Tall & Urban News

After four years of construction, IQON is now at its final height of 133 meters making it among the tallest buildings in the Ecuadorian capital Quito, a city with one of the highest elevations in the world.

Quito itself has been transforming from a city largely populated with low-rises to a burgeoning skyline after the city center airport was relocated over ten years ago. This laid the groundwork for Uribe Schwarzkopf to hire Bjarke Ingels Group in 2017 to design IQON—a 390,000 square foot (36,232 square meters) mixed-use residential building. The development includes 215 residences, commercial units, office spaces, and a suite of amenities.

“IQON (by BIG) and QORNER (by Safdie Architects) represent the ongoing transformation of Quito into a cornerstone of architecture, design and innovation. Not only do the new buildings contribute to the skyline of the city, but celebrate our partnerships with the most exciting, internationally renowned architects in the world. As the first residents move in and businesses begin to take space in the building, we are looking forward to seeing each building come to life and become part of the fabric of the city,” says Tommy Schwarzkopf, Co-Founder, Uribe Schwarzkopf.

IQON's façade reveals raw, exposed concrete while also functioning as the building's structural identity through the individual "pixels." As the pixels rotate to create the best possible view for tenants, it also creates terraces that help to take advantage of Ecuador's temperate climate and also provide a window into one of the most biodiverse countries in the world with abundant plant and animal life.

 “We’ve tried to take all the iconic qualities of Quito – such as the enjoyment of living in one of the most biodiverse places on the planet, in a city on the equator where the seasons are perfect for both human and plant life – and bring that experience into the vertical dimension" says Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Director, BIG. 

At the ground-level, public spaces and other community assets help weave the project into the public realm.  Marble stone pavers complement the custom millwork reception desk, and concrete touchpoints echo the façade. Emerald-green tones are utilized on the ceiling tiles, mailboxes, and through to the elevator lobby.

For more on this story, go to Bjarke Ingels Group.