Ecuadorian architecture and building firm Uribe Schwarzkopf announced its first project with award-winning Mexico City architecture firm Tatiana Bilbao Estudio. Botániqo will be a comprehensive new residence situated in the growing Cumbayá neighborhood, a vibrant and lively area within the greater Quito Metropolitan District.
Spanning over three acres, an additional acre of terrain will be transferred to the city by Uribe Schwarzkopf for the creation of a new transportation hub that will service over 60,000 people per day. The project represents an accessible entry point for residents who want to live in the neighborhood and features several public-facing elements including the creation of green space around the residential units.
Designed with a human and community-centered approach, the layouts of Botániqo’s residences encourage connection through numerous shared spaces. As part of her design, Bilbao created a series of linked modules interspersed with open and closed spaces (both public and private) which generate a series of shapes so that each area is unique to its resident. Totaling 277 units, the nine towers each feature communal, flora-filled terraces around the midpoints of the buildings. At ground level, the project’s footprint takes up just 35% of allowable space, creating extensive communal green space and recreational areas which connect the buildings and unites the property.
"I deeply believe that architecture must necessarily become a platform for each inhabitant to develop their own existence," says Tatiana Bilbao. "In Botániqo, the human being is at the center of both the concept and the space itself".
Central to Bilbao’s design is a focus on greenery and green areas. Botániqo has more than 5000m2 of green areas, and the project’s master plan organically creates harmony between the building and its surrounding environment .Each tree in the terrain will be preserved and transplanted through a careful adaptation process, and then relocated within the project, maintaining the endemic vegetation of the area. Additionally, the exteriors of Botániqo create a living facade, featuring native plants from the region intertwining with the exterior of the building. The design thoughtfully incorporates vegetation across all nine towers, allowing them to reflect the lush landscape of Quito. As a result, Botániqo seamlessly blends into its environment, benefitting both the residents and the public. More than 50% of the materials used in the project will be of local origin, reducing the carbon footprint of the building’s construction.
Botániqo will also provide a number of amenities for residents including a pool, paddle tennis, kids area, gym, spa, pet park, gaming area, meeting rooms, event spaces, and a multifunctional room. In addition, Botániqo’s central location in the Cumbayá neighborhood situates it squarely in one of Ecuador’s most highly developed and growing areas. The neighborhood features a host of services including food, drink, leisure, shopping centers, supermarkets, hospitals, schools, and universities – all coming together to create a vibrant community with a high quality of life for both residents and visitors alike.
The project will also breathe new life into an adjacent, existing scenic pedestrian path that will connect Botaniqo to the new public transport station that will come to life through a public-private partnership between the municipality and Uribe Schwarzkopf. The station’s design will, incorporate abundant vegetation, maintaining and integrating existing trees within the interior, feature plenty of public meeting spaces, and allow for quick and safe pedestrian access to Cumbaya’s main square through escalators, and key safety measures. The station will be a critical addition to Cumbaya, which has to date lacked the transportation infrastructure necessary for the population using public transport.
“The collaboration with Tatiana Bilbao Estudio has been an extraordinary experience for us,” says Joseph Schwarzkopf of Uribe Schwarzkopf. “Her design of the public and private spaces, together with a visionary weaving together of a masterplan that will enhance residents and neighbors’ lives alike, has helped us completely advance our approach to healthy and sustainable urbanism. We pride ourselves on developing projects unique to Ecuador by incorporating principles that foster a strong sense of community and well- being. This project encapsulates these principles in an entirely new way.”
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