translucent polycarbonate skin envelopes triangular shelter elevated on stilts in ecuador
Baquio Arquitectura Elevates a Polycarbonate-Clad Retreat
Casa 6-3 by Baquio Arquitectura is located on the mountain slopes of the Mindo ecosystem in Ecuador, where it operates as a lightweight shelter integrated with the surrounding Chocó cloud forest. Conceived initially as a temporary hospitality structure, the project explores the relationship between architecture, landscape, and atmospheric conditions through a compact elevated form and a translucent material envelope.
The house is organized around a triangular geometry that extends outward toward the surrounding mountains, framing panoramic views while establishing a direct visual connection with the forest. Elevated on triangular stilts, the structure minimizes contact with the terrain and introduces a sense of lightness that responds to the site’s steep topography. The mirrored relationship between the roof profile and the supporting structure reinforces the project’s geometric clarity.
A timber structural system forms the primary framework of the house, enclosed by a translucent polycarbonate skin. The material selection responds both to budget considerations and to environmental performance, allowing natural light, changing weather conditions, and filtered views of the forest to shape the interior atmosphere. Rain, shadows, and shifting colors from the surrounding vegetation become part of the spatial experience through the semi-transparent enclosure.
Casa 6-3 sits within the slopes of Ecuador’s Mindo ecosystem | all images courtesy of Baquio Arquitectura
Triangular Geometry and Polycarbonate Skin define Casa 6-3
Rather than functioning as a sealed domestic object, the project by Baquio Arquitectura Studio operates as a permeable threshold between interior occupation and the surrounding ecosystem. The polycarbonate envelope diffuses daylight while maintaining a visual and acoustic connection to the landscape, reinforcing the sensory qualities of the site.
Casa 6-3 was also designed with long-term adaptability in mind. While currently configured as a temporary retreat, the timber structure is intended to support future transformation into a permanent residence. The polycarbonate cladding can be replaced over time, allowing the structural framework to remain as the enduring architectural element throughout the building’s evolution.
the elevated structure minimizes contact with the steep terrain
a triangular volume frames panoramic mountain views
polycarbonate surfaces filter light into the compact interior
timber framing remains visible throughout the structure
the translucent envelope softens the boundary between inside and outside
the timber framework establishes the project’s structural rhythm
polycarbonate cladding creates a diffused interior environment
elevated construction reinforces the sense of lightness
Casa 6-3 integrates architecture with the atmosphere of the forest
the lightweight form responds to the surrounding topography
project info:
name: Casa 6-3
architect: Baquio Arquitectura | @baquioarquitectura
location: Mindo, Ecuador
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edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom
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