El Cielo
In collaboration with: Francisco Valenzuela
Set in Sedona, Arizona, El Cielo is a space that frames the sky’s changing moments throughout the day and night. Sedona’s reputation as a place of natural beauty and spiritual energy inspired a design that highlights the interplay of light, shadow, and celestial movement.
In this studio, we set out to design a library without books—an archive. Instead of preserving written knowledge, we focused on capturing something intangible yet universal: the sky.
The development of the form parted from the importance we gave to circulation. The entrance is built in a way that makes it look like a tunnel where you can’t see what’s next to simulate the journey from the earth to the sky.
The building’s asymmetrical form is intentional: with a higher elevation on the west and a lower elevation on the east, it allows light and shadows to interact dynamically throughout the day. Windows are strategically placed to capture natural light and frame celestial events.
Beyond being an archive of the sky, El Cielo is also envisioned as a wedding venue and social gathering space, designed to create experiences under the open sky. Additionally, a restaurant and lounge extend the experience and keep the building in use regularly.