House Between the Gardens is a recent project by TEC Taller EC, a dwelling in Cumbaya, a valley deep in the heart of the Andes in Ecuador.
The floor plan unfolds like a chess board, an eight-module grid composed of open and enclosed spaces that allow movement and precise placement of the pieces. “The grid is an essential element in this project,” says TEC Taller EC. “It provides the structure and the space for the ‘pieces,’ habitable spaces, to move strategically.”
A corridor traverses the length of the home, marking the spatial structure and access to the different rooms. It takes visitors through four living spaces — two used for social life and the others for private life. The social volumes, defined by semi-solid brick bases and black metal roofs, soar to impressive double-heights, highlighting its minimal material palette. Meanwhile, the private quarters mirror the solidity and functionality of their exteriors. “From the outside, the architecture is perceived as ordered, as a product of its interior logic,” says Heliotrope.
Outdoor spaces, manifested as courtyards, gardens, and lawns, promote natural lighting and cross ventilation throughout the home: pragmatic tactics that push the dwelling’s passive design envelope further.
Photography © Paolo Caicedo