Author: Pablo Vazquez.
A lover of discovering new places and a workaholic, in short, an architect.
BUILDING NAME: Agape Productiva, Vivienda Colectiva
ARCHITECTS: Rama Estudio
PHOTOGRAPHY: Jag Estudio y Andres Villota
LOCATION: Tumbaco, Ecuador
AREA: 225 m2.
YEAR: 2022.
Ágape Collective is not just a building; it is a refuge for the body and mind, designed by Rama Estudio in Ecuador. The combination of therapies, innovative architecture and sustainability makes Ágape a unique space that invites wellness and tranquility.
Concept and Philosophy
The founder of Agape, a mental health professional with a deep connection to yoga and theater, needed a larger space for her therapeutic activities. The idea was to create a building to house therapy areas with her personal home upstairs. The integrated space helps to blend professional and personal life in a calm and tranquil environment.
First Stage: Creation of an Urban Oasis
The project is divided into two parts. In the first phase, a wall of tapial, an ecological material made of compacted earth, was built to act as a recessed enclosure. This wall helps to create a quiet and peaceful place in a green and natural environment. The material used is sourced from the site itself, reflecting a sustainable, low-environmental impact approach.
Agape's main entrance leads visitors to a natural oasis in the center of the project. Upon arrival, visitors can appreciate this landscape over time, offering a calm and harmonious welcome. On the right, a small building houses offices that combine the old with the new.
Second Stage: Construction and Expansion
In the second stage, a new building surrounded by the central courtyard is constructed with a transparent and permeable façade. This structure uses wood, plywood panels and wattle and daub walls. Each material is chosen for its function and its effect on the health and quality of the space. The architectural design creates a sense of connection with the natural environment, offering a space where light and air flow freely.
The project seeks to improve the available space and enhance the functionality of the campus. Thanks to the creation of basements and additional levels, a harmonious integration with the existing buildings is achieved and the areas for classrooms, services and meeting spaces are expanded. This integration facilitates movement and interaction within the campus.
Innovation and Vernacular Construction
Ágape Colectivo has new areas that go beyond the traditional classrooms. On the first floor, there is a room for activities such as yoga, theater and concerts. There is also an art room for therapeutic sculpture and painting, which fosters creativity and emotional well-being. These places are designed to meet different therapeutic and artistic needs, making it flexible and enriching.
Ágape Colectivo combines traditional construction techniques with modern technologies to create a sustainable and efficient building. The plywood and wattle-and-daub walls show how local materials and vernacular techniques can achieve contemporary and functional architecture. Using mortar spraying guns with compressor for the bahareque walls allows covering large areas in less time and with better compression, without leaving aside the artisan labor for the final finishes.
Agape is like a basket, with a main façade made of slender triangles and laminated wood beams. These triangles provide views of the exterior from a multipurpose room. The mezzanine is connected to the plywood beams by structural screws, creating a robust and aesthetically pleasing structure.
Lookout to the Future
The new UADE Campus building offers a panoramic view of Buenos Aires. From the building, students, professors and researchers can see a world full of possibilities. Knowledge and collaboration open new paths to progress.
The UADE Xperience promises to be an inspiring meeting point, but also a transformative space where creativity and critical thinking merge to drive professional and personal development. This stimulating environment is designed to foster innovation and the exchange of ideas, allowing members of the university community to explore new fields of study and challenge the boundaries of their knowledge.
Space was very important in the choice of building systems, materials, ventilation and lighting. Agape is a building that breathes through its walls, maintaining a comfortable temperature and conserving resources. The facade is latticed to protect from the sun, which prevents environmental damage when the building is dismantled.
Rama Estudio's Ágape Colectivo project is an example of how architecture can positively influence people's lives. This building, which promotes health, wellness and sustainability, not only meets functional needs but also serves as a symbol of renewal and progress.
