Human Scale
Thermal comfort
Quito has cool days and warm afternoons. We design for 21–24 °C with 40–60 % relative humidity, as reference values. We work with thermal mass, natural insulation, solar protection and individual control wherever possible.
timeline: depends on floor
Is this your case?
- “In the morning the team works in jackets, and in the afternoon they open the windows.”
- “The façade side heats up while the interior stays cold.”
- “Nobody can adjust the temperature in their zone.”
- “Complaints about the cold reach HR, but nobody has measured them.”
How it works
Record the whole day
We measure temperature and humidity by zone, from the cool morning to the warm afternoon. The façade and the interior often tell different stories.
Thermal mass
We use materials with thermal mass, such as stone and clay. They help moderate the difference between morning and afternoon.
Natural insulation and solar protection
We insulate with totora and cork. We protect the façades that receive direct sun.
Local control
Wherever possible, we give each zone or person control over their temperature. It is one of the items on the Escala Humana checklist.
What you receive
- A temperature and humidity log by zone and by hour.
- A passive thermal strategy: thermal mass, natural insulation and solar protection.
- A local thermal control plan by zone.
- Follow-up measurement against the baseline.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal office temperature?
There is no single one for everyone. We start from 21–24 °C with 40–60 % humidity; final values are adjusted to regulations, use and the Audit.
Why does the Quito climate matter?
Because a single day goes from cool to warm. The design has to respond to both moments, not to an average.
What is thermal mass?
It is a material’s capacity to store heat and release it slowly. Stone and clay have it.
Can each person control their temperature?
Wherever possible, yes. The scope of local control is defined with the Audit.
Your company's performance is decided in its space.
It all starts with a Workplace Performance Audit: we measure before we give an opinion.