concrete slabs + black corten steel boxes articulate emilio lópez’s ‘muta house’ in quito

on the outskirts of quito, ecuador, emilio lópez arquitecto has realized an angular, two story dwelling called ‘muta house’. occupying a generous but slightly uneven suburban plot in nayón valley, the residential project is articulated by large planes of concrete paired with smaller modules clad in black corten steel.

images by JAG studio

emilio lópez resolved the brief for muta house in two ‘moments’ with different materialities. first off, reinforced concrete slabs define the floor levels and walls of the residence. the concrete is left exposed both inside and out and different finishes create different textures: from the polished floor to the formwork walls and waffle ceiling. the changing needs of the client led to the next ‘moment’, in which a second materiality was adopted, with modules clad in black corten steel and wooden window frames.

the program is split over two volumes: the main house and an independent module measuring 20 sqm. the first floor of the main house hosts the kitchen and a social area that steps down. this floor can also accommodate an extra bedroom by moving a mobile partition. on the upper floor, there is the main bedroom that extends outwards to the two terraces, and a bathroom. furthermore, emilio lópez incorporated two double height spaces within the diagonals of the house, the first in the social area, and the second to the staircase.

in addition to the concrete and corten steel, the third material that defines muta house is glass. huge panes of glazing clad both the front and rear façades, emphasizing views of the nearby mountain range and allowing inhabitants to feel closer to nature while being enclosed by the protective concrete planes. 

project info:

name: muta house

location: quito, ecuador

architect: emilio lópez arquitecto | @emilioflopez

year: 2020

photography: JAG studio | @jag_studio