Reina Victoria Artisan’s Plaza is a cultural project located in the north central part of Quito, in front of the traditional artisan’s market of greater commercial affluence in the capital, a new proposal is developed which consists of a set of autonomous pieces of different sizes and similar importance, connected by a interior plaza and distinct public spaces on the upper floors, consisting of a traditional market stimulated by several complementary activities that promote the craft trade developed nationally as an attraction for domestic and international tourists.
The center consists of 3 underground parking lots, about 50 artisan’s shops, with restaurants, a cultural center and an outdoor plaza with indigenous murals as a transition between the immediate traffic chaos and the building; the main idea of the project is to promote the trade of local national handcrafts, but also to experience an attractive journey, which shows different historical, social, tourist and cultural aspects of Ecuador. Therefore, the whole project is based on the user’s journey through the urban and architectural elements, which organize the fixed program. That is, the interconnection between the outer spaces, interior squares, passages and museum passages which organize and locate the shops, food sites and the cultural center. With the intention of becoming a cultural-artisan icon acting as an urban catalyst - the project is an urban structure open to all citizens.
The Plaza of the Communities is created and located in the inner corner of the lot in the first floor, where all the passages, museum passages, stairs and elevator converge as the unifying core of the visitor’s journey and the art shows (dance, music, poetry, theater) are developed for the users. This plaza has a triple height so that, through terraces - viewpoints, the users in the upper floors - food court / cultural center – always have a visual and auditory connection. This element works as a continuous entry of natural light and ventilation, which activates deadlocks such as the corner lots, and also helps for the cross ventilation on all the floors of the building.
On the second floor, the food court is organized by a central patio for the tables with 9 shops around it; in a corner it has a visual connection to the Plaza of the Communities and in the opposite corner, a connection with the terrace as an extension of the food court with indoor and outdoor tables. On the third floor, the Cultural Centre is located, which works as an extensive open and flexible space connected to a large viewpoint plaza that allows various kinds of activities with a capacity for 250 people.