Casa Tacuri

Quito, Ecuador

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Casa Tacuri

Quito, Ecuador

Firm

Gabriel Rivera Arquitectos

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2018

SIZE

5000 sqft - 10,000 sqft

The design process of Casa Tacuri, conceived as a single-family residence and studio, began in 2015. During the initial analysis, a thorough reading of the site was conducted, taking into account the shape of the plot, its topography, natural elements, orientation, and prevailing winds.

The owner needed a home where he could live with his family and work simultaneously. Motivated by the abundance of trees and the location—Nayón, in the north-central part of the city and near the Cumbayá valley—he purchased the 1,000 m² plot.

From the site analysis, a positive slope rising from street level was observed. This led to the concept of creating architecture that adapts to the topography and respects all the natural elements present on the land. The study also revealed that five of the thirteen trees were located at the center of the plot. This insight led to the decision to reinterpret the traditional house–courtyard typology as a compositional strategy to preserve the trees and integrate the project into the site.
Three volumes arranged around the tree-filled garden form the central courtyard. The first volume, facing the street, contains all the social spaces. The second volume, two stories high and perpendicular to the first, houses the family’s private living areas. The third volume is the studio.

All main spaces, organized along 4.2-meter structural axes, are served by an interior circulation corridor and face the central courtyard, which provides natural light, ventilation, and a direct connection to nature. Outside and surrounding the courtyard, a covered walkway merges with a perimeter service corridor, creating a continuous exterior path around the entire house that protects it from rain and the equatorial sun.

Construction of the house began in late 2016 and was completed two years later. Initially, it functioned solely as a residence, while the studio became a multipurpose space—a non-space. With the onset of the pandemic in 2020, this non-space transformed into a dedicated workspace, and the house reached its full occupancy potential.

From a construction standpoint, the three volumes of Casa Tacuri are composed of large concrete slabs supported by recycled steel tubes that serve as columns. Each volume includes its own service module, making them independent and adaptable. Large sliding windows, carefully modulated, connect the interior spaces with the outdoors and allow each space to have independent access from the courtyard. The project incorporates environmentally conscious strategies, including rainwater harvesting for irrigation of the central courtyard and surrounding gardens.

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Casa Tacuri

Quito, Ecuador

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Casa Tacuri

Quito, Ecuador

Other Projects by Gabriel Rivera Arquitectos

Casa en el Bosque

El Picadero

Casa Tacuri

Quito, Ecuador

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team

Articles