New York-based architect Carlos Zapata has completed a 24-storey tower featuring curved glass skin in Quito, Ecuador. 

Named Unique, the tower is located on the northern edge of La Carolina Park and enjoys long, uninterrupted views of the park.

Surrounded by 12 to 16 story buildings to the east, west and north, the Unique tower is one of the tallest structures in the city. 

Designed for Quito-based developers Uribe Schwarzkopf, the tower contains 99 apartment units, with amenity spaces such as pool on the 13th floor, that stands out from the façade to enjoy the best view of the city, arcade, games room, kids room, terrace and BBQ, gym, yoga room, pilates and aerobics. 

In the middle of the tower, an outdoor pool and lounge area provide views towards the city, which divides the tower into two in vertical. 

The tower presents unmatched 360 degree views from the amenities floors located on levels 13, 14, 15, as well as from the lush rooftop garden.

The distinctive feature of the tower is its sophisticated skin: for this, Zapata used glass panels that are printed with diverse layers of ceramic frit — a custom silkscreen applied to the glass. 

"This, in effect, creates the appearance of a veil, giving the building a sense of depth, luminosity and translucency during the day and night," said Carlos Zapata in his website.

"The veil will reveal and protect views of the interior of the building in an elegant and mysterious way, which will result in the building having an ephemeral presence."

Behind the striking facade are the impeccable apartments designed with bountiful spaces and luminosity to the interior has a unique panoramic views. 

"Unique redefines the classic composition of vertical buildings by introducing a series of structural and morphological innovations that make the building approach an urban sculpture," stated in the building's official website. 

"It features two-story, open-air communal areas located at the midpoint of the building, incorporating light, air, vegetation and urban views, which provide a privileged environment, intended for the recreation and enjoyment of its residents."

The website, appreciating the tower's facade system, which is largely covered in glass, the building ensures views of the different corners of the city, making the interior spaces project towards Quito.

Alongside the facade's transparency, the architect also ensured adequate light and thermal comfort, as well as maintaining privacy for each apartment.

All these elements make Unique’s silhouette an architectural landmark of the city; its residents will have the privilege of living in one of the buildings with the greatest presence in Quito.

Carlos Zapata Studio, founded by Carlos Zapata, is an award-winning master planning, architectural design, interior design and furniture design firm whose projects range from professional sports arenas to airport concourses to commercial high rises to private homes.

Key projects of the studio include the Chicago Bears Stadium in 2003, the Bitexco Financial Tower in Ho Chi Minh City in 2010, and luxury residence Sculptura Ardmore in Singapore in 2014.

All images courtesy of Carlos Zapata.

> via Carlos Zapata Studio