Article source: Leppanen + Anker architects

Selva Alegre was created to take inspiration from the surrounding environment, the Andes Mountains in Ecuador. This wooden house is located away from the city, in an open landscape ideal for a retreat space. The idea was to make a house that would be unified conceptually and visually with the surrounding natural scenery. The dwelling sits at one end of the lot, near the edge of a creek, allowing uninterrupted visuals throughout the project. The strategy was to leave the ground floor as open as possible and the programmatic divisions clear, so that the design resembles that of a typical “hacienda house” but with a modern twist. We wanted to reinvent the user experience of these centuries old weekend escapes, a typology that has historically dominated the mountainous landscapes from Colombia to Peru. Our concept was to return to the roots of the hacienda in terms of form and material. Bring back the use of wood, stone and clay but with a contemporary mindset, one that felt light and airy. This strategy resulted conceptually in a continuous wavy blanket which gently protects the program below it.

Image Courtesy © Bicubik Photography

• Architects: Leppanen + Anker architects
• Project: Selva Alegre Residence
• Location: Los Chillos, Ecuador
• Photography: Bicubik Photography,  JAG Studio
  
• Lead Architects: Aaron Leppanen, Gabriela Anker
• Design team: Aaron Leppanen, Gabriela Anker, Veronica Burbano, Camila Burbano, Sofía Chávez, Ana Belén Acurio, Carolina Rodriguez, Janina Sánchez, Kevin Aragón, Gabriela Valdez, Caroline Dieden
• Gross Built Area: 4,500 sq ft.
• Completion Year: 2021

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