River Terrace by Mestizo Estudio Arquitectura

Set at 1,250 meters above sea level on the eastern foothills of Llanganates National Park, River Terrace by Mestizo Estudio Arquitectura emerges within a montane forest ecosystem of extraordinary biodiversity. Located at the northern edge of Ecuador’s Pastaza province, the site hosts nearly 800 species of vascular and endemic plants, forming a dense natural matrix where water, vegetation, and topography shape both daily life and architectural possibility.

This territory—defined by mist, constant rainfall, and the presence of streams and rivers—has long attracted communities committed to conservation, ecological tourism, and environmental protection. Within this context, a young family has begun developing a long-term sustainable tourism initiative on a 4.5-hectare plot. River Terrace represents the project’s first architectural gesture: a modest yet meaningful intervention that establishes identity, occupation, and future potential.

A Dynamic Space Along a Natural Route

Positioned along one of the access routes to Llanganates National Park, River Terrace is conceived as a transitional and dynamic meeting point rather than a fixed-use building. Its role is intentionally open-ended—welcoming transient tourists, local visitors, and future activities as the broader project evolves.

The structure is capable of accommodating multiple uses: communal gatherings, dining, camping support, meetings, or even spiritual retreats. Rather than prescribing function, the architecture creates a flexible spatial framework that invites occupation, pause, and interaction with the surrounding landscape.

Architecture Shaped by Topography and Water

Inserted into irregular terrain overlooking a stream, the project adopts an open free-plan configuration that carefully negotiates the site’s slope and vegetation. The building is organized into two complementary zones:

• A semi-enclosed service volume housing storage, bathroom, shower, and changing facilities

• An open, covered terrace that defines the main multi-use space

This spatial clarity allows the architecture to remain legible and adaptable, while ensuring essential services are discreetly integrated without interrupting the continuity of the open platform.

Vernacular Orientation and Climatic Response

The structure is oriented toward the east, drawing from Amazonian vernacular construction logic. This orientation captures the first rays of morning sunlight—an essential strategy in a climate characterized by persistent humidity, fog, and rainfall. Early solar exposure helps retain warmth and improve comfort without mechanical intervention.

The roof form, another key vernacular reference, is designed with generous slopes to enable rapid rainwater runoff. Collected rainwater is then stored and reused within the service areas, reinforcing the project’s low-impact, resource-conscious approach.

Materiality and Ancestral Knowledge

River Terrace is constructed using materials sourced directly from the site and its immediate surroundings, reinforcing both environmental responsibility and cultural continuity. Killi palm logs—harvested from the same plot—form primary structural elements, recalling their ancestral use as pillars in Amazonian architecture. Stones collected from the nearby stream are integrated into the base and retaining elements.

The construction system is deliberately hybrid, combining traditional craftsmanship with contemporary techniques. Artisans, carpenters, stone masons, and welders collaborated in a process that brings together natural and urban knowledge systems. This collective effort not only reduces environmental impact but also seeks to recover and reaffirm a local identity that is increasingly at risk of being lost.

A First Step Toward a Living Landscape

Rather than presenting itself as a finished object, River Terrace functions as an architectural threshold—a place between forest and route, between permanence and transition, between present use and future development. Its light footprint, open structure, and adaptable program allow it to coexist quietly with the forest while establishing a point of orientation and gathering.

In this way, the project demonstrates how small-scale architecture can carry significant cultural, environmental, and spatial meaning. River Terrace is not an isolated shelter, but the beginning of a larger narrative—one in which architecture grows slowly, responsibly, and in dialogue with the living landscape that surrounds it.

Photography: JAG Studio