Unasur Institutional Headquarters

contemporary architecture, institutional headquarters, cantilevered structure, blue hour photography, cerulean sky, cobalt atmosphere, obsidian black glass, reflective curtain wall, titanium white cladding, amber interior illumination, volcanic mountain backdrop, reflective pool, mirror surface, horizontal emphasis, dramatic cantilever, Deconstructivist architecture, Late Modern design, aluminum composite panels, ribbon windows, atmospheric perspective, twilight conditions, engineered monumentality, sculptural building, landscape integration, geometric contrast, orthogonal base, diagonal thrust, professional architectural photography, high-key sky, low-key structure, warm-cool temperature contrast, industrial precision, curtain wall system, water feature, doubled reflection, panoramic format, mountainous terrain, contemporary institutional, bold engineering, gravity-defying design, sophisticated materiality, site-responsive architecture, ceremonial presence

Unasur is an institutional headquarters building located next to the Mitad del Mundo monument, north of Quito, Ecuador. About 75 percent of the program is placed underground, so the volume stays lower than the nearby monument. A solid reinforced concrete core supports two large metal trusses that form a habitable beam with a cantilever of 56 meters without support. Materials include concrete, steel, rock from an on-site quarry and double glazed dark glass. Water collection, cross ventilation and natural light reduce energy use. Open areas around the building are public.