MAD Architects has unveiled their first project in South America with the Qondesa tower in Quito, Ecuador. When completed, the mixed-use residential and commercial building is set to be the tallest in the city.

According to the design team, the scheme is inspired by its natural surroundings, with an architectural form “growing from the earth to the sky.” The external twisting facade seeks to emulate twisting vines coming to a taper at the top. The building’s form was also shaped so as to avoid blocking natural light and views from surrounding buildings.

“Quito, a city of coexisting contrasts influenced by its diverse ecosystems, ethnicities, and traditions, is the capital of Ecuador and a UNESCO world heritage site, which features the best-preserved and least altered historic center in South America,” MAD said about the scheme in a statement. “Soon to be Quito’s tallest building, MAD aspires to offer a design solution for integrating nature into high-density living with a vision of an ecological future.”

The stone-colored appearance of the facade is a nod to the stone facades of Quito’s Old Town, where historic buildings used stone from a nearby volcano. “The playful organic lines of the façade are paired with the protruding, native vegetation to create an elegant aesthetic that will become a landmark to the city’s skyline,” MAD added.

News of the scheme comes weeks after MAD presented their MOMENTUM installation at Milan Design Week 2023. In March, meanwhile, MAD’s founder Ma Yansong created a reflective, colorful art installation set within an abandoned Chinese market.