la miradora views ecuador’s páramo landscape
Ecuador-based studio Taller General completes a residential project, La Miradora, in the rural landscape of Machachi. The home is sited at 3,403 meters above sea level within the Páramo ecosystem, a tropical wetland of the Andes. Perched along the highest point of its elongated plot, the dwelling opens broadly outward to overlook a steep ravine, with the expansive and fragile landscape backdropped by meadows and volcanoes on the horizon.
The siting responds to the land’s natural slope, allowing the structure to open toward the views while organizing its interior in two distinct levels. The upper floor contains the main living spaces for a couple, while the lower level — smaller due to the terrain — accommodates visiting family members. A loft on the upper floor faces north and south, framing the nearest volcanoes.
images © JAG Studio
taller general designs a house on a vast slope
With the layout of La Miradora, the architects at Taller General seek to encourage moments of gathering while maintaining privacy. Everyday life unfolds on the upper floor, where wide windows gather light and air from multiple directions. The lower floor extends this arrangement when guests arrive, offering additional rooms and service areas without altering the compact presence of the house above the slope.
Outdoor circulation is carefully integrated into the architecture. A covered ramp runs along one side, ensuring direct exterior access to the main level while providing a sheltered path that mediates between inside and out. From here, the Páramo landscape is experienced as a sequence of framed views and open exposures.
La Miradora sits at the highest point of its plot in Machachi, Ecuador
integration into the fragile ecosystem
Taller General designs La Mirador with a strong focus on ecological performance. Solar panels supply electricity, while gray and black water undergo staged treatment with grease traps, a biodigester, and a wetland before reaching a small lagoon and reentering the ground. This closed system echoes the Páramo’s role as a vital water source, aligning the house’s operations with its environment.
The design also minimizes construction waste by avoiding coatings or plasters. Materials are left exposed, making their structural role evident while reducing unnecessary layers. This approach required precise detailing and collaboration with local craftsmen skilled in wood, metal, ceramics, and textiles. Their work extends to integrated lamps, furniture, and partitions that reinforce the project’s expressive materiality.
the house overlooks meadows, volcanoes, and a deep ravine in the Páramo ecosystem
The house’s structure is defined by an array of ten wooden ribs arranged every 2.44 meters. Each rib consists of four inclined elements that meet upward, shaping protective eaves and supporting the upper level. On the north side, the ribs rest on a brick base that follows their slope. On the south side, they extend into durable metal members that withstand sun and rain and adapt to the gradient of the land.
This repetitive system adapts to spatial needs, shifting its rhythm to support the loft and open wider views. The interplay of wood, brick, and metal expresses a careful balance of shelter and exposure, durability and lightness. The roofline and eaves extend generously, protecting the timber while filtering sunlight into the interiors.
a covered ramp runs along one side, linking the interior to the landscape
the upper floor contains the main living spaces and a viewing loft
ten wooden ribs form the structure with brick and metal bases adapting to the terrain
solar panels and a water treatment system integrate the house with its environment
local craftsmen contributed details in wood, metal, ceramics and textiles
project info:
name: La Miradora
architect: Taller General | @tallergeneral.ec
location: Machachi, Ecuador
area: 300 square meters
completion: 2024
photography: © JAG Studio | @juanalbertoandrade.ec
collaborators: Santiago León, Cerrotecec, Las Manos Sucias
structure: Miguel Morales
construction manager: Taller General
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