ICON APARTMENTS | Najas Arquitectos

The site´s size and terrain for ICON is typical for the north part of urban Quito: 20m wide by 50m deep with a negative slope facing the city. The challenge was to solve the client´s requirements of mostly, four apartments per floor, since the building’s shape forced us to design elongated apartments, each facing the views on their narrower side. 

The architectural solution also responds to the client´s request for two underground parking floors where 100% of the spaces for cars should be individually accessible. We resolved this requirement with a format that allowed us to have all apartment’s plans free of columns.

The longitudinal approach is a constant for all pedestrian and user circulation systems while trying to avoid long dark corridors and trying to provide as open as possible internal spaces.  This axiom is also maintained for communal areas that search for optimal functionality that take advantage of the footprint.

Since the building is implanted 1.5m above the street level, pedestrian access is resolved, without stairs, through a continuous ramp 3m wide that is flanked by a cascading water that makes the long journey to the main entrance more attractive while providing promenade that relates openly to the street.

The communal spaces are resolved in two areas with distinctive characteristics. The first, on the ground floor, through a courtyard of solid surfaces designed as a contemplative space. The second, on the terrace where you can enjoy the panoramic view of the city of Quito through a 110m2 garden and patios with BBQ areas 150m2 of communal living room with panoramic views.

The project covers various spatial solutions that meet preset requirements as well as the search for clean and functional spaces that make the most of the location.