curved laminated wood beams form lightweight roof atop deportivo pavilion in cumbayá

El Deportivo Harmoniously Integrates Structure and Landscape

El Deportivo Pavilion, designed by TEC Taller EC, is situated in Cumbayá, one of the Andean valleys surrounding Quito, Ecuador. This area, known for its urban and commercial growth, lies at 2400 meters above sea level, characterized by vertical sunlight and significant climate variations between day and night. The design leverages the green space and tall palm trees on the site, using them as guiding elements for a project that emphasizes constructive and programmatic parameters over formal speculation.

Spanning 250 sqm, the pavilion includes essential facilities such as a non-permanent space for food service and sanitary units. However, the resulting architecture offers an open space adaptable to a wide range of activities. The design consists of two black volumes connected by a 3-meter-high metal truss, allowing the roof to reach 7.5 meters at its peak. This height variation, similar to a pyramid, enhances the spatial experience and emphasizes the natural slope of the site.

all images by Paolo Caicedo Guijarro

TEC Taller EC’s Dynamic Design for El Deportivo Embraces Nature

The roof design responds to the site’s topography, curving to manage rainwater and creating a dynamic visual profile. The metal truss supports 15-meter-long curved laminated wood beams, forming a lightweight yet spacious structure that maximizes cubic volume with minimal material. The design fosters a sense of openness and freedom of movement, conceived from the activities to be developed within rather than as a distant object.

Pre-existing palm trees play a crucial role in the facade’s rhythm and the overall landscape, filtering afternoon sunlight. The pavilion’s architecture is centered on the interior experience, with the void serving as the primary connector and intersection between interior and exterior spaces. TEC Taller EC Studio‘s approach invites users to engage with the outdoor environment, embracing light and air, and encourages an experiential understanding of architecture grounded in bodily movement and interaction.

El Deportivo Pavilion by TEC Taller EC is located in Cumbayá, near Quito, Ecuador

the pavilion spans 250 sqm and includes non-permanent spaces for food service and sanitation

the pavilion leverages the site’s green space and tall palm trees as guiding elements

the design creates an adaptable open space suitable for a wide range of activities

the roof’s height variation enhances spatial experience and responds to the site’s natural slope

curved laminated wood beams form a lightweight structure, maximizing cubic volume with minimal material

the roof design manages rainwater and creates a dynamic visual profile

two black volumes are connected by a 3-meter-high metal truss, allowing the roof to reach 7.5 meters

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pre-existing palm trees filter afternoon sunlight and contribute to the facade's rhythm

the pavilion's architecture centers on the interior experience, using voids as primary connectors

project info:

name: DEPORTIVO Pavilion

architect: TEC Taller EC | @tec_tallerec

location: Cumbayá, Quito, Ecuador

photography: Paolo Caicedo Guijarro | @pcg.arq

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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom