Casa ES

Nestled in the breathtaking Andean mountains on the outskirts of Quito, Ecuador, and facing the Pasochoa Wildlife Refuge, CASA ES was designed with the purpose of becoming a haven of peace, outside of the city’s hectic lifestyle.

Located on a site with steep slopes, CASA ES frames and enhances the stunning views of the extinct Pasochoa volcano, and the local biodiversity and climate. With the intent of generating ample, functional, and comfortable interior spaces in permanent contact with nature, CASA ES, invites us to have a simpler and more leisurely life, where the enjoyment of family and nature are the main objective.

By reusing 5 shipping containers, plus a built area, CASA ES maximizes the use of internal space, expanding all areas through large, tall windows and terraces throughout its two levels, where people enjoy the Andean rural landscape from all spaces.

Considering the site’s location, altitude (+2700 m.a.s.l.), physical features, and climate, during the project’s design development, different passive design strategies were combined withunique features and technology like Rockwool insulation throughout the project’s envelope, high-quality and insulating windows, LED lighting, low-flow fixtures, rainwater collection, and treatment system, as well as the installation of photovoltaic panels and solar water heater, with the purpose of increasing the project’s energy efficiency and further reducing the project’s carbon footprint.

The interdisciplinary and integrated design process of the project, together with the goal of reusing and giving a new life to disused shipping containers, – as a strategy to reduce its carbon footprint -, together with the addition of design strategies with high environmental awareness and technology have made CASA ES become an innovative, safe, and sustainable project for this rural and breathtaking Andean region of Ecuador.