Casa Pillagua | Najas Arquitectos

PILLAGUA HOUSE

Pillagua House, a private residence located in Cumbayá Valley in Quito-Ecuador, is the result of a very demanding design process between our firm and a very specific way of living for a young family of four that, at later stages of planning, became a family of five.

The topography seemed, at first, in opposition with the client´s needs since it has a 40 degree positive slope from the street due to the fact that the clients required a flat garden within a strict budget.

The first challenge was to manage the main floor level so it will allow for a flat garden with minimum impact on the site and the client´s economy. This was realized by locating private activities and main garden on the back of the site by removing a portion of the slope while keeping the back platform from being excessively sunken in relationship with the back slope and also to keep the main access from the street at a reasonable vertical distance.  

Three parking spaces are located at street level and pedestrian access is resolved by an exterior staircase that marks a dramatic path to the main entrance.

The beautiful natural surroundings views are at the opposite side of the street and only viewable from the front of the site, we located bedrooms at the second floor inside two cantilevered volumes that are perceived as private from street level but frame the surrounding views from the inside.

Social areas on the main floor are integrated to the garden and the back “wall” has been treated as a natural slope with a vertical tapestry of colorful local vegetation.   

All kitchen, living room and dining room interior windows on the main floor can be retracted for full integration to the outside garden and BBQ areas.

The Main design defines interior circulation along a single transversal path that has at each end framed -floor to ceiling- windows that define the views as “natural paintings”   

The final design provides a very private home from the outside that delivers an introspective contemplation of daily family activities within a natural and transparent main area.