Situated in Otavalo, Ecuador, this inspiring private residence has been designed in 2017 by Studio Alfa.

Description by Studio Alfa
House AO is based within a context where landscape is one of the core conditioning factors for its design. The client requested that the main spaces take part of the best views; the architectonic response was to propose spatiality where the user, the architecture, and the setting would dialogue.
The lot finds itself on an elevated area bordering the city of Otavalo. The preponderating views are towards the east, gazing at the Imbabura volcano. This context marks the axis which organizes and builds the spatial scheme.
Found within the equatorial Andes, the site is very cold; this posed another important condition: to reduce incidence of the strong northern winds that flow throughout the year and the low temperatures without using electromechanical heating systems. These conditions of the site marked the orientation of the house as a pivotal factor so that the main spaces would have the best views and at the same time allow the entry of the largest amount of sunlight, so to maintain a pleasant temperature during the whole day.

The volumetric proposal contemplates two parallel volumes placed over a plinth of stone, and rotated over the lot so that they are aligned with both the rising sun and the peak of the Imbabura. This rotation also allows for the northern winds to hit against the building and preclude the pass of dust and cold...