At 700 square feet, this weekend getaway in Ecuador goes back to basics and celebrates the vernacular architecture of its surroundings. The home’s four primary materials—locally-sourced brick, steel, concrete, and glass—interact through simple and pure forms, dappled by an interplay of lights and shadows. In addition to sourcing local materials, the team employed local craftsmen and crew members. The resultant “tiny” home contains one bedroom, one bathroom, a flexible loft space, and features a passive solar design to accommodate the shifting temperatures of its locale.

The home is composed of two simple forms connected by a glass bridge. Challenged to include all elements of a full home in a small envelope, PJCA conceptualized the design not only in plan but in section, creating a double-height space that meets the exterior mountain views. The double-height structure contains a living room, dining room, kitchen, and flexible loft space while the smaller structure contains a bathroom and bedroom. Custom-built floor-to-ceiling glass and metal doors blend the boundaries between indoors and out, maximizing light and exterior views while contributing to the spacious feel.

The home’s passive solar design accommodates the region’s contrasting temperatures, which are mild in the morning and evenings but hot at midday. The east and west exposures receive direct sunlight in the morning and evening. The brick materiality stores the heat of the day and releases it at night when temperatures drop. Operable windows and doors on all sides of the home facilitate cross-air circulation. In a region where air conditioning and heating is uncommon, PJCA’s design provides comfortable temperatures while favoring energy efficiency.

Throughout the process, the local craftsmen became an integral part of the design process, which was largely developed via on-site communication. The home is an environmentally responsive, comfortable space that fully immerses itself within its locale.