El Sindicato Arquitectura

Parasite House

Parasite House
© Andrés Villota

PARASITE HOUSE

El Sindicato Arquitectura

LOCATION
Quito, Ecuador

PROJECT YEAR
2019

PHOTOGRAPHS
Andrés Villota, Pablo Olalla, Carlos Valarezo

AREA
12.0 m2

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Nicolás Viteri – María Mercedes Reinoso – Xavier Duque

TRANSLATE
Jhower Sánchez

ILLUSTRATIONS
Carlos Valarezo & El Sindicato Arquitectura

CATEGORY
Houses

“Poor is not who owns little, but who needs a lot” Mujica. Design and construction of a 12 sq.m dwelling, located on the rooftop of an existent building at the popular neighborhood San Juan in Quito-Ecuador Casa parásito (Parasitic house) is a minimal design object, focused on solving the basic habitation necessities for a person or young couple.

Parasite House
© Andrés Villota
Parasite House
© Andrés Villota

It includes: bathroom, kitchen, bed, storage space and To-be space ( eating, working and socializing), which secure all the facilities of a dwelling in a reduced area.

The project is developed from an A-frame façade.

Parasite House
© Andrés Villota
Parasite House
© Andrés Villota
Parasite House
© Andrés Villota

Its concept comes from the seek of the optimum space for living according to the activity we perform.

We proposed a rectangular core, where all the standing activities are performed and where one can access all the utilitarian spaces, such as kitchen table-top, bathroom, bed, storage, desk, etc.

The utilitarian spaces, adjacent to the rectangular core, are within triangles and rhomboids. These geometries, apart from containing its own activity, they offer stability to the whole structure.

Parasite House
© Andrés Villota
Parasite House
© Andrés Villota
Parasite House
© Andrés Villota

The Project is composed of 3 modules created by 4 structural frames that combine spaces free of utilitarian objects, in order to maximize the use of the volume and diminish the built area.

This allows the flexible space of the rectangular core to be used to the convenience of the activity performed in the dwelling.

With a large transparent window, the project lets natural light in through the North Façade.

Parasite House
© Andrés Villota
Parasite House
© Andrés Villota
Parasite House
© Andrés Villota

It opens views towards the city and the Cotacachi, Imbabura, Mojanda, and Cayambe volcanoes.

On the other hand, frosted glass on the south façade ensures good illumination, ventilation, and privacy towards the neighbors.

On the east and west façade, which in Ecuador they get direct sunlight during the whole year, are completely closed to avoid the access of direct sunlight. For interior walls and flooring, OSB panels are used as a finish.

Parasite House
© Andrés Villota
Parasite House
© Andrés Villota
Parasite House
© Andrés Villota

For exteriors walls and roof, steel panels.

Given the timber structure and substructure for fixing the metallic panels, we create a 12cm insulation void which is filled with coconut fiber as insulating material.

Steel foundations are employed to attach the project to the slab of the existing structure.

Parasite House
© Andrés Villota
Parasite House
© Andrés Villota

Although, it is possible to build the project in urban or rural plots without existing constructions, ideally its construction should occur on underused rooftops of urban edifications that are structurally sound.

Buildings where one can connect to the existing water, waste and electrical grids.

Parasite House
© Andrés Villota
Parasite House
© Andrés Villota

In this way, we can contribute to the densification of the city from a very small scale, with a minimum of economic investment and use of resources, as well as contributing to the conservation of the architectural heritage.


Parasite House
© Carlos Valarezo
Parasite House
Edifications


Parasite House
Horizontal Isometrics (without text)

Parasite House
Plans
Parasite House
Isometrics
Parasite House
Axonometry

El Sindicato Arquitectura
T +593 9 84483549
El Sindicato Arquitectura
Juan Montalvo N1-21 And Francisco De Orellana, Cumbayá-quito, Ecuador