dark timber planks enfold retreat by baquio arquitectura within ecuador's chocó forest

Baquio Arquitectura Transforms warehouse into forest Retreat

Baquio Arquitectura’s Irori Project revives a plot within Ecuador‘s Chocó forest, originally functioning as a warehouse and site for clandestine cockfights. The space has been reimagined as a retreat for connecting with the environment, raising awareness, and rehabilitating the endemic forest. The design draws from the concept of Irori, a traditional element in Japanese architecture, characterized by a square hollow recessed in the ground where a fire is maintained for warmth and gathering. This guiding principle shapes the creation of spaces that encourage actions and sensitivities rooted in collective memory.

The design employs Irori as the central concept, creating a journey of sensations that lead to a central fire element. The project features three areas designed to engage the senses of smell, hearing, and sight, each demarcated by shoji panels that play with translucent and transparent surfaces.

all images by Punto Dos Studio

Irori Project’s Design aims to Enhance Sensory Experiences

The first area, focused on smell, includes furniture that invites visitors to remove their shoes and interact with a wooden piece infused with local aromatic elements. The second area emphasizes hearing, offering a rest space with two folding beds, allowing individuals to perceive the natural environment through sound alone. The third area highlights sight, framing natural surroundings through two circular windows and opening panels that reveal views of the Chocó Valley.

The shelter encircles a reflecting water pool, creating a close connection with rain and the surrounding environment. Additionally, an outdoor bath features a sunken tub within a bamboo enclosure, offering an immersive experience in nature. The project by Baquio Arquitectura underscores the importance of inhabiting spaces with a more sensitive approach to the environment.

the Irori Project transforms a former warehouse in Ecuador’s Chocó forest into a nature-centric retreat

the design journey begins with three areas engaging the senses of smell, hearing, and sight

Shoji panels open to reveal panoramic vistas, enhancing the sensory experience

the shelter surrounds a reflective water pool, connecting intimately with the natural surroundings

a sunken tub in a bamboo enclosure provides a unique outdoor bathing experience

Shoji panels define the areas, blending translucent and transparent materials for a calming aesthetic

the sight area showcases circular windows framing views

the hearing area offers a tranquil resting space with folding beds, focusing on the sounds of nature

the Irori concept guides the design, blending tradition with modern functionality

the project combines natural materials and traditional aesthetics for a harmonious retreat

project info:

name: Irori Project
architect: Baquio Arquitectura | @baquioarquitectura

collaborators: María Fernanda Quinga, Alejandro Andrade, Emilio Castellanos, Luis Rosales, Ariel Sánchez, María Emilia Hinojosa, Julián Reyes

location: Nanegalito, Ecuador

photography: Punto Dos Studio

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