Project
Qhawaq Cocha (The Watcher of the Lagoon)
Category
Best Project of Public Building or Facility
About the project
Located meters away from Cuicocha Lagoon, this lookout and its surrounding complex create a contemporary communal space while still respecting its cultural heritage.
The main structure is the lookout, a modular, gabion constructed box, that is connected to an outdoor platform by a set of stairs. Its walling has a double function; it respects its surrounding and also reinterprets the Inca’s traditional building system.
The lookout finds its meaning in the spiritual journey of the 3 Inca realms or “Pachas”. Each level has a unique function. The upper levels suggest temporal viewing, whereas the lower level enables permanent meditation.
Location
Cuicocha Lagoon, Ecuador
Project design year
2020
Applicants and authors of the project
Aitor Echeverría, Juan de Anchorena
Project status
Conceptual design
