Emilio López has designed a two-story residence located near the top of a hill along the coastline of Don Juan in Ecuador. Oriented from east to west, the house opens at both sides: in the front facing the ocean and in the back to a native deciduous forest. The double-opening allows crossed ventilation and embeds the house and its inhabitants within the surroundings.
The concept of the double-opening shaped the architecture, which is conceived as two funnels that converge at one side, giving the impression of a bow-tie. The scheme is 110m2 overall and is created by the architect to contain the very simple plan, with two levels of open areas that connect through double-height ceilings. The living room, dining room, kitchen and a complete bathroom are distributed on the ground floor. Two bedrooms facing a double-height ceiling oriented to the ocean occupy the second floor. In the rear façade another double-height window opens up to the back with the staircase.
The entire structure is made with local wood: Amarillo and Asta. Flat-fiber cement panels cover the shell of the house, while the inner façades are plastered and covered with bamboo, permitting a feel of warm materials within the inside yet not compromising the protection of the exterior of the house.
