Project Name: Riba House

Location: Puembo, Ecuador

Design Team: TEC - Taller EC

Total Floor Area: 520 m²

Completion: 2025

Photography: Lorena Darquea Schettini

Feature:

Project – Riba House, designed by TEC - Taller EC, stands as a poetic expression of context-sensitive design nestled in the dramatic valley of Puembo in Ecuador's Andes mountain range. This 520-square-meter residence is strategically positioned on a corner and curved lot, where its location and orientation became fundamental to the design approach, highlighting the presence of a magnificent carob tree at the center of the site, which became the conceptual axis of the project and the point from which spectacular views of Quito city are framed.

The project's most compelling design achievement lies in its revolutionary "inside-out" design concept. Rather than removing existing vegetation, the architects established the carob tree as the conceptual starting point, creating a bar configuration that embraces and frames the tree while proposing an intimate reading of the spaces. From the first walkthrough of the land, the carob tree marked the conceptual genesis: a house built from the inside out, where each area maintains a direct relationship with this natural element.

The architectural narrative unfolds through sophisticated curved bar configuration, distributed over two levels with remarkable spatial intelligence. The ground floor houses the public area of the residence, articulated around a central patio with direct relationship to the front street, seeking transparency and openness to the surroundings. The upper level orientates private spaces towards the mountain range, integrating with the Andean landscape through a terrace that extends the architectural experience towards the horizon.

The facade treatment demonstrates contemporary design refinement—light and permeable, enhancing the curved shape of the volume through vertical elements that provide rhythm and unity to the whole. A large opening, strategically positioned, indicates the main access and offers a visual pause that reinforces the contemplative character of the home.

The material expression embodies profound dialogue with place and context. Casa Riba is conceived as an architectural gesture that pays homage to the site, the tree, and the essential connection between built material and nature, showcasing the maturity and innovation of contemporary Ecuadorian architecture when addressing complex site conditions.

Design Team - TEC - Taller EC, established in 2015, has distinguished itself as an exceptional architectural practice that transcends conventional disciplinary boundaries, seamlessly integrating architecture, landscape, urbanism, and art into unified design solutions. Based in Quito, Ecuador, with operations extending to Madrid, Spain, the firm is led by founding principals Pablo Castro Guijarro and Roberto Morales Guijarro.

Under the creative direction of Castro Guijarro and Morales Guijarro, TEC - Taller EC pursues a holistic design methodology that seeks to dissolve disciplinary limits between architecture, landscape, urbanism, and art. Each project translates into a complex system where different layers form inclusive dynamics, reflecting their commitment to multicultural collaboration and global vision.

The firm's design philosophy centers on the principle of "creating complex systems where different layers generate inclusive dynamics," a concept that manifests in projects characterized by contextual sensitivity, sustainability, and social responsibility. TEC - Taller EC's portfolio demonstrates consistent excellence in creating environments that balance functional performance with environmental harmony, establishing the firm as a significant contributor to Latin American contemporary architectural discourse.

The practice understands architecture as an expanded discipline, encompassing cross-cultural practice, practice-based research, and theoretical exploration. Through comprehensive professional services including architectural design, urban planning, landscape architecture, material research, and design consulting, TEC - Taller EC is committed to redefining architecture through innovative inclusive design practices, showcasing the essence and innovation of Latin American design on the international stage. Notable completed works include the award-winning Edificio Halcón, Casas FF residential complex, the cultural project Gastrópolis, and the residential development Vivazz, each demonstrating the firm's capacity to address diverse programmatic requirements.