Selva Alegre

Selva Alegre was created to takeinspiration from the surrounding environment, the Andes Mountains in Ecuador. This wooden house is located away from the city, in an open landscape ideal fora retreat space. The idea was to make a house that would be unifiedconceptually and visually with the surrounding natural scenery. The dwellingsits at one end of the lot, near the edge of a creek, allowing uninterruptedvisuals throughout the project. The strategy was to leave the ground flooras open as possible and the programmatic divisions clear, so that the designresembles that of a typical “hacienda house” but with a modern twist. We wantedto reinvent the user experience of these centuries old weekend escapes, atypology that has historically dominated the mountainous landscapes fromColombia to Peru. Our concept was to return to the roots of the hacienda interms of form and material. Bring back the use of wood, stone and clay but witha contemporary mindset, one that felt light and airy. This strategy resultedconceptually in a continuous wavy blanket which gently protects the programbelow it. At the interior, a central void creates aclear division between the social and private spaces of the house, preservingthe typology of the traditional hacienda house. Overhead light brightens theindoor-outdoor pool and main circulation inside this intermediate space throughskylights that also create thermal comfort inside the house through bioclimaticstrategies of cross ventilation and chimney effect. The main spaces such as bedrooms, livingroom, dining room and kitchen are opened towards the surrounding landscapethrough prefabricated laminated beams whose curvature frames the visuals,creating a symbiosis between the context and the house. The movement of themountains served as an inspiration in the beam’s volumetric conception. A sustainable laminated wood constructionsystem is used for the structure which was completely pre-manufactured inEurope, for subsequent assembly in Ecuador. Laminated wood was our material ofchoice, both for its flexible properties as well as for the natural feelingthat it adds to our design. The computerized parametric model allowed therepetition of specific beams and a total constructability of the roof so thatit would be efficient and affordable. Likewise, the repetition of pieces alloweda fast and high construction quality. Automated machines were used toaccurately cut and fabricate each piece of wood, creating a puzzle that fittedperfectly when assembled. The laminated and curved beams are repeated with thesame radius, which allow the different folds of the roof. The triangulation ofthe structure creates an efficient assembly and also ease of transportation. For the coating of the house local materials were used such as stone, tile andthe use of local craftsmen for the profiling of the windows made ofcopper-colored coated steel, which were handmade. The final result is a delicate balance ofstone and glass that is blanketed by an energetic yet comforting wood structurethat is truly complementary to its setting. The interiors follow the initialconcept with beautiful modern textures and material artifacts that balance andactivate the architectural space. From the use of advanced manufacturing to themodern use of timber products to combining local and international experiences,there was much knowledge and information to gain in the local industry. This is the first time that a construction ofthis type has been achieved to such a detailed level in Ecuador. Integratingdigital technology with local manual labor techniques has not only led us toproduce a unique type of architecture but also to contribute to the improvementof construction possibilities in the country. Project name: Selva Alegre Project type: Single Family Residential Project location: Los Chillos, Ecuador Completion Year: 2021 Gross Built Area: 4,500 sq ft. Client: confidential Credits Architecture Firm: Leppanen Anker Arquitectura Website: Contact e-mail: aaron@leppanenanker. com ArchitectureFirm’sLocation: Quito, Ecuador Lead Architects: Aaron Leppanen, GabrielaAnker Design team:Aaron Leppanen, GabrielaAnker,Sofía Chávez, Ana Belén Acurio, Carolina Rodriguez, Janina Sánchez, KevinAragón, Gabriela Valdez, Caroline Dieden, Interior Design Firm:Insólito Veronica Burbano, Camila Burbano Website: Contact e-mail: veritoburb@gmail. com Interior DesignFirm’s’ Location: Quito,Ecuador Media provider