Kengo Kuma Designs Quito Skyscraper Inspired by Ancient Ceramics

This blog post analyzes Kengo Kuma and Associates’ unveiling of Qapital, a 32-storey residential skyscraper planned for Quito, Ecuador.

Kuma’s first project in the city, Qapital blends compact micro-living with high-end amenities. The building features a carved stone façade inspired by ceramics and a Fornasetti mosaic, reflecting Quito’s evolving skyline and Uribe Schwarzkopf’s strategy to attract international architecture to Ecuador’s capital.

Project scope and urban context

Qapital will rise 420 feet (128.5 metres) across 32 storeys and house 509 micro studio apartments ranging from 226 to 389 square feet (21–36.15 m²).

The tower will also include three commercial floors and amenities like a rooftop pool, pet spa, and spa, offering design-led living for residents and visitors.

Positioned along Quito’s central business district and bordering La Carolina Park, the tower anchors a growing urban corridor.

It signals a shift toward high-design, compact living in Ecuador’s capital.

Design philosophy and facade

The façade uses striated stacks of stone with large carved openings.

Balconies are designed to allow plants to cascade down the exterior, creating a living skin that softens the tower’s appearance.

Kuma emphasizes craft and materiality as central to the building’s identity.

He draws inspiration from ceramics, connecting ancient Japanese and Ecuadorian ceramics’ sensitivities to form and natural materials.

The design responds to the Andes’ rugged beauty, with balconies echoing porous rock that can host plant life in crevices.

• Stone-stacked volumes with carved openings
• Balconies designed for cascading greenery
• Texture inspired by traditional ceramics
• Visual reference to Andean geology and climate

Interior spaces and amenity strategy

Interiors use a minimalist, light-wood palette in compact bedrooms.

Common areas are crafted to feel expansive and cavernous, creating a sense of discovery and comfort within a dense urban plan.

The amenity program includes a rooftop pool, spa facilities, and a dedicated pet spa.

These spaces are designed to elevate daily living while focusing on flexibility and social interaction.

• Light-wood finishes in micro studios
• Expansive, organically shaped amenity spaces
• Rooftop pool, spa, and pet spa as experiential anchors

Art, branding, and regional context

The project features a mosaic by Italian brand Fornasetti, marking the label’s first work in South America.

This collaboration fuses premium art and design with the practical realities of compact urban housing.

Implications for Quito’s architectural scene

With Quito experiencing rapid expansion in the short-term rental market, Qapital’s compact, well-designed living spaces address demand from both residents and visitors.

Uribe Schwarzkopf’s strategy to attract internationally renowned architects signals a shift in Quito’s urban development, using design as a catalyst for tourism and investment.

Timeline and strategic outlook

Qapital is slated for completion in 2029. This aligns with Quito’s ongoing urban expansion and its evolving hospitality economy.

As a flagship project for Uribe Schwarzkopf and Kengo Kuma, Qapital sets a precedent for integrating high design with scalable, micro-living concepts in Quito.

For designers and developers, Qapital shows how to balance texture, form, and function in a dense urban setting. The project features compact units and robust amenity spaces.

Its exterior merges traditional craft with contemporary design. Qapital exemplifies how compact, design-led living can redefine urban life while honoring local culture and geography.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Kengo Kuma bases Quito skyscraper design on “ancient ceramics”