MAD has unveiled the design for the Qondesa Tower, located in Quito, Ecuador. This marks MAD's first project in South America, and once completed, it will become the tallest urban landmark in Ecuador's capital, Quito.

Quito, located in a valley on the eastern slopes of the active Pichincha Volcano in the Andes, is the closest capital to the equator. With an altitude of 2,850 meters, it is the second highest capital city in the world. The city enjoys a mild climate with an average monthly temperature of around 15°C, and the annual temperature variation is only 1°C, making it one of the "Top Ten Spring Cities" in the world.

Founded in the 16th century atop Incan ruins, Quito is home to Latin America's largest and best-preserved historic city center, which retains a significant amount of architecture from various periods in Latin American history. In 1978, Quito became the first city to be designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Qondesa project is located next to La Carolina Park, the largest public park in Quito, Ecuador. Covering 67 hectares, this park serves as a central green space for the city, featuring lush vegetation, small lakes, a botanical garden, and offering a variety of recreational facilities including professional cycling paths, various sports courts, and a skate park, providing the citizens of Quito with abundant space for activities.

With the unique natural and cultural environment as its backdrop, MAD aims to extend the surrounding mountains and the greenery of La Carolina Park into the architecture. Through organic architectural design, the goal is to connect the residents' daily lives with the beauty of nature.

The Qondesa building stands at 142 meters tall, with a total of 36 floors. The first seven floors are dedicated to commercial and office spaces, while the upper floors (above the 7th floor) provide 271 residential units of various sizes and compact layouts for the citizens. The building's organic contours and dynamic shape seamlessly integrate nature into this high-density vertical community.

The project site is limited in size and has an L-shaped configuration, presenting a design challenge. The building emerges from the earth, reaching for the sky. To minimize the impact on sunlight and views of neighboring buildings, Qondesa gradually tapers inward as it rises, with its dynamic shape alleviating the sense of oppression that its height might impose on the city.

The exterior facade lines resemble intertwining vines growing upward, ultimately converging at the top. During the growth process, the spreading white "veins" form several landscaped planting terraces. The building's main units, shaped like cells forming a leaf, create a vibrant and organic facade. This lively design complements the thriving native vegetation, injecting a unique sense of nature and vitality into the city's skyline.

The open terraces and large floor-to-ceiling windows blur the boundaries between the interior and exterior environments. Residents on the northeast side of the upper levels enjoy views of the lush greenery of La Carolina Park, while those on the southwest side not only appreciate the cityscape but also have a distant view of the natural landscape of Pichincha Volcano.

The "leaf vein" lines on Qondesa's facade are made from GFRC material, with a light gray tone that echoes the historical buildings in Quito's old town, which are made from the surrounding volcanic stone. The terrace floors are in a deep gray color, similar to glass, further emphasizing the upward organic growth of the facade lines.

Qondesa is currently in the detailed design phase.

Qondesa
Quito, Ecuador

Type: Residential + Commercial + Office
Lead Partners: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Hayano Yosuke
Associate Partners: Tiffany Dahlen, Dixon Lu
Design Team: Jon Kontuly, Xie Peng, Horace Hou, Edwin Cho, Matthew McFetrick
Owner: Uribe Schwarzkopf