The brainchild of Paul Rodriguez and Javier Alarcon, Kanzen Design is a by-appointment or walk-in design showroom in downtown Quito that highlights high-quality, Ecuadorian-made products. The space displays a curated mix of textiles, ceramics, lighting, sculptures, paintings, framed photography, woven baskets, and furniture including office desks, dining tables and chairs.
© Joanna Tricorache
New pieces arrive frequently, yet the showroom maintains the calm atmosphere of a small museum gallery rather than a busy retail outlet. A corner of the interior houses a modest café serving Ecuadorian-grown coffee, pastries, sandwiches, chocolates and other beverages. A comfortable seating area with tables for laptops sits before a large window that looks out onto lush greenery, offering a tranquil view despite the central city location. Kanzen Design also arranges shipping for international visitors who wish to send purchases home.
Kanzen Design works with dozens of Ecuadorian artisans, bridging traditional South American handicraft techniques with contemporary design approaches. Through these collaborations the showroom contributes to Quito’s growing reputation for modern art, architecture and interior design, helping the city align with other major cultural centers in the region such as Buenos Aires, São Paulo, Lima and Bogotá.
© Joanna Tricorache
Quito was declared a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site in 1978 for its rich indigenous and colonial heritage. Over the past decade the city has also attracted attention from internationally renowned architects, who have contributed ultra-modern, mixed-use towers in the downtown area. Those contemporary structures create an intriguing contrast with Quito’s historic neighborhoods.
Today Ecuador’s only dedicated contemporary art museum, the Centro de Arte Contemporáneo in Quito, presents a growing calendar of exhibitions by both international and Ecuadorian artists. In the La Floresta neighborhood, the floral-painted façade of the independent cinema Ocho y Medio and its picturesque café are local landmarks, while colorful murals appear across the city, signaling a vibrant street art scene.
© Joanna Tricorache
Private collectors and design enthusiasts are increasingly discovering talented young Ecuadorian craftsmen who create elegant tables, chairs and sculptures from native woods. In former rural communities east of Quito—such as Cumbayá, Tumbaco and Puembo—local architects are converting weathered farmhouses into galleries, boutiques, restaurants and design-forward homes. These projects serve Quito’s expanding middle class as well as returning Ecuadorian-born U.S. residents attracted by the lower cost of living and pleasant, year-round spring climate.