A facade of cascading balconies defines the residential Iqon skyscraper near La Carolina park in Quito, which is Danish architecture studio BIG's first completed project in South America.
The 32-storey high-rise, now the tallest in the Ecuadorian capital, comprises 220 apartments alongside a mix of commercial and office spaces designed for developer Uribe Schwarzkopf.
BIG has completed the Iqon tower in Quito
The 133-metre-high skyscraper is defined by its distinctive exterior, which towers over Quito's skyline with a facade of concrete boxes topped by balconies dotted with native plants and trees.
These are arranged by BIG to frame views over the city and the Pichincha volcano and are intended to act as a continuation of the adjacent park as the greenery flourishes over time. The high-rise is BIG's first completed project in South America
"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," said BIG's founder Bjarke Ingels.
"Iqon is an entire vertical community of individual homes; an extension of La Carolina Park that now climbs all the way up to the rooftop."
It has a pixelated facade made up of balconies
Iqon was created for Uribe Schwarzkopf as one of two landmark residential buildings for Quito. The other is the Qorner bu...