felipe escudero paints quito's historic center with 1.6 kilometer-long orange ribbon

croma revitalizes quito’s historic public spaces

Felipe Escudero’s CROMA is a monumental land art installation in the historic center of Quito, Ecuador. Spanning 10,000 square meters, the work features a striking 1.6 kilometer-long orange path that connects two of the city’s most iconic landmarks: the Basílica del Voto Nacional and the Palacio de Cristal Itchimbia. Revitalizing Quito’s once-forgotten UNESCO World Heritage site, the installation is a bold intervention that merges art, architecture, and urban renewal with vibrancy.

The color orange is chosen for its associations with joy, creativity, and vitality, cutting through the urban landscape to foster a sense of belonging and community pride. Made with over 5,000 liters of paint, the monochromatic stripe encourages public interaction and enhances the perception of safety in the area.

all images by Luis Fernando Guerra

Felipe Escudero paints the town with 5,000 liters of paint

CROMA connects different neighborhoods within the city, reactivating the historic center by encouraging movement and exploration. The path ties together Quito’s diverse districts and iconic buildings, creating a sensory experience that allows visitors to engage with the city’s cultural heritage with new perspectives. This connection between art and architecture strengthens the social fabric of the area, transforming the public realm into a space for reflection and collective enjoyment.

Organized in collaboration with the Municipality of Quito, Obbbio, and paint brand Pintulac, CROMA is an example of how art can catalyze urban transformation. Felipe Escudero seeks to reinvigorate previously neglected spaces and demonstrate the potential of creative interventions to influence urban dynamics. By reconnecting the community and illuminating the cityscape with vibrant orange tones, CROMA creates an atmosphere of warmth and inclusivity, reinvigorating a sense of pride and belonging in Quito’s public spaces.

CROMA connects two historic icons of the city: the Basílica del Voto Nacional and the Palacio de Cristal Itchimbia

the monochromatic intervention generates a public space that invites reflection and collective enjoyment

organized with the Municipality of Quito, Obbbio, and Pintulac

different types of neighborhoods are connected

the work unfolds as a luminous ribbon that envelops and connects historic spaces

made with over 5,000 liters of paint

the project fosters community interaction, enhancing the perception of safety

the color orange is chosen for its associations with joy, creativity, and vitality

project info:

name: CROMA
designer: Estudio Felipe Escudero | @efe.estudiofelipeescudero

location: Quito, Ecuador

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edited by: ravail khan | designboom