Quilotoa 火山口观景台

这个项目首先要承认一个概念性的挑战，这个挑战结构了产生这个提案的想法。当所有的自然环境都提供了有趣的（和类似的）景观时，一个俯视点必须具备哪些特征才能具有吸引力？这是因为该项目位于一座活火山的火山口顶部边缘，火山口内有一个湖泊，这就为周围的环境创造了多种观赏机会。

This Project starts with the acknowledgment of a conceptual challenge which structures the idea that generates the proposal: Which characteristics could an overlook have to be attractive even when all its natural surroundings offer interesting (and similar) views? This is due to the fact that the project is located in the top edge of the crater of an active volcano that has a lake inside of it, which creates multiple viewing opportunities along its surroundings.

由于地理环境的特殊性，基洛托亚火山口及其湖泊已经成为厄瓜多尔越来越受欢迎的旅游景点。位于安第斯山脉，海拔在基多以南170公里处。其海拔高度为3974米，火山口的直径约为3公里。由于其水中含有的矿物质，火山口的湖水呈现出独特的碧绿颜色，这也是这里的主要特征。该地区的生态系统是安第斯山脉，因此其周围的植被包括低矮的草地、特有的灌木和小树。所有这些元素都创造了一个美丽的景观。

Because of its geographical peculiarities, the Quilotoa Crater and its Lake have become a touristic site of growing popularity in Ecuador. Located in the Andes, this elevation is 170 km south of Quito. Its altitude is 3974 meters above sea level, and the diameter of the crater is approximately 3 km. Due to the minerals present in its water, the lake in the crater has a distinctive turquoise colour that is the main characteristic of this site. The ecosystem of this area is an Andean páramo, therefore its surrounding vegetation includes low grasses, endemic shrubs and small trees. All these elements add to create a landscape of restrained beauty.

该地区传统上由厄瓜多尔高原的土著居民居住，他们主要以农业为生。最近的居住地是Zumbahua；然而，一些分散的小社区居住在离湖泊较近的地方。Shalalá是与火山有着古老联系的社区之一，他们的居民已经开始了旅游事业，提供住宿、餐饮服务和导游参观该地区的景点。

The area has been traditionally inhabited by indigenous populations of the Ecuadorian highlands, who have a mainly agricultural way of subsistence. The closest settlement is Zumbahua; however, some small scattered communities live closer to the lake. Shalalá is one of the communities that have ancient ties to the Volcano, and their inhabitants have started a touristic venture to offer accommodation, restaurant service and guided visits to the attractions of the area.

厄瓜多尔旅游部对该社区的倡议作出了回应，向他们提供了旅游设施的补充基础设施：在火山口顶部边缘的一个观景台和连接该观景台与旅游综合体主要区域的人行道。该部旨在支持该社区的冒险，帮助其成员通过参与提供旅游服务增加收入。

The Ecuadorian Tourism Ministry responded to the initiative of the community by providing them with complementary infrastructure to their touristic facilities: an overlook in the top edge of the crater and the footpath to connect it with the main area of the touristic complex. The Ministry aimed to support the venture of the community helping its members to increase their income through their involvement in the provision of touristic services.

眺望台计划设在火山口的上层边缘，其主要目标是建立一个结构，使用户可以不间断地观察周围的环境，并安全地到达悬崖的边缘。然而，上面解释的概念性挑战仍然存在，俯瞰台所选择的地点与火山口边界的其他地方的景色非常相似。因此，分析的重点是展望台还能提供哪些其他体验，以成为该地区的一个兴趣点。

The overlook is planned to settle in the superior edge of the crater, its main objective is to create a structure that allows the uninterrupted observation of the surroundings where the users can safely reach border of the cliff. However, the conceptual challenge explained above remains, where the site chosen for the overlook has a very similar view to the rest of the border of the crater. Therefore, the analysis is focused on what other experiences could the overlook offer to become an interest point in the area.

这个项目所提供的对策是基于为游客创造机会，让他们以不同于火山口其他任何点的方式来观察景观。通过创造一个从火山口边缘延伸到悬崖上的平台，让游客有机会在景观上 "飞 "起来，产生一种近乎眩晕的感觉，从而丰富了用户的体验。同时，也创造了一个被动观赏的空间，在这里，使用者受到保护，不受外界环境的影响，并能有片刻的沉思和反省。

The response that this project delivers is based on creating opportunities for the visitor to see the landscape in different ways than from any other point in the crater. The experience of the user is enriched through the creation of a platform extending from the edge of the crater over the cliff looking to give the visitor the opportunity to “fly” over the landscape producing an almost vertigo like sensation. At the same time, a space for passive viewing is created, where the user is protected from the elements and is able to have a moment of contemplation and introspection.

试图为用户提供这些相反但互补的体验，结果创造了一个结构，它包括一个上层平台，进一步延伸到火山口的边界之外，直接在下面，沿着自然坡度的看台，用户有机会在这里休息和享受自然景观。这些简单而清晰的建筑姿态，让游客有机会获得不同于火山口其他地方的体验。

The attempt to provide these opposite, but complementary experiences for the user results in the creation of a structure which comprises of an upper platform that extents further beyond the border of the crater, and, directly underneath, bleachers that follow the natural slope where users have the opportunity to rest and enjoy the natural landscape. These simple, but clear, architectonic gestures give the visitor the opportunity to have a different experience than what could be found in the rest of the crater.

景观的离散而又壮丽的美，要求观景平台是朴素的，能与周围的景观融为一体。一个简单的形式和统一的材料使用，给干预的美学品质比网站相同。该元素由一个内部钢桁架系统组成，元素的表皮由木头建造，这将干预定位在景观的色调和纹理中。项目中的边框特征被设计成可以安全地看到周围的环境。因此，玻璃是俯视的开放端唯一使用的材料。连接眺望台的人行道用石块砌成，并填满了碎石，希望在不改变景观的自然品质的前提下，标记出一条明确的路线，并创造出一个可行走的表面。干预中的每一个姿态都试图不改变当前场地中的和谐，为此，整个结构的设计是为了在未来不再需要的情况下可以方便地拆卸和移除。

The discrete but magnificent beauty of the landscape, demand the architectonic response to be austere, in an attempt to merge itself with the surrounding landscape. A simple form and the uniform use of materials give the intervention the same aesthetic qualities than of the site. The element is composed of an internal steel truss system and the skin of the element is built with wood, which locates the intervention within the chromatic palette and texture of the landscape. The border features in the project are designed to safely allow a clear view of the surroundings. Therefore, glass is the only material used in the open ends of the overlook. The footpath that connects to the overlook is built with stone edges and filled with gravel, looking to mark a defined route and to create a walkable surface without altering the natural qualities of the landscape. Every gesture in the intervention attempts not to modify the current harmony present in the site, for this reason, the entire structure is designed to be easily dismantled and removed if in the future is no longer needed.

自从这个眺望台建立以来，社区的旅游活动明显增加。此外，其成员也参与了对该干预措施的维护，并致力于保持其良好的状态。这可以说是一个成功的案例，国家、社区和设计者的干预达到了预期的结果。

Since the creation of this overlook, there has been a noticeable increase in the touristic activity in the community. Additionally, its members have engaged in the upkeep of the intervention and are committed to keep it in good conditions. This could be qualified as a successful case where the interventions of the State, the community and the designers have reached the expected outcome.  

▽场地平面图 Site plan

▽平面图 Plan

▽轴侧图 Axonometric drawing

▽剖面图 Section

Full Project Name: Footpaths and Overlook in the Quilotoa Lake – Shalalá.  

Location of the Project: Ecuador, Cotopaxi, Zumbahua, Quilotoa, Shalalá

Design and construction dates: Design: 2012, Construction 2012-2013

Architects: Jorge Andrade Benítez / Javier Mera Luna / Daniel Moreno Flores.

Collaborators: Manuel Galárraga, María Paz Villagomez, Diana Callejas, Christian Rea, Natalia Dueñas, Juan Carlos Cisneros

Sponsor: Ministry of Tourism of Ecuador  

Ministry of Tourism Coordinators: Javier Imaicela / Fernando Nieto

Owners of the Project: Shalalá Comunity

Construction Contractor: Gabriela Cevallos

Total construction Area: 616,16

Total Budget: 158.531,06 USD  

Sqm construction cost: 257,28 USD

Structural Engineer: Guillermo Gómez

Signaling design: Francisco Suárez

Topography: Guatama Martínez

Soil bearing capacity study: Zitroci - Carlos Ortiz

Budget study: Andrés Llanos

Photo Credits: Lorena Darquea (LINK:  http://lorenads.com/) – Pablo Puente – Javier Mera – Daniel Moreno Flores – Cynthia Macias Leiva – Santiago del Hierro