CCB Building

Small. Built by artisans. Local brick. Local wood. A place to shop, live, and gather. In Cuenca's heart.


Project Overview

At the corner of two streets. A 180 m² plot. This is where a shop opens. Where people live above. Where neighbors meet. Handmade brick walls. Pine wood from Sinincay, the next valley over. The corner pulls back. Creates a small plaza. Lets the street breathe. Inside, you see the pine beams. You see how it's built. No hiding. No mystery. Just craft.

  • Typology: Mixed-use (retail + residential)
  • Location: Cuenca, Ecuador
  • Status: Built
  • Year: 2018
Ground floor plan and site strategy of CCB Building

Spatial Strategy

The brick lines are horizontal. They echo the mountains. Windows open to frame the view. A window isn't just an opening. It's a frame. You see Cabogana. You see the city. The corner recesses. Steps down. Creates a public space. A plaza. A rest before the next block.

Inside, you see the pine. Raw. Honest. The roof beams. The stairs. The shelves. Everything that holds the building up is visible. You can trace every joint. Every connection. This is not hidden. This is shown. The workers who built it—their hands are there. In every corner. In every angle. Cuenca's craft. On display.


Nothing hidden. Nothing fake.
Street elevation of CCB Building at dusk
Small becomes mighty
Street façade of CCB Building with handcrafted masonry
Built with hands. For people.
Every detail counts
Axonometric detail of handcrafted masonry system
Interior stair and pine joinery detail
Nothing hidden. Nothing fake.
Long elevation highlighting handcrafted façade rhythm
Craft stays alive here

Credits

Project by Proyectual Studio. The building was realised with a network of local artisans and builders from Cuenca.

Photography by Juan Martín Cueva.