A
Architizer Editors
Guest
- Thread Author
- #1
These annual rankings were last updated on September 25th, 2026. Want to see your firm on next year’s list? Continue reading for more on how you can improve your studio’s ranking.
Ecuador’s architecture is a melting pot of cultures, traditions and rhythms. Home to incredible diversity — ethnic, ecological and cultural — its architecture reflects this hybridity. Traversing the nation, the most commonly encountered architectural style is Spanish colonial. And the capital city, Quito, is a prime example. As a former administrative center for the Spanish Empire, Quito is flooded with Baroque churches and neoclassical buildings. Conversely, in Guayaquil, a massive fire left very few traces of the Spanish, and today it has given way to a modern architectural expression.
And the spirit of today’s Ecuadorian architects can be characterized by their welcoming of international trends and deep respect for the land, producing a sensitive yet exploratory architectural language.
With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Ecuador based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.
The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority:
Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Ecuador architecture firms throughout the year.
Without further ado, here are the 30 best architecture firms in Ecuador:
© Daniel Moreno Flores, Sebastian Calero
Sebastian Calero Larrea is an architect based in Quito, Ecuador. The designer’s portfolio showcases several residential projects.
Some of Sebastian Calero’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Sebastian Calero achieve 30th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Siente Espacios
Siente Espacios is an architecture studio based in Guayaquil that seeks to generate experiences beyond traditional spaces, always offering practicality and connections with nature.
Some of Siente Espacios’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Siente Espacios achieve 29th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© ADAPTA
ADAPTA is an office/workshop dedicated to non-conventional methods of construction and design.
Some of ADAPTA’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped ADAPTA achieve 28th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© SEBASTIAN CRESPO
The Jannina Cabal & Arquitectos studio was founded in 2003, after 4 years of work and various experiences as an architect in construction companies and architectural consulting studios. The members of our office are young architects with a lot of creativity and energy. Currently, the studio has a team of 10 architects, specialized in different areas, as well as a group of consultants in support engineering. Today, a large number of very varied residential projects, urban and commercial projects are developed throughout the country.
Some of Jannina Cabal Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Jannina Cabal Arquitectos achieve 27th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Metriq Estudio
METRIQ is an architecture and design studio, based in Quito, Ecuador, focused on commercial, institutional and large-scale projects, delivering integrated solutions that combine design, engineering and construction with technical precision and strategic vision.
Some of Metriq Estudio’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Metriq Estudio achieve 26th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Roberto Burneo - arquitectos
Roberto Burneo is the principal at Roberto Burneo – arquitectos, an Ecuador-based design firm. Roberto Burneo specializes in residential architecture.
Some of Roberto Burneo – arquitectos’ most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Roberto Burneo - arquitectos achieve 25th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Pedro Moncayo Torres arquitectura
Located in Cuenca, Ecuador, this architectural office specializes in the pursuit of a unique identity. It focuses its projects on a thorough study of the surrounding environment and, through a design process based on experimentation, combines current trends with a specific focus on the use of materials as the project’s main component.
Some of Pedro Moncayo Torres arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Pedro Moncayo Torres arquitectura achieve 24th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Al Borde arquitectos
Al Borde (2007) is an architecture firm based in Quito, Ecuador. Formed by David Barragán, Pascual Gangotena, Maríaluisa Borja and Esteban Benavides. It inhabits the territory of questioning, where certainties about what architecture should or should not be are under constant construction. Its ideas are developed in the making, and with greater precision and detail on site.
It pursues an architecture whose aesthetics is conscious of the energy expended in construction, seemingly effortless, where the way materials are joined together is clear and logical. An architecture opens to the active participation of users in the design and construction process, where everyone can see the problem solved, with no more pretensions to address the project demands.
Some of Al Borde arquitectos’ most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Al Borde arquitectos achieve 23rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© MATELIER I Michelle Herrera Architecture Atelier
MATELIER is an architecture workshop, established in the city of Quito in 2012 by Michelle Herrera. Each intervention is a reflection on the conditions, resources, and relationship of the project with the city and the context.
The commitment lies in resolving the relationships within their context correctly, seriously, and with dedication, by providing the user with an experience that includes: immediate and everyday life, the local landscape and the wider territory, and the particular and universal principles of architecture. MATELIER seeks scale, rhythm, and proportion. In the street, in its courtyards, its terraces, its corners, and balconies.
MATELIER ultimately seeks to create architecture.
Some of MATELIER I Michelle Herrera Architecture Atelier’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped MATELIER I Michelle Herrera Architecture Atelier achieve 22nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© JAG Studio
‘I live in Ecuador, a territory with one of the greatest biodiversities in the world, so its geography, plants, climates and cultures are great stimuli for me, and with architecture this possibility of immersion and mixture with the environment appears: letting oneself be transformed by the other, from that envelope where the limit is suspended. Therein lies the strength of architecture, the product of the immersive affectation that comes with rethinking our relationship with resources and with the world in which we live.
I think of architecture as an open process, and always changing based on new demands, which are updated by experience like that of the Cocoon: a transitory envelope, in which the transition of the worm is expressed, its state between, of suspended existence or even shared.
Some of Emilio López Arquitecto’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Emilio López Arquitecto achieve 21st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Bicubik
ARCHITEKTEN, Felipe Palacios + Johann Moeller is an architecture firm based in Ecuador, whose work is mostly centered around residential projects.
Some of ARCHITEKTEN, Felipe Palacios + Johann Moeller’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped ARCHITEKTEN, Felipe Palacios + Johann Moeller achieve 20th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Bicubik
MCM+A is an Ecuadorian architecture studio led by Pablo Moreira, Yadhira Álvarez, Natalia Corral and Milton Chávez. Their practice is grounded in critical reflection, social commitment, and a sensitive attention to context, exploring architecture as a medium that weaves together memory, place, and the present time.
Their work spans projects of various scales and typologies, including housing, public and private facilities, as well as public space interventions across different regions of Ecuador. In Quito’s Historic Center, they have developed landmark projects such as the La Tola Complex (2019), Casa Santa Clara (2024), the restoration of the Hotel Colonial (2015), and the expansion of the City Museum (2013), among others.
Some of MCM+A taller de arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped MCM+A taller de arquitectura achieve 19th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Estudio Felipe Escudero
EFE is a multi-scale design studio where the boundaries between architecture, industrial design and art blur into a seamless expression of creativity.
The studio has been recognized worldwide for its pioneering work on a variety of projects, from private homes to urban plans. Architectural Digest mentioned EFE’s Magnolia House as a breakthrough performance for this rising international star. Wallpaper Magazine selected EFE for the annual directory’s exciting architecture studios, and Forbes described the studio as the new generation of cutting-edge businesses. Collaborations with recognized brands and artists include exhibitions in the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Architectural Association in London, Arte Ba in Buenos Aires and recent work with Mercedes-Benz, Adidas, On-shoes, Philippe Chatelain and Rodrigo Pacheco.
Some of Estudio Felipe Escudero’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Estudio Felipe Escudero achieve 18th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Arquitectura ID-ART
We are an architecture and real estate company with more than 10 years actively contributing to positive change in the city of Quito.
Some of Arquitectura ID-ART’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Arquitectura ID-ART achieve 17th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Studio Alfa
At Studio Alfa we believe that architecture is a tool to transform the physical environment into livable, sensitive and lasting experiences. Since our foundation in 2008 by architect Patricio Caamaño, we have cultivated a practice that combines critical thinking, technical precision and a deep connection with the context.
We understand architecture as an act of deep connection: between the human being and his environment, between the technical and the poetic, between the memory of the place and the projection of a contemporary and sustainable living. Our approach is based on designing from the analysis of the architectural context, understanding the climate, natural light, topography, local materials and the social dynamics of each site. We believe in a contextual architecture that responds to the environment and generates livable, sensitive and efficient solutions.
Some of Studio Alfa’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Studio Alfa achieve 16th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Leppanen + Anker Arquitectura
Founded by Aaron Leppanen and Gabriela Anker, Leppanen +Anker Arquitectura is an architecture office in Quito, Ecuador. Leppanen+Anker Arquitectura has worked across multiple scales, programs and cultures. Leppanen+Anker Arquitectura has a strong interest in developing spatial experiences through a merger of contextual, cultural, sustainable and formal influences. Leppanen+Anker Arquitectura has a diverse background with experience in residential, commercial, cultural, educational and health care projects in both the public and private sectors.
Some of Leppanen + Anker Arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Leppanen + Anker Arquitectura achieve 15th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
photo: Sebastian Crespo - © Daniel Moreno Flores, José María Sáez
Artist, innovator, designer and craftsman, Daniel Moreno Flores has been working in architecture for over a decade. Practicing the profession independently, the architect has formed a network in both Ecuador and Argentina. Daniel Moreno Flores is interested in the processes of experimental design, inquiry into structural forms, collective work for social cohesion through the appropriation of public space and the construction of infrastructure after the 2016 Ecuador earthquake.
Some of Daniel Moreno Flores’ most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Daniel Moreno Flores achieve 14th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© SEBASTIAN CRESPO
arquitectura x is a Quito-based design firm run by award-winning architects Adrian Moreno and María Samaniego. The firm designs for the private, public and civic sectors.
Some of arquitectura x’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped arquitectura x achieve 13th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© A1 Arquitectura Avanzada
We are a multidisciplinary team of professionals, led by Marq. José Daniel Terán. We work with excellence to materialize the dreams of our clients. We are a research laboratory in which paradigms are broken; our main characteristic is that we parameterize the client’s requirements.
Some of A1 Arquitectura Avanzada’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped A1 Arquitectura Avanzada achieve 12th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Edwin Alvaro Hurtado Pereira + Holger Cuadrado Arquitectura
Holger Cuadrado Arquitectura is an architecture and landscape studio-workshop that focuses its activities on the practice of the project and on the academy, understood as two necessary dimensions for the construction of knowledge.
Some of Edwin Alvaro Hurtado Pereira + Holger Cuadrado Arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Edwin Alvaro Hurtado Pereira + Holger Cuadrado Arquitectura achieve 11th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© JGStudio
Architecture, design & urban planning office — creating spaces that connect with people and places. Based in Ecuador, we develop projects of all scales — from private residences to urban proposals. Our multidisciplinary approach allows us to deliver solutions that are both innovative and deeply rooted in context. We believe architecture should go beyond functionality, fostering meaningful connections between people and their surroundings. Each project is an opportunity to create unique, personalized spaces that embody the identity, needs, and aspirations of our clients. With a strong focus on creativity, sustainability, and attention to detail, we design projects that not only endure over time but also enrich the communities they are part of.
Some of JGStudio’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped JGStudio achieve 10th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Side FX Arquitectura
At Side FX Arquitectura, we create spaces that generate positive emotions and ignite the senses, achieving an effect of happiness and well-being.
Some of Side FX Arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Side FX Arquitectura achieve 9th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Gabriel Rivera Arquitectos
Each place, each context, each need allows us to create a unique project. A project that, through a great previous effort of research and reflection, takes architecture to the highest levels of design and exceeds the client’s expectations.
We are a group of young professionals committed to our work. Our three fundamental values are: enthusiasm, loyalty, and service. We are dedicated to the design and construction of all types of projects regardless of their scale: interior spaces, single-family homes, and real estate projects. We seek contemporary, functional architecture that is above all respectful of the context and the place. Each of our clients is the inspiration, so we are responsible for transforming feelings, ideas, and dreams into architecture.
Some of Gabriel Rivera Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Gabriel Rivera Arquitectos achieve 8th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Diego Guayasamin
Diego Guayasamin Arquitectos is an Ecuador-based architecture firm led by Diego Guayasamin. The firm specializes in commercial and residential architecture.
Some of Diego Guayasamin’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Diego Guayasamin achieve 7th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© IWI Studio
Juan Ruiz and Amelia Tapia are a couple of architects, based in Quito, Ecuador. Together they have developed and collaborated on projects in Spain, the Netherlands and Ecuador. Their architecture seeks to provide efficient solutions through knowledge of traditional construction techniques and new technologies.
Some of IWI Studio’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped IWI Studio achieve 6th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© URLO Studio
URLO Studio is a family of nonconformist, pragmatic, visionary, and innovative professionals who seek to set a turning point in the development of the city, always through coherent and rigorous ideas and designs that range from the architectural detail to the broader urban scale.
Some of URLO Studio’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped URLO Studio achieve 5th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© JAG Studio
NAJAS ARQUITECTOS has been designing purposeful spaces for over 20 years. We are a leading firm in consultancy, design, engineering, and construction, recognized for our people-centered and context-aware approach. Since 2006, we have built an international portfolio of small- and large-scale projects, known for architecture that balances functionality, aesthetics, and adaptability.
Our “inside-out” methodology is based on three core pillars:
People: We understand our clients’ needs, habits, and emotional connections, translating personal stories into spaces that are both functional and poetic.
Place: We integrate topographic, climatic, and cultural variables, respecting both local and global contexts to create harmonious and sustainable designs.
Time: We design with a future-oriented mindset, ensuring that each work evolves with material, social, and environmental changes without losing its essence.
With a presence in countries such as Ecuador, Argentina, and Zambia, our work has been featured in national and international media.
Some of NAJAS ARQUITECTOS’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped NAJAS ARQUITECTOS achieve 4th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Diez+Muller
Diez + Muller Arquitectos is led by Gonzalo Diez and Felipe Muller. They understand architecture as an intellectual response to a requirement that can vary in scale and function. Any architectural intervention is the answer to a problem, regardless of whether it is a house in the country or a building in the city. This intellectual response is given depending on the environment, the peculiarity of the place where it is implanted, the use, the economy, etc. Therefore, his attitude is based on giving a balanced response between these factors, it being essential that in each project there is a sensitive component, generator of emotions, since this is what will give a further meaning to architecture.
Some of Diez+Muller’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Diez+Muller achieve 3rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© CORREA + FATEHI / ODD
We are CORREA+FATEHI / ODD
A group of highly skilled architects, planners, and creatives. We are innate problem solvers, dedicated to making the physical world a more habitable place. We work at every scale, from design to execution. We are inspired by nature, incorporating its systems and processes into our work, aiming for a healthier coexistence. We learn through history, science, and precedents – developing new design techniques for the improvement of humankind. We confront and question the norm by creating state-of-the-art design solutions. Together we help our clients solve their most complex challenges; together we harness our diverse ingenuity to make projects that are fantastical, affordable, buildable, and beautiful.
Some of CORREA + FATEHI / ODD’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped CORREA + FATEHI / ODD achieve 2nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
© Oscar Hernández
Based in Babahoyo, Ecuador, Natura Futura Arquitectura explores issues and themes in architecture within a Latin American context. The firm’s portfolio consists of various community-based and public projects.
Some of Natura Futura’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Natura Futura achieve 1st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.
Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.
An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted
The blue “+” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.
The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:
There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.
We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].
The post 30 Best Architecture and Design Firms in Ecuador appeared first on Journal.
Ecuador’s architecture is a melting pot of cultures, traditions and rhythms. Home to incredible diversity — ethnic, ecological and cultural — its architecture reflects this hybridity. Traversing the nation, the most commonly encountered architectural style is Spanish colonial. And the capital city, Quito, is a prime example. As a former administrative center for the Spanish Empire, Quito is flooded with Baroque churches and neoclassical buildings. Conversely, in Guayaquil, a massive fire left very few traces of the Spanish, and today it has given way to a modern architectural expression.
And the spirit of today’s Ecuadorian architects can be characterized by their welcoming of international trends and deep respect for the land, producing a sensitive yet exploratory architectural language.
With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in Ecuador based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.
How are these architecture firms ranked?
The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority:
- The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2026)
- The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2026)
- The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2026)
- The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2026)
- The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2026)
Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of Ecuador architecture firms throughout the year.
Without further ado, here are the 30 best architecture firms in Ecuador:
30. Sebastian Calero
© Daniel Moreno Flores, Sebastian Calero
Sebastian Calero Larrea is an architect based in Quito, Ecuador. The designer’s portfolio showcases several residential projects.
Some of Sebastian Calero’s most prominent projects include:
- Mike’s Study, Quito, Ecuador
- El Carrizal House, Quito, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Sebastian Calero achieve 30th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 2 |
29. Siente Espacios
© Siente Espacios
Siente Espacios is an architecture studio based in Guayaquil that seeks to generate experiences beyond traditional spaces, always offering practicality and connections with nature.
Some of Siente Espacios’s most prominent projects include:
- NB2, Samborondón, Ecuador
- Odisea Brewing Company, Guayaquil, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Siente Espacios achieve 29th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 2 |
28. ADAPTA
© ADAPTA
ADAPTA is an office/workshop dedicated to non-conventional methods of construction and design.
Some of ADAPTA’s most prominent projects include:
- ADAPTA HQ, Duran, Ecuador
- Pista de Automodelismo Alfonso Quirola Lojas, Guayaquil, Ecuador
- Bending Kiosk
The following statistics helped ADAPTA achieve 28th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 3 |
27. Jannina Cabal Arquitectos
© SEBASTIAN CRESPO
The Jannina Cabal & Arquitectos studio was founded in 2003, after 4 years of work and various experiences as an architect in construction companies and architectural consulting studios. The members of our office are young architects with a lot of creativity and energy. Currently, the studio has a team of 10 architects, specialized in different areas, as well as a group of consultants in support engineering. Today, a large number of very varied residential projects, urban and commercial projects are developed throughout the country.
Some of Jannina Cabal Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:
- Integral Iluminacion Commercial Building, Samborondon, Ecuador
- The “M” House, Samborondón, Ecuador
- Ronald McDonald House, Guayaquil, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Jannina Cabal Arquitectos achieve 27th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 3 |
26. Metriq Estudio
© Metriq Estudio
METRIQ is an architecture and design studio, based in Quito, Ecuador, focused on commercial, institutional and large-scale projects, delivering integrated solutions that combine design, engineering and construction with technical precision and strategic vision.
Some of Metriq Estudio’s most prominent projects include:
- Refugio del Rio, Pichincha, Ecuador
- Casa para Maria, Quito, Ecuador
- Edificio Matriz Cooperativa de Ahorro y Credito “16 de Julio”, Ascazubi, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Metriq Estudio achieve 26th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 3 |
25. Roberto Burneo – arquitectos
© Roberto Burneo - arquitectos
Roberto Burneo is the principal at Roberto Burneo – arquitectos, an Ecuador-based design firm. Roberto Burneo specializes in residential architecture.
Some of Roberto Burneo – arquitectos’ most prominent projects include:
- SPA @ Mashpi Lodge, Mashpi, Ecuador
- Casa NR2, Quito, Ecuador
- CABANAS @ MASHPI, Quito, Ecuador
- Casa BB1, Quito, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Roberto Burneo - arquitectos achieve 25th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 4 |
24. Pedro Moncayo Torres arquitectura
© Pedro Moncayo Torres arquitectura
Located in Cuenca, Ecuador, this architectural office specializes in the pursuit of a unique identity. It focuses its projects on a thorough study of the surrounding environment and, through a design process based on experimentation, combines current trends with a specific focus on the use of materials as the project’s main component.
Some of Pedro Moncayo Torres arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
- El Refugio, Tutupali, Ecuador
- Caja Blanca, Cuenca, Ecuador
- Casa San Francisco, Cuenca, Ecuador
- MOLI, Cuenca, Ecuador
- House D59, Azuay, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Pedro Moncayo Torres arquitectura achieve 24th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 6 |
23. Al Borde arquitectos
© Al Borde arquitectos
Al Borde (2007) is an architecture firm based in Quito, Ecuador. Formed by David Barragán, Pascual Gangotena, Maríaluisa Borja and Esteban Benavides. It inhabits the territory of questioning, where certainties about what architecture should or should not be are under constant construction. Its ideas are developed in the making, and with greater precision and detail on site.
It pursues an architecture whose aesthetics is conscious of the energy expended in construction, seemingly effortless, where the way materials are joined together is clear and logical. An architecture opens to the active participation of users in the design and construction process, where everyone can see the problem solved, with no more pretensions to address the project demands.
Some of Al Borde arquitectos’ most prominent projects include:
- Nueva Esperanza School, Manabí, Ecuador
- Bricks, Blocks & Other Abandoned Elements / Patches, Mocha, Ecuador
- Casa Culunco, Pichincha, Ecuador
- Última Esperanza, Cabuyal, Ecuador
- Casa Entre Muros, Pichincha, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Al Borde arquitectos achieve 23rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 7 |
22. MATELIER I Michelle Herrera Architecture Atelier
© MATELIER I Michelle Herrera Architecture Atelier
MATELIER is an architecture workshop, established in the city of Quito in 2012 by Michelle Herrera. Each intervention is a reflection on the conditions, resources, and relationship of the project with the city and the context.
The commitment lies in resolving the relationships within their context correctly, seriously, and with dedication, by providing the user with an experience that includes: immediate and everyday life, the local landscape and the wider territory, and the particular and universal principles of architecture. MATELIER seeks scale, rhythm, and proportion. In the street, in its courtyards, its terraces, its corners, and balconies.
MATELIER ultimately seeks to create architecture.
Some of MATELIER I Michelle Herrera Architecture Atelier’s most prominent projects include:
- Corporativo 194, Quito, Ecuador
The following statistics helped MATELIER I Michelle Herrera Architecture Atelier achieve 22nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| A+Awards Finalist | 1 |
| Total Projects | 1 |
21. Emilio López Arquitecto
© JAG Studio
‘I live in Ecuador, a territory with one of the greatest biodiversities in the world, so its geography, plants, climates and cultures are great stimuli for me, and with architecture this possibility of immersion and mixture with the environment appears: letting oneself be transformed by the other, from that envelope where the limit is suspended. Therein lies the strength of architecture, the product of the immersive affectation that comes with rethinking our relationship with resources and with the world in which we live.
I think of architecture as an open process, and always changing based on new demands, which are updated by experience like that of the Cocoon: a transitory envelope, in which the transition of the worm is expressed, its state between, of suspended existence or even shared.
Some of Emilio López Arquitecto’s most prominent projects include:
- Casa Don Juan, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Emilio López Arquitecto achieve 21st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 1 |
20. ARCHITEKTEN, Felipe Palacios + Johann Moeller
© Bicubik
ARCHITEKTEN, Felipe Palacios + Johann Moeller is an architecture firm based in Ecuador, whose work is mostly centered around residential projects.
Some of ARCHITEKTEN, Felipe Palacios + Johann Moeller’s most prominent projects include:
- The Block Bond House, Lumbisi, Ecuador
- AT2 House, Pichincha, Ecuador
- Living Learning Lab: First Place of the International Competition for the Colegio Americano de Quito, Puembo, Ecuador
The following statistics helped ARCHITEKTEN, Felipe Palacios + Johann Moeller achieve 20th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 3 |
19. MCM+A taller de arquitectura
© Bicubik
MCM+A is an Ecuadorian architecture studio led by Pablo Moreira, Yadhira Álvarez, Natalia Corral and Milton Chávez. Their practice is grounded in critical reflection, social commitment, and a sensitive attention to context, exploring architecture as a medium that weaves together memory, place, and the present time.
Their work spans projects of various scales and typologies, including housing, public and private facilities, as well as public space interventions across different regions of Ecuador. In Quito’s Historic Center, they have developed landmark projects such as the La Tola Complex (2019), Casa Santa Clara (2024), the restoration of the Hotel Colonial (2015), and the expansion of the City Museum (2013), among others.
Some of MCM+A taller de arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
- Casa Viteri, Quito, Ecuador
- Parque Central de la ciudad del Coca, Orellana, Ecuador
- Ampliación y Nuevo Ingreso Museo de la Ciudad, Quito, Ecuador
- Casa M&M, Quito, Ecuador
- Museo Arqueológico y Centro Cultural de Orellana MACCO, Orellana, Ecuador
The following statistics helped MCM+A taller de arquitectura achieve 19th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 6 |
18. Estudio Felipe Escudero
© Estudio Felipe Escudero
EFE is a multi-scale design studio where the boundaries between architecture, industrial design and art blur into a seamless expression of creativity.
The studio has been recognized worldwide for its pioneering work on a variety of projects, from private homes to urban plans. Architectural Digest mentioned EFE’s Magnolia House as a breakthrough performance for this rising international star. Wallpaper Magazine selected EFE for the annual directory’s exciting architecture studios, and Forbes described the studio as the new generation of cutting-edge businesses. Collaborations with recognized brands and artists include exhibitions in the Royal Academy of Arts in London, the Architectural Association in London, Arte Ba in Buenos Aires and recent work with Mercedes-Benz, Adidas, On-shoes, Philippe Chatelain and Rodrigo Pacheco.
Some of Estudio Felipe Escudero’s most prominent projects include:
- Magnolia House, Quito, Ecuador
- CASA ROCA, Quito, Ecuador
- The Tree, Quito, Ecuador
- Hotel Mamallacta, Ecuador
- 004, Quito, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Estudio Felipe Escudero achieve 18th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 2 |
| Total Projects | 5 |
17. Arquitectura ID-ART
© Arquitectura ID-ART
We are an architecture and real estate company with more than 10 years actively contributing to positive change in the city of Quito.
Some of Arquitectura ID-ART’s most prominent projects include:
- Capsule of the Andes, Ecuador
- Cotopaxi House, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Arquitectura ID-ART achieve 17th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 2 |
| Total Projects | 2 |
16. Studio Alfa
© Studio Alfa
At Studio Alfa we believe that architecture is a tool to transform the physical environment into livable, sensitive and lasting experiences. Since our foundation in 2008 by architect Patricio Caamaño, we have cultivated a practice that combines critical thinking, technical precision and a deep connection with the context.
We understand architecture as an act of deep connection: between the human being and his environment, between the technical and the poetic, between the memory of the place and the projection of a contemporary and sustainable living. Our approach is based on designing from the analysis of the architectural context, understanding the climate, natural light, topography, local materials and the social dynamics of each site. We believe in a contextual architecture that responds to the environment and generates livable, sensitive and efficient solutions.
Some of Studio Alfa’s most prominent projects include:
The following statistics helped Studio Alfa achieve 16th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 2 |
| Total Projects | 2 |
15. Leppanen + Anker Arquitectura
© Leppanen + Anker Arquitectura
Founded by Aaron Leppanen and Gabriela Anker, Leppanen +Anker Arquitectura is an architecture office in Quito, Ecuador. Leppanen+Anker Arquitectura has worked across multiple scales, programs and cultures. Leppanen+Anker Arquitectura has a strong interest in developing spatial experiences through a merger of contextual, cultural, sustainable and formal influences. Leppanen+Anker Arquitectura has a diverse background with experience in residential, commercial, cultural, educational and health care projects in both the public and private sectors.
Some of Leppanen + Anker Arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
- GAIA, Quito, Ecuador
- American School of Quito
- Library Alberto Einstein, Quito, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Leppanen + Anker Arquitectura achieve 15th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 2 |
| Total Projects | 3 |
14. Daniel Moreno Flores
photo: Sebastian Crespo - © Daniel Moreno Flores, José María Sáez
Artist, innovator, designer and craftsman, Daniel Moreno Flores has been working in architecture for over a decade. Practicing the profession independently, the architect has formed a network in both Ecuador and Argentina. Daniel Moreno Flores is interested in the processes of experimental design, inquiry into structural forms, collective work for social cohesion through the appropriation of public space and the construction of infrastructure after the 2016 Ecuador earthquake.
Some of Daniel Moreno Flores’ most prominent projects include:
- Concrete, Wood and Glass Living Space, Quito, Ecuador
- Mike’s Study, Quito, Ecuador
- Algarrobos House
- El Carrizal House, Quito, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Daniel Moreno Flores achieve 14th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 2 |
| Total Projects | 4 |
13. arquitectura x
© SEBASTIAN CRESPO
arquitectura x is a Quito-based design firm run by award-winning architects Adrian Moreno and María Samaniego. The firm designs for the private, public and civic sectors.
Some of arquitectura x’s most prominent projects include:
- HCJB radio, Quito, Ecuador
- Las Naves Courthouse, Las Naves, Ecuador
- LB Building, Quito, Ecuador
- Icono Building, Permeable Living, Quito, Ecuador
- RI HOUSE, Diffuse Borders, Pichincha, Ecuador
The following statistics helped arquitectura x achieve 13th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| A+Awards Finalist | 1 |
| Featured Projects | 1 |
| Total Projects | 5 |
12. A1 Arquitectura Avanzada
© A1 Arquitectura Avanzada
We are a multidisciplinary team of professionals, led by Marq. José Daniel Terán. We work with excellence to materialize the dreams of our clients. We are a research laboratory in which paradigms are broken; our main characteristic is that we parameterize the client’s requirements.
Some of A1 Arquitectura Avanzada’s most prominent projects include:
- Hidden Stone House, Quito, Ecuador
- Vortex House, Ecuador
- House Between Trees, Ecuador
- 3. Viewpoint House, Ecuador
- Hillside House, Ecuador
The following statistics helped A1 Arquitectura Avanzada achieve 12th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| A+Awards Finalist | 1 |
| Featured Projects | 2 |
| Total Projects | 5 |
11. Edwin Alvaro Hurtado Pereira + Holger Cuadrado Arquitectura
© Edwin Alvaro Hurtado Pereira + Holger Cuadrado Arquitectura
Holger Cuadrado Arquitectura is an architecture and landscape studio-workshop that focuses its activities on the practice of the project and on the academy, understood as two necessary dimensions for the construction of knowledge.
Some of Edwin Alvaro Hurtado Pereira + Holger Cuadrado Arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
- Casa Fundamentos, Loja, Ecuador
- Casa D4., Loja, Ecuador
- Moneo Building, Loja, Ecuador
- Moneo Building, Loja, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Edwin Alvaro Hurtado Pereira + Holger Cuadrado Arquitectura achieve 11th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 2 |
| Total Projects | 4 |
10. JGStudio
© JGStudio
Architecture, design & urban planning office — creating spaces that connect with people and places. Based in Ecuador, we develop projects of all scales — from private residences to urban proposals. Our multidisciplinary approach allows us to deliver solutions that are both innovative and deeply rooted in context. We believe architecture should go beyond functionality, fostering meaningful connections between people and their surroundings. Each project is an opportunity to create unique, personalized spaces that embody the identity, needs, and aspirations of our clients. With a strong focus on creativity, sustainability, and attention to detail, we design projects that not only endure over time but also enrich the communities they are part of.
Some of JGStudio’s most prominent projects include:
- Umbral, Quito, Ecuador
- Pacoche Cabins, Manabí, Ecuador
- The Loop / Plaza Puembo, Quito, Ecuador
- KATARI PLAZA, Quito, Ecuador
- MERCADO DE JUEGOS
The following statistics helped JGStudio achieve 10th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| A+Awards Winner | 1 |
| Featured Projects | 2 |
| Total Projects | 11 |
9. Side FX Arquitectura
© Side FX Arquitectura
At Side FX Arquitectura, we create spaces that generate positive emotions and ignite the senses, achieving an effect of happiness and well-being.
Some of Side FX Arquitectura’s most prominent projects include:
- The Temporary Shelter and Community Kitchen in Macas, Ecuador
- Casa AF2, Samborondón, Ecuador
- The New Day Center for The Elderly, Macas, Ecuador
- LH Residence, Pichincha, Ecuador
- Al Parke, Quito, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Side FX Arquitectura achieve 9th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 3 |
| Total Projects | 9 |
8. Gabriel Rivera Arquitectos
© Gabriel Rivera Arquitectos
Each place, each context, each need allows us to create a unique project. A project that, through a great previous effort of research and reflection, takes architecture to the highest levels of design and exceeds the client’s expectations.
We are a group of young professionals committed to our work. Our three fundamental values are: enthusiasm, loyalty, and service. We are dedicated to the design and construction of all types of projects regardless of their scale: interior spaces, single-family homes, and real estate projects. We seek contemporary, functional architecture that is above all respectful of the context and the place. Each of our clients is the inspiration, so we are responsible for transforming feelings, ideas, and dreams into architecture.
Some of Gabriel Rivera Arquitectos’s most prominent projects include:
- El Picadero, Cotopaxi, Ecuador
- Casa en el Bosque, Quito, Ecuador
- Casa Tacuri, Quito, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Gabriel Rivera Arquitectos achieve 8th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| A+Awards Finalist | 1 |
| Featured Projects | 3 |
| Total Projects | 3 |
7. Diego Guayasamin
© Diego Guayasamin
Diego Guayasamin Arquitectos is an Ecuador-based architecture firm led by Diego Guayasamin. The firm specializes in commercial and residential architecture.
Some of Diego Guayasamin’s most prominent projects include:
- UNASUR General Secretary Headquarters, Quito, Ecuador
- Guayasamin House and Museum, Quito, Ecuador
- Residencia Cumbaya, Quito, Ecuador
- QBE Colonial Insurance Company, Quito, Ecuador
- Centro Logístico Stihl , Quito, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Diego Guayasamin achieve 7th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| A+Awards Finalist | 1 |
| Featured Projects | 2 |
| Total Projects | 5 |
6. IWI Studio
© IWI Studio
Juan Ruiz and Amelia Tapia are a couple of architects, based in Quito, Ecuador. Together they have developed and collaborated on projects in Spain, the Netherlands and Ecuador. Their architecture seeks to provide efficient solutions through knowledge of traditional construction techniques and new technologies.
Some of IWI Studio’s most prominent projects include:
- IWI, Quito, Ecuador
- Rehabilitation, 100 years of a ¨Casa Barata de Bilbao¨, Bilbao, Spain
- Breakroom in the Orchard, Quito, Ecuador
- PIVOT, Quito, Ecuador
The following statistics helped IWI Studio achieve 6th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 3 |
| Total Projects | 4 |
5. URLO Studio
© URLO Studio
URLO Studio is a family of nonconformist, pragmatic, visionary, and innovative professionals who seek to set a turning point in the development of the city, always through coherent and rigorous ideas and designs that range from the architectural detail to the broader urban scale.
Some of URLO Studio’s most prominent projects include:
- OLVIA, Quito, Ecuador
- Pamba Bike Refuge, Ascazubi, Ecuador
- Quart, Valencia, Spain
- Breakroom in the Orchard, Quito, Ecuador
- Mocolí Sports Club, Samborondón, Ecuador
The following statistics helped URLO Studio achieve 5th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 4 |
| Total Projects | 6 |
4. NAJAS ARQUITECTOS
© JAG Studio
NAJAS ARQUITECTOS has been designing purposeful spaces for over 20 years. We are a leading firm in consultancy, design, engineering, and construction, recognized for our people-centered and context-aware approach. Since 2006, we have built an international portfolio of small- and large-scale projects, known for architecture that balances functionality, aesthetics, and adaptability.
Our “inside-out” methodology is based on three core pillars:
People: We understand our clients’ needs, habits, and emotional connections, translating personal stories into spaces that are both functional and poetic.
Place: We integrate topographic, climatic, and cultural variables, respecting both local and global contexts to create harmonious and sustainable designs.
Time: We design with a future-oriented mindset, ensuring that each work evolves with material, social, and environmental changes without losing its essence.
With a presence in countries such as Ecuador, Argentina, and Zambia, our work has been featured in national and international media.
Some of NAJAS ARQUITECTOS’s most prominent projects include:
- Casa Pillagua, Quito, Ecuador
- Paralelogramo House, Quito, Ecuador
- Split House, Quito, Ecuador
- Attiva Residential Building, Quito, Ecuador
- Serena House, Pichincha, Ecuador
The following statistics helped NAJAS ARQUITECTOS achieve 4th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 8 |
| Total Projects | 33 |
3. Diez+Muller
© Diez+Muller
Diez + Muller Arquitectos is led by Gonzalo Diez and Felipe Muller. They understand architecture as an intellectual response to a requirement that can vary in scale and function. Any architectural intervention is the answer to a problem, regardless of whether it is a house in the country or a building in the city. This intellectual response is given depending on the environment, the peculiarity of the place where it is implanted, the use, the economy, etc. Therefore, his attitude is based on giving a balanced response between these factors, it being essential that in each project there is a sensitive component, generator of emotions, since this is what will give a further meaning to architecture.
Some of Diez+Muller’s most prominent projects include:
- NATURA, Pichincha, Ecuador
- CASA CANGAHUA, Pichincha, Ecuador
- CASA 3 AGUAS, Bahía de Caráquez, Ecuador
- NOVOPAN, Ecuador
- CARAVAGGIO, Quito, Ecuador
- Featured image: Casa El Pastizal, Machachi, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Diez+Muller achieve 3rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 9 |
| Total Projects | 21 |
2. CORREA + FATEHI / ODD
© CORREA + FATEHI / ODD
We are CORREA+FATEHI / ODD
A group of highly skilled architects, planners, and creatives. We are innate problem solvers, dedicated to making the physical world a more habitable place. We work at every scale, from design to execution. We are inspired by nature, incorporating its systems and processes into our work, aiming for a healthier coexistence. We learn through history, science, and precedents – developing new design techniques for the improvement of humankind. We confront and question the norm by creating state-of-the-art design solutions. Together we help our clients solve their most complex challenges; together we harness our diverse ingenuity to make projects that are fantastical, affordable, buildable, and beautiful.
Some of CORREA + FATEHI / ODD’s most prominent projects include:
- A House in the Andes, Ecuador
- Hampton by Hilton Carolina Park & Zenith Penthouse Suites, Quito, Ecuador
- MIG 1.0, Quito, Ecuador
- the ANTI-KIOSK, Quito, Ecuador
- Imperia Horizonte, Quito, Ecuador
The following statistics helped CORREA + FATEHI / ODD achieve 2nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| A+Awards Winner | 5 |
| A+Awards Finalist | 2 |
| Featured Projects | 4 |
| Total Projects | 15 |
1. Natura Futura
© Oscar Hernández
Based in Babahoyo, Ecuador, Natura Futura Arquitectura explores issues and themes in architecture within a Latin American context. The firm’s portfolio consists of various community-based and public projects.
Some of Natura Futura’s most prominent projects include:
- The Tea Room, Los Rios, Ecuador
- El Triangulo de las Verduras; Productive Community Greenhouse, Quito, Ecuador
- The Little Atelier, Ecuador
- The House that Habitate, Babahoyo, Ecuador
- Casa Infinita/The house as experiential place, Ecuador
The following statistics helped Natura Futura achieve 1st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in Ecuador:
| Featured Projects | 17 |
| Total Projects | 21 |
Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?
With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.
Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.
An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted
A Guide to Project Awards
The blue “+” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.
The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:
- Project completed within the last 3 years
- A well-written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
- Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
- High-quality, in-focus photographs
- At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
- Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
- Inclusion of construction photographs
There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.
We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at [email protected].
The post 30 Best Architecture and Design Firms in Ecuador appeared first on Journal.