arrachay workspace cabin employs rice-based insulation in ecuador andes

ecuador-based studio kozy cabins unveils its ‘arrachay,’ a workspace and cabin designed during the pandemic to challenge the way we work. photographed by JAG studio and sited the andes mountains, the remote project celebrates the new opportunity to work within the region’s beautiful natural landscape. the mountainous site is so isolated, the timber structure sits over 13,100 feet (4000 meters) above sea level. such an extreme context sees cold weather, and an atmosphere cloaked by clouds and trees. the architects — javier mera luna, lesly villagrán, maría beatríz moncayo — title their office dwelling ‘arrachay’ as a playful combination of the quichua terms for the cold climate (achachay) and the nearby thermal pools (arrarray).

images by JAG studio | @jag_studio

seeking the most efficient build process, the ecuador-based architects kozy cabins and their team pre-fabricated the ‘arrachay’ workspace cabin in two modules. these two pieces were built in the city nearby and transported over 60 miles (100 kilometers) to the mountainous and forested site. keeping in mind the feasibility of transportation, this method informed the overall dimensions of the structure during the design process — the compact dwelling measures only 10 feet by 16 feet. the compact plan hosts a small kitchen, condensed within a single built-in strip of cabinetry. the rest of the program is free, defined only by the other built-ins. a window seat and a wall of shelving is integrated into the wall thickness. meanwhile, a narrow desk spans nearly the entire width of the room to define a workspace that looks out to the mountains and a mezzanine above hosts a double bed with a view through the roof to the stars.

the team at kozy cabins ensures that its ‘arrachay’ in ecuador performs with a small carbon footprint. to accomplish this, a new, efficient, and non petroleum-based insulation is created. the designers explain: ‘the experimentation starts with biom, a new type of insulation from a biosource that uses the thermal characteristics of rice fibers. the idea is to create a triple impact in its production (social, environmental and economic) in the communities in daule in the ecuadorian coast where these fibers used to be burnt and now they are used in a circular economy.‘

the design team continues: ‘in arrachay every part of the perimeter was considered (foor, walls and roof) to establish the correct density of biom — 50kg/m3 — to fill the wooden structure. the insulation was covered with a natural fire retardant and was hand packed in the structure. the bulk use of the insulation allows to optimize installation on site and avoids thermic bridges. the density and thermal characteristics of the insulation on the perimeter helps to keep in heat giving it high thermic performance despite the temperature variations of the outside environment. an on-site analysis made by infrared thermography confirmed equal distribution of the insulation on the perimeter.‘