Villanueva Housing by ERDC Arquitectos

Villanueva Housing, designed by ERDC Arquitectos, is a socially driven residential project located in Quito, Ecuador. Completed in 2021, the development is part of the Ecuadorian government’s VIP program for affordable housing, offering high-quality yet accessible living spaces for diverse residents. With a mix of apartments and houses, the project emphasizes community integration, affordability, flexibility, and long-term growth, setting a new benchmark for social housing architecture in Latin America.

Design Concept: Social and Progressive Housing

The guiding principle of Villanueva Housing is to create multifamily residences with a strong social character. The project goes beyond standard housing by introducing progressive design strategies that ensure adaptability, livability, and inclusivity.

• Diversity of Typologies: The development includes 27 apartments distributed across three corner blocks and 17 houses positioned between them. The apartments vary in typology and size, addressing the needs of students, elderly individuals, and small families. The houses, designed with patios, maintain permeability around the site and ensure a balance between density and green space.
• Central Green Space: A central communal garden forms the heart of the project. Vertical circulation is strategically placed to connect this green core with the three corners of the site, reinforcing accessibility and potential integration with the wider neighborhood.
• Community-Oriented Spaces: Shared courtyards, pedestrian bridges, commercial ground-floor units, and corner entrances are designed to encourage interaction, commerce, and urban connection.

Flexibility and Expansion

One of the most innovative aspects of Villanueva Housing is its mutability. Recognizing the economic realities of many Ecuadorian families, the houses are designed for progressive expansion.

• Initial construction starts with a 60m² two-story house, which can later expand to 120m² on three floors.
• The structural system was predesigned for future vertical growth, ensuring safety, legality, and compliance with building codes.
• This flexibility reflects a cultural reality in Ecuador where families often expand their homes over time, leaving provisions for additional floors.

Government Program and Affordability

The project was executed under Ecuador’s VIP (Vivienda de Interés Público) program, which sets affordability and quality parameters for housing.

• Units must not exceed $90,000 USD or $900 USD/m², and they must serve as the buyer’s first property.
• Despite these constraints, ERDC Arquitectos ensured high spatial and material quality, avoiding the compromises often seen in low-cost housing.
• Financing was facilitated through private banking institutions with government subsidies, making ownership accessible for a wider demographic.

Residents and Occupancy

Villanueva Housing quickly became fully occupied, serving a broad spectrum of urban residents:

• University students from nearby ESPE fill many of the smaller apartments.
• Elderly residents and small families occupy mid-sized units.
• Growing families chose the expandable houses, planning long-term use.

This heterogeneous mix of users enriches the community and reflects the project’s social inclusivity.

Architectural Highlights

• Materiality: Use of brick and concrete balances durability with aesthetic warmth.
• Vertical Circulation as Skylight: Natural lighting filters through stairwells, creating dynamic communal spaces.
• Green and Permeable Perimeter: Ensures environmental integration and natural ventilation.
• Urban Connectivity: Bridges and open circulation reinforce interaction between residents and neighbors.

Villanueva Housing by ERDC Arquitectos is more than a residential complex—it is a socially responsive, adaptable, and sustainable housing model. By combining affordability, quality design, and community-oriented planning, the project successfully addresses Ecuador’s housing challenges while setting a precedent for future progressive housing developments.