A beautiful twisting mixed-use tower is planned in Quito, Ecuador's capital. Designed by the coveted Chinese architecture studio MAD, the structure is the studio's first building project in South America. The visuals of the building draw attention because of the interesting form and facade—the silhouette of the tower is reminiscent of a twisting vine and MAD employed stone coloring to the exterior in order to "reference [...] the surrounding buildings in Quito, many of which were constructed from volcanic rocks."
MAD's twisting mixed-use tower will house a series of apartments and is expected to become the tallest building in the Ecuadorian capital, surpassing the Iqon tower that was previously constructed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG).
Twisting Mixed-Use Towers
MAD Unveils the Plans for the Qondesa Tower
Trend Themes
1. Twisting Mixed-use Architecture - Innovative architecture designs that incorporate mixed-use elements with twisting or curving structures.
2. Cultural Referencing in Building Design - Architects leveraging local cultural elements in building design to create a unique and meaningful structure.
3. Tall Building Construction - Continued construction of tall buildings and skyscrapers in urban areas, leading to increased focus on sustainability and functional uses of space.
Industry Implications
1. Architecture - Opportunities for architects to experiment with unique designs that incorporate mixed-use elements and local cultural references.
2. Real Estate Development - Developers will continue to be interested in tall building construction as a means of increasing space in urban areas with opportunities to explore mixed-use elements.
3. Construction Materials - With the push toward sustainable tall building design, there are opportunities for companies that produce materials and technologies to support the construction of these buildings.