In 2015, during the Universal Expo in Milan, Kriskadecor clad the entire façade of a building with anodised aluminium chains for the first time. That project, developed for the Ecuador pavilion, marked a turning point in the company’s trajectory, combining technique, design and emotion in an unprecedented architectural solution.
The assignment could not have been more symbolic. Ecuador, which was making its debut with its own pavilion at a Universal Exposition, sought to show the world its deepest essence – cultural, natural and human. To achieve this, they needed an enclosure that not only fulfilled an aesthetic function, but also connected with visitors through colour, form and movement.
Textile tradition transformed into architecture
The design of the pavilion, signed by the Bilbao studio Zorrozua y Asociados, had two clear objectives: to stand out from the surrounding buildings and to generate an emotional connection with the country’s identity. To achieve this, they reinterpreted the traditional fabrics of Otavalo in a contemporary key, integrating their patterns into a metallic skin that covered the four sides of the building with a total surface area of 1,200 m², reaching 10.5 metres in height at some points.
Thanks to the lightness of the material and its versatility, Kriskadecor’s chains created a solid but ethereal envelope, which reacted to natural light during the day and was transformed by artificial lighting at nightfall. The subtle movement of the curtains evoked the swaying of the fabrics in the wind, reinforcing the link with the textile origin of the proposal.
The colours chosen – intense, varied and deeply symbolic – represented the country’s biodiversity, cultural richness and vitality, in keeping with Ecuador’s Expo slogan: “Ama la Vida” (Love Life).
A turning point that marked our path
Although Kriskadecor had previously worked on exteriors, this project was the first to use its chains as a real architectural skin. Ten years later, it remains a benchmark not only for its visual impact, but also for its ability to emote, to represent an identity and to open up new expressive possibilities for architecture.
This milestone also marked the beginning of a technical and creative evolution for the company, which has since continued to research finishes, colour combinations and customised solutions to suit the needs of each client and each space. A decade later, that first step continues to inspire new ways of building, designing and communicating.
