River Terrace by Mestizo Estudio Arquitectura: Sustainable Ecotourism Architecture in Puyo

Set at 1,250 meters above sea level in the montane rainforest near Llanganates National Park, River Terrace is a 95 m² mixed-use eco-structure designed as a flexible, climate-responsive space immersed in biodiversity. Located on the eastern foothills of the Andes in Ecuador’s Pastaza province, the project is surrounded by over 800 species of vascular and endemic plants, forming part of a delicate Amazonian ecosystem.

Designed in 2025 by Mestizo Estudio Arquitectura, River Terrace serves as the first architectural intervention within a 4.5-hectare sustainable tourism masterplan developed by a young family committed to environmental conservation. The structure acts as a transitional meeting point along a route leading toward Llanganates National Park: welcoming hikers, eco-tourists, researchers, and spiritual retreat groups.

Architecture Rooted in the Amazonian Landscape

The project emerges from its irregular topography, positioned beside a flowing stream and embedded within dense vegetation. Rather than altering the land, the design adapts to it. Elevated slightly above ground and oriented eastward, the building captures the first morning sunlight: an essential passive heating strategy in a region characterized by persistent mist, humidity, and rainfall.

Its volumetric form references vernacular Amazonian architecture, particularly ancestral palm-based constructions traditionally built with species such as chonta, pambil, and killi. These natural materials have historically functioned as structural pillars in Indigenous dwellings, and their reinterpretation here reinforces a cultural and environmental continuity.

A Dynamic Multi-Use Ecotourism Pavilion

Conceived as an “Espacio Dinámico” (Dynamic Space), River Terrace is designed with a free-plan layout that accommodates multiple uses:

• Community meetings
• Outdoor dining experiences
• Eco-tourism rest stops
• Camping support facilities
• Spiritual retreats and meditation sessions
• Environmental education workshops

The program is divided into two primary zones:

1. Semi-Closed Service Core – Includes storage, bathroom, shower, and changing facilities.
2. Open Multi-Use Terrace – A flexible, covered platform overlooking the stream and forest canopy.

This adaptable design ensures longevity and evolving functionality as the broader sustainable tourism project expands.

Climate-Responsive Design & Rainwater Management

Given the tropical rainforest climate, the roof plays a critical environmental role. Its sharply inclined geometry facilitates rapid rainwater evacuation, directing water toward collection systems for reuse in service areas. This integrated rainwater harvesting strategy supports low-impact operation and reduces dependency on external infrastructure.

The open-sided configuration enhances cross-ventilation, allowing humid air to circulate freely while maintaining shelter from frequent rainfall. The building envelope remains porous, reinforcing a direct sensory relationship with the surrounding forest: sounds of water, filtered light, and shifting mist become part of the architectural experience.

Local Materials & Artisan Craftsmanship

River Terrace is constructed using materials sourced directly from the site and its immediate context:

• Killi logs harvested from the property
• River stones collected from the nearby stream
• Locally fabricated steel elements

The project employs a hybrid construction system executed by artisans, carpenters, stonemasons, and welders. This collaborative, hands-on process revives traditional building knowledge while integrating contemporary techniques.

By combining natural and urban resources, the architecture seeks to restore a fading local identity: one grounded in craft, ecological awareness, and material honesty.

Sustainable Tourism & Environmental Stewardship

River Terrace reflects a broader vision of regenerative architecture in Ecuador’s Amazon region. Rather than functioning as an isolated object, it operates as infrastructure for environmental education and conservation-driven tourism.

Its small footprint (95 m²), passive environmental strategies, locally sourced materials, and multi-functional adaptability exemplify:

• Sustainable ecotourism architecture
• Vernacular-inspired contemporary design
• Rainforest climate-responsive buildings
• Low-impact construction methods
• Amazonian material innovation
• Community-based development models

A Contemporary Vernacular for the Rainforest

River Terrace does not dominate its surroundings, it listens to them. Through its open structure, rainwater-conscious roof, natural materials, and flexible programming, the project becomes an extension of the forest itself.

In a region where biodiversity and cultural heritage intertwine, Mestizo Estudio Arquitectura delivers a modest yet powerful architectural gesture, one that reimagines vernacular Amazonian principles for sustainable tourism in the 21st century.

All the photographs are works of  JAG Studio