French firm Ateliers Jean Nouvel finishes the first phase for stone-clad complex in Cumbayá
The French practice Ateliers Jean Nouvel, founded by Pritzker prize-winning architect Jean Nouvel, recently completed the first phase for the stone-clad Aquarela complex in Cumbayá, Quito. The first three towers (Terra, Aqua and Cielo) were revealed in December 2020, while the subsequent three phases of completion are set to be finished between 2021 and 2023.
Located on the side of a volcano, the high-rise apartment complex will include six towers hosting 600 units among flats and facilities upon completion and will be representative of a new type of development for the city.
The design has been tailored to respond to its surroundings and the use of natural materials reflect the topography of the space: the stone exteriors intertwine with the plants and create a beautiful exterior façade, which appears as a monolith, complementing the contours of the lush green Tumbaco valley that it is nestled in.
Keeping sustainability as one of the driving factors in the design, the Aquarela complex demonstrates a commitment to being ecologically conscious. Solar panels that will be mounted on the buildings will be responsible for heating the water used in the complex.
The water for the gardens will come from rainwater harvesting and all the wastewater from the apartments’ plumbing systems will be filtered and re-circulated. Also, as the trees would be cut during the construction process, for every felled tree, 10 more will be planted to make up for the loss.
Following the complex’s design sensibility, Pedrali furniture has been selected to furnish the interiors of the building, characterised by large glass windows and wooden shutters.
The project features facilities such as ice rinks, bowling alleys, mini-golf courses, mini-soccer fields, outdoor tennis and squash courts, rooftop pools for each tower, spas and saunas, yoga and spinning rooms, beauty and pet salons.
The versatile and multifunctional Reva collection, designed by Patrick Jouin, finds its place here. With a clean design featuring soft tones, smooth lines and generous sizes, it helps to relax the mind and create a dreamy atmosphere.
Buddy collection, by Busetti Garuti and Redaelli, has been selected to furnish the bowling alleys. The collection stands out for its friendly spirit and the contrast between the bold volumes of the seat and the slender lightweight frame. Thanks to the different sizes, it allows multiple combinations for various needs.
The same colourful poufs can also be found, together with Zippo modular seating and Island poufs, in some common halls of these buildings.
Tribeca collection by CMP Design is a modern reinterpretation of classic sixties patio chairs, handmade with meticulous attention to detail. A true icon, revisited with new materials: a steel frame, combined with the elasticity of a profile in a vertically woven plastic material that is remarkably durable, easy to clean and colourful, Tribeca is exceptionally soft and comfortable.
The woven cording offers a fresh and dynamic sense of flow and openness to the seat that perfectly fits in the spas and the pool areas of this innovative complex.
Osaka Metal, by CMP Design, is a collection of seating with a strong graphic impact whose construction elements remind the linear features of an ideogram, due to their pureness and simplicity.
Its welcoming three-dimensionality, completed by the tactile wellbeing of ash wood, enriches the meeting rooms, for which it has been selected in its upholstered version.
For further information about Pedrali, visit pedrali.com/en-us
All images courtesy of Pedrali