Equating Ecologies, Quito, Equador

The scheme draws influence from the geography of Ecuador defined by two extremes of mountain (La Sierra) and coastline (La Costa). The relationship of mountains and water is highlighted in our proposal by a symbolic diagonal axis that represents the civilisation that has arisen between them.

Our proposal involves three interlocking components: Urban Blue, Urban Green and Urban Core as a responsive piece of public realm and adaptive ecology designs, working together as one park. The challenge of this project lies in the massive task of transition from a former airport to a 21st century linear park capable of delivering social, cultural, economic and ecological value to the people of Quito. In response our proposal develops a radical and yet pragmatic strategy involving onsite recycling of over half of the runway and of all hard standing areas into a new landform. The new park utilizes the resulting void as large water bodies whilst the new landform is constructed from the excavated material laid over the undisturbed section of the runway.