Quito, Ecuador
“This, in effect, creates the appearance of a veil, giving the building a sense of depth, luminosity and translucency during the day and night,” said Carlos Zapata of New York-based Carlos Zapata Studio.
“The veil will reveal and protect views of the interior of the building is an elegant and mysterious way, which will result in the building having an ephemeral presence.”
Carlos Zapata and Joseph Schwarzkopf general manager of Uribe Schwarzkopf, a Quito-based development firm, have completed a 24-story tower featuring curved glass skin in Quito, Ecuador.
Designed for Quito-based developers Uribe Schwarzkopf, the tower contains 99 apartment units, with amenity spaces such as a pool on the 13th floor, that stands out from the façade to enjoy the best view of the city, arcade, games room, kids room, terrace and BBQ, gym, yoga room, pilates, and aerobics.
Named Unique, the tower is located on the northern edge of La Carolina Park and enjoys long, uninterrupted views of the park.
“Unique redefines the classic composition of vertical buildings by introducing a series of structural and morphological innovations that make the building approach an urban sculpture,” states Zapata.
“It features two-story, open-air communal areas located at the midpoint of the building, incorporating light, air, vegetation and urban views, which provide a privileged environment, intended for the recreation and enjoyment of its residents.”
The distinctive feature of the tower is its sophisticated skin: for this, Zapata used glass panels that are printed with diverse layers of ceramic frit—a custom silk screen applied to the glass.
Surrounded by 12 to 16-story buildings to the east, west, and north, the Unique tower is one of the tallest structures in the city.
The three-story open-air communal area is located at the midpoint of the building, creating a building that feels more porous and light, and also integrates landscaping that relates to the neighboring park.
In the communal area, an outdoor pool and lounge area provide views towards the city, which divides the tower into two in vertical.
The tower presents unmatched 360-degree views from the amenities floors located on levels 13, 14, 15, as well as from the lush rooftop garden.
The terraces of the building are landscaped with native trees and plants, giving a sense of continuity with La Carolina Park.
Behind the striking facade are the impeccable apartments designed with bountiful spaces and luminosity to the interior has unique panoramic views.
Alongside the facade’s transparency, the architect also ensured adequate light and thermal comfort, as well as maintaining privacy for each apartment.
The lobby features a specially commissioned large-scale work from a local artist.
In the near future, it will have easy access to the Quito Metro, with a key station located a few steps from the building, increasing its accessibility to and from the different sectors of the city.
All these elements make Unique’s silhouette an architectural landmark of the city; its residents will have the privilege of living in one of the buildings with the greatest presence in Quito.
Project: Unique Tower
Architects: Carlos Zapata Studio and Joseph Schwarzkopf
Client: Uribe Schwarzkopf
