Casa Don Juan
A timber and bamboo house on the Ecuador coastal region framing the surrounding lush landscape. The house is designed by the local architect Emilio López.
Don Juan House is located near the top of a hill along the coastline. Oriented from east to west, the house opens at both sides: in the front facing the ocean and in the back to a native deciduous forest. The double opening allows cross ventilation and embeds the house and its inhabitants within the surroundings.
The concept of the double opening shaped the architecture, which is conceived as two funnels that converge at one side. A surface of 110 m2 contains a very simple plan, with two levels of open areas that connect through double-height ceilings. The living room, dining room, kitchen and a complete bathroom are distributed on the ground floor. Two bedrooms facing a double-height ceiling oriented to the ocean occupy the second floor. In the rear façade another double-height window opens up to the back with the staircase.
The entire structure is made with local wood: Amarillo and Asta. Flat-fibre cement panels cover the shell of the house, while the inner façades are plastered and covered with bamboo, permitting a feel of warm materials within the inside yet not compromising the protection of the house's exterior.
