made of earthen adobe vaults, al borde’s biology lab rises from the amazonian rainforest

Witoca Lab combines agroecology and earth construction

Witoca Lab by Al Borde is located in the community of Huaticocha within the buffer zone of the Sumaco Biosphere Reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon. Developed as a laboratory for the reproduction of biological pest-control agents, the project combines earth construction techniques with agroecological strategies associated with the Kichwa concept of the chakra, a model of land management based on biodiversity and ecosystem preservation.

The laboratory supports the local production of antagonistic microorganisms such as Beauveria bassiana and Trichoderma, strains developed by Ecuador’s National Institute of Agricultural Research (INIAP) for the ecological control of coffee and cocoa pests. Through collaboration with CEFA (European Committee for Training and Agriculture), the Witoca community received training in the reproduction and application of these biological technologies, allowing the project to operate as a regional hub for sustainable agricultural management in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Al Borde uses Adobe Vaults for passive climate control

The architectural proposal is organized into three independent operational zones: Entry, Reproduction, and Incubation. The zones are connected through a central workspace where laboratory processes take place. Due to the technical requirements of microorganism cultivation, the incubation and reproduction areas required controlled isolation from external humidity, direct sunlight, and ultraviolet radiation, while the central working area incorporates filtered natural light.

To meet these environmental and technical conditions, the architects at Al Borde developed the project using an integrated earth construction system composed of adobe vaults. The thermal mass of the adobe stabilizes interior temperatures and reduces fluctuations within the laboratory spaces, decreasing the energy demand associated with climate control systems. The use of adobe also minimizes the project’s ecological footprint by avoiding high-energy industrial construction processes and reducing reliance on fossil-fuel-based materials.

The structural system draws from the Lak’a UTA vault technique developed by Bolivian architect Raúl Sandoval, which allows adobe vaults to be constructed without formwork through interlocking wall systems positioned at ninety-degree angles. The convergence of the three vaults required additional structural development and was refined through physical modeling during the design phase. Technical implementation on site was led by master builder Miguel Ramos, whose experience in earth construction informed the adaptation of the system to Amazonian environmental conditions.

material research and adobe construction inform witoca lab

Construction presented specific material challenges associated with the climate and soil composition of the region. The high clay content of the local earth produced durable and water-resistant adobe blocks, but the humidity of the rainforest significantly slowed the drying process. The resulting density and impermeability of the adobe also reduced adhesion with traditional earth mortars, requiring the use of cement-based mortar to ensure the structural stability of the vault system.

The project positions earth construction within the context of contemporary laboratory infrastructure, adapting low-energy building techniques to highly controlled interior conditions. Through the integration of adobe vaults, passive thermal regulation, and agroecological production systems, Witoca Lab by Al Borde proposes an alternative approach to inhabiting and producing within the Amazonian rainforest while maintaining connections to local knowledge, biodiversity, and environmental preservation.

project info:

name: Witoca Lab

architect: Al Borde | @albordearq

location: Huaticocha, Provincia de Orellana, Ecuador

area: 46.00 sqm

collaborators: María Fernanda Heredia, Emilie Spitz, Javier Almendarez, Carolina Quishpe, Andrea Raos

structural engineering: Patricio Cevallos

construction: AsoAmazonas & Al Borde

commisioned by: Witoca

supported by: CEFA Ecuador (Comité Europeo para la Formación y la Agricultura), FIEDS (Fondo Ítalo-Ecuatoriano para el Desarrollo Sostenible) & Alstom Foundation

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