Al Borde : less is all Less Is Universe is the motto of Ecuadorian architecture firm Al Borde founded in Quito in 2007 by Pascual Gangotena (Quito 1977) David Barragán (Quito 1981) Marialuisa Borja (Quito 1984) and Esteban Benavides (Quito 1985). Considered one of the top 100 architecture firms in the world their sustainable ecologically friendly projects use natural (eucalyptus trusses etc ) recycled (tire rubber and recycled glass) and economical materials to construct open spaces in ground floor living areas. The architecture of Al Borde is a manifesto for collective construction. Making use of low cost recycled and found materials is part of their radical approach. Exact measurements and detailed plans dont matter when it comes to fine tuning the build with integrity patches perforations additions and so on. There are no outer membranes or finishes; all the materials are exposed as what they are. Its a direct and honest architecture. Page 8 Less is all Andrea Griborio Venting AL borde Projects intended for ordinary people in ordinary places using ordinary materials New hope school Hope two Last hope 1993 Plaza boulevard Los mangos Dark Resources German Pavilion Hill Post Earthquake Rural Housing Prototype Social Factory for inclusive housing Guadurnals Lunchroom Projects emerging from teaching excerises that confront learning with reality Academia Cecilia Tcherkassky Workshop PUCE: Neighorhood house 11 de mayo Workshop UTI: Personal projects Workshop UCAL: Community Center and House of Living Memory Projects rooted in objective conditions that use the subjetivities of others as a tool Greenhouse studio Entre muros house Bricks blocks and other waste and fillers House under constructions On being homeless Al borde. Natural upcycled and economical materials in buildings by Ecuadorian firm Al Borde.0Less Is All is the motto of Ecuadorian architecture firm Al Borde founded in 2007 by Pascual Gangotena David Barragán Marialuisa Borja and Estevan Benavides. Naming Al Borde one of the top 100 architecture firms in the world in 2019 the editors of Domus wrote: Convinced that the strength of an architectural project lies in the later autonomy of its users Al Bordes design and decision making process rely on the involvement of the community in all phases of planning and construction and the systematic exploration of the local context. The materials they use and the projects they adopt reflect the state of a globalized Ecuador. For example for their House of the Flying Beds Al Borde refurbished an 18th century family house by restoring the rammed earth walls installing tire rubber and recycled glass on the roof and suspending beds above the open plan ground floor living area with eucalyptus trusses thus maintaining the form of the house but turning the interior into something indubitably modern