French architect Jean Nouvel has designed a sprawling, stone-clad residential development for the outskirts of Quito that echoes its mountainous surroundings.
Ateliers Jean Nouvel has created Acquarela for Cumbayá, a rural area east of the Ecuadorian capital, in collaboration with local architectural developer Uribe & Schwarzkopf.

The 136,580-square-metre project will comprise nine residential blocks wrapped by curved balconies covered in stone. Greenery will be planted in rocky gardens inside these ? and flow over the tops ? to give each resident a connection to the outdoors.

Behind the rocky exterior, the walls of the homes will comprise large expanses of glass and tall slatted wooden shutters that will fold open to reveal the mountainous backdrop. Each residential block will also have access to its own rooftop pool and a number of elevators so each resident only shares their lift access with one other tenant. Renderings of the scheme released by Uribe & Schwarzkopf show that greenery will continue inside, with plant-covered walls lining the lobby.

A typical two-bedroom apartment inside will have an open-plan living area with glazed doors that lead onto a private terrace surrounded by rockery. Each bedroom will also have an en-suite bathroom.

The first portion of Acquarela is already under construction, and slated for completion in 2020. This block will include the clubhouse with a range of amenities, such as a bowling lane, an ice rink, a yoga studio, music...