Built in 2019 in Calacalí, Ecuador, the Turin Horse is a 100-square-meter house designed by Jorge Ramón Giacometti Taller de Arquitectura. Situated on a slope inside the Pululahua Geobotanical Reserve, the project's main focus was to utilize natural and recycled materials to create a dwelling that would exist in harmony with its surroundings. The house's location provides expansive views of the crater, with vistas of the Chivo and Pondoña hills visible at sunset. The construction of the house started with a lightweight, braced wooden structure built on a concrete slab and a rear retaining wall. The walls were then filled using a technique of rammed and compacted earth mixed with hay bales, a system the architects referred to as "rammed earth with lost formwork". This creates sturdy, 12-centimeter-thick, earthquake-resistant walls. Recycled red pine staves were used to clad the exterior, while the roof was crafted from a lightweight layer of recycled triplex and asphalt resin. The interior of the house features a minimalist design with a focus on functionality and maximizing the connection to the outdoors. The large glass windows, a prominent feature of the design, allow for ample natural light and ventilation, while visually connecting the interior to the external landscape. The house was recognized for its use of sustainable and local materials, reflecting an eco-conscious approach to modern architecture. Credits Architect: Jorge Ramón Giacometti (Lead) Design Team: Francisco Trigueros, Santiago Vaca, Patricio Cevallos, Martin Feustel, Mathieu Lamour, Gabriel Utreras Betancourt, Las Manos Sucias Engineering: Patricio Cevallos Photography: Andrés Villota