nomade taller de arquitectura and ecuadorian community conceive contemporary temple

Nomade Taller de Arquitectura Crafts Sacred Space in Rumipamba

Nomade Taller de Arquitectura responds to the spiritual needs of the Rumipamba community in Quito, Ecuador, creating ‘Space to Talk with God.’ Conceived through a participatory design process, the project aims to reconnect the community with the sacred while revitalizing ancestral building techniques. This initiative honors local craftsmanship, in an act of cultural revaluation.

Located in the rural parish of Rumiñahui, the community had never had a dedicated church space, and their faith was visibly waning over time. The project’s goal was to create a space that could transform this reality through architecture, reaffirming its role as an agent of change. The design process involved a series of five collaborative meetings with the community, where local perspectives and spiritual needs were discussed and integrated into the design. The resulting architecture is a direct manifestation of the community’s worldview, emphasizing a deep connection to their social and cultural context.

all images courtesy of Nomade Taller de Arquitectura

A Community-Driven Design Reconnecting Faith and Tradition

The designers opted for earthen walls, paying homage to the region’s vernacular construction methods while also utilizing local resources to keep costs low. This choice reflects the economic realities of the community and their need for a cost-effective solution. The primary architectural premise is to create a space where individuals can connect with the divine, and speak with God. The interior of the temple is minimal, optimized for the use of the locals, and includes a dual-function altar, oriented both inward and outward, allowing the church to accommodate larger gatherings by extending into the surrounding environment.

The interior space is designed as a sensory experience, beginning with a narrow, dark entryway that opens into a main hall bathed in natural light, symbolizing divine presence. The altar is composed of three steps, representing the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, and features a wooden lattice that softens the incoming light. The exterior altar, integrated into the design, uses two intersecting wooden beams, one vertical and one horizontal, to form a cross, visible only from a specific vantage point, adding a sacred dimension to the outdoor space as well. ‘Space to Talk with God’ demonstrates how architecture can serve as a bridge between people and the sacred, utilizing local materials and techniques to create a space that resonates with the cultural and spiritual identity of the community.

Nomade Taller de Arquitectura designs a spiritual retreat for the Rumipamba community in Quito

‘Space to Talk with God’ reconnects the community with the sacred through architecture

the design honors local craftsmanship and revitalizes ancestral building techniques

natural light floods the main hall, symbolizing divine presence in the space

a participatory design process ensured that the project reflects the community’s spiritual needs

the project exemplifies how architecture can connect people with their spiritual and cultural identity

the resulting architecture reflects the community’s worldview, emphasizing social and cultural context

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site plan

plan

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axonometric drawing

axonometric diagram

project info:

name: Space to Talk with God
architect: Nomade Taller de Arquitectura | @nomade.taller.ec

collaborators: Jean Paul Sepulveda, Santiago Cueva, Aura Ospina

location: Quito, Ecuador

designboom has received this project from our DIY submissions feature, where we welcome our readers to submit their own work for publication. see more project submissions from our readers here.

edited by: christina vergopoulou | designboom