Nestled high in Ecuador’s Andean foothills, EPIQ is a 24-storey building inspired by the heritage and landscape of the capital city. Quito-based developer Uribe Schwarzkopf and architect studio Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) unite for a second time in the Ecuadorian capital (following skyscraper IQON's completion in 2022), adding dynamic contemporary architecture to the cityscape.
Step inside EPIQ in Quito, Ecuador
Architectural studio BIG wanted to prioritise green space, an EPIQ sits alongside the southern tip of La Carolina Park, a vibrant outdoor area. Described as a ‘vertical neighbourhood’, the structure consists of two sets of stacking blocks creating a feel of 'buildings within a building', with vast panoramic views and planted terraces where they intersect. Referencing its setting, EPIQ’s façade is a fluid design with green walls that provide balconies for residents.
Although the building is a contemporary design, it gently nods to an eco-brutalist approach, with its monochromatic palette, modern materials, and sweeping greenery.
Matte ceramic tiles were placed in a herringbone pattern of the façade, a nod to a tradition of Quito architecture, with ceramic tiles seen everywhere from cathedrals to old colonial buildings. Paying tribute to the city’s heritage, EPIQ comfortably slots into this landscape.
The residence, Iocated near the city's newly opened metro line, stays true to its ‘neighbourhood’ description. The ground floor offers retail space and cafés, and the first three floors are given over to office space perfect for commuters. Residential amenities include a cinema, daycare, a swimming pool, a bowling alley, a squash court, a gym, a spa, and game rooms.
EPIQ is an example of sustainable architecture that doesn't compromise efficiency. Developer Uribe Schwarzkopf says it is committed to decarbonisation; and featuring reduced energy consumption and limited water use, EPIQ has already been awarded EDGE certification for its environmentally friendly design.
‘We’re excited once again to be working with Bjarke Ingels and the team at BIG. EPIQ marks another unique contemporary building to be added to the skyline in Quito, promoting a new possibility for a vertical community where residents play a fundamental part of the project,' says general manager of Uribe Schwarzkopf, Joseph Schwarzkopf. ’With the opening of the new metro system, EPIQ sits in a prime location in the city, as well as being alongside La Carolina Park.'
-
The wait is over: Matthieu Blazy is Chanel’s new creative directorMatthieu Blazy has been appointed as the new artistic director at Chanel, after a critically lauded and commercially successful tenure as creative director of Bottega Veneta
-
Alaïa’s secret new London café and bookstore is inspired by the art of hostingHoused on the third floor of Alaïa’s London flagship, the intimate space – inspired by Azzedine Alaïa’s famed hospitality – includes a Violet Cakes bakery and a bookstore by Claire de Rouen
-
Is it really possible to stage a Shakespeare play inside the game Grand Theft Auto?Grand Theft Hamlet, a documentary debut written and directed by Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane, is about two out-of-work actors attempting to mount a full production of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, inside the violent world of Grand Theft Auto, shot entirely in game
-
Denmark’s BIG has shaped itself the ultimate studio on the quayside in CopenhagenBjarke Ingels’ studio BIG has practised what it preaches with a visually sophisticated, low-energy office with playful architectural touches
-
Step inside One High Line's sculptural forms in New YorkOne High Line, the residential building designed by Bjarke Ingels of BIG with interiors by Gabellini Sheppard and Gilles & Boissier, swirls up into the skyline absorbing its New York City context
-
Nicolás y Nicolás, Spain and Ecuador: Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2023With offices in Spain and Ecuador, Nicolás y Nicolás is part of the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2023, our annual round-up of exciting emerging architecture studios
-
Natura Futura, Ecuador: Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2023Ecuadorian practice Natura Futura joins the Wallpaper* Architects’ Directory 2023, with projects such as this brick house and school in Los Rios
-
One High Line’s twisting towers by BIG dance in New YorkOne High Line by Bjarke Ingels’ BIG is completed in New York, including a home interior by designer Dan Fink
-
For sale: Designed by Bjarke Ingels, Vollebak Island is both building research lab and radical retreatBilled as the ultimate escape from everyday reality, Vollebak Island is the clothing brand’s bold take on a sustainable utopia, as well as a massive self-build project designed by Bjarke Ingels
-
Marfa’s El Cosmico campground hotel is getting a 3D-printed revampEl Cosmico in Marfa, Texas, is being reimagined by BIG, 3D-printing specialist Icon and hotelier Liz Lambert
-
Tree-lined tower Qorner adds to Quito’s international allureQorner sees Moshie Safdie join a stable of global architects redrawing Quito’s skyline
