the street and include areas intended for productive activities. The upper residential floors offer great flexibility, allowing for future reconfigurations according to the changing needs of the users over time.
The house is presented as an architectural solution that responds to the contemporary needs of its users while adapting and connecting sensitively to the topography and surrounding landscape. From the interior of the upper floors, a low parapet frames the views of the Andes mountain range.
Laterally, an inverted parapet, suspended from the ceiling, visually connects with a tree planted in the patio of the ground floor. These strategies not only enrich the visual experience from the inside but also enhance the favorable orientation towards the morning sun, integrating the house harmoniously into its environment.
