Providing affordable housing to 180,000 in Ecuador with ECOPact
Latin America is the world’s second most-urbanized region in the world, with over 80% of the population living in cities – and that number is growing.
Alongside a rising world population, urbanization is a global megatrend that is driving the need to build the sustainable infrastructure and housing that the region needs.
The situation is apparent in Ecuador, where 65% of people live in cities, and where Holcim has partnered with Ambiensa to build Latin America’s largest social housing project for around 180,000 people – using ECOPact, the world’s broadest range of low-carbon concrete.
ECOPact reduced CO2 emissions by at least 30%
Largest social housing project in Latin America built with ECOPact
More than 45 projects in execution, resulting in homes for 180,000 Ecuadorians
The Challenge
Every year the population of Ecuador’s largest city and economic capital, Guayaquil, grows by more than 1%, and is expected to reach almost 4 million inhabitants by 2035. Ambiensa, one of the largest developers in Ecuador, wanted to build Mundo Ambiensa – which is due to be finished in 2030 – as sustainably as possible.
“I’m incredibly proud that Holcim is playing such an important role in this milestone project in Latin America that stands for society and the environment. My sincerest congratulations to Ambiensa for making this a reality.”
Mundo Ambiensa affordable housing project
Mundo Ambiensa affordable housing project
Mundo Ambiensa affordable housing project
The Solution
Ambiensa is now building more than 45 projects in the west of the city as part of Mundo Ambiensa, to provide 35,000 homes for 180,000 Ecuadorians. These projects are exclusively using ECOPact concrete, to reduce the embodied carbon of the buildings by at least 30% without offsets.
“Our partnership with Holcim now spans ten years. We chose Holcim as our partner because this is the only company that can help us fulfill our commitment to families, the progress of the city and the environment.”
Upon completion, Mundo Ambiensa will be Latin America’s largest affordable housing project built with ECOPact. To date, Holcim Ecuador has supplied more than 75,000m3 of ECOPact.
In addition to using low-carbon materials during the construction phase, each home is designed with the residents’ well-being in mind. The design maximizes use of natural light to reduce electricity consumption, and these “new modern cities” offer sports, health and educational facilities.
“I’m proud to be part of such an emblematic project that managed to reduce its CO2 emissions so significantly thanks to Holcim’s ECOPact, while making the dreams of 6,000 families come true so far here in Guayaquil.”
The Result
With the construction of Mundo Ambiensa well underway, thousands of homes have already been finished, and on October 30, 2024, Ambiensa and Holcim handed over the keys to the 6,000th house to the Torres Villamar family. During a ceremony to mark this occasion, we honored Ambiensa with the title of “Agent of Change” – for the company’s commitment to innovation and building a sustainable future.
“My family is very happy in our new home. And when I learned that it was also built sustainably, that added even more to our joy!”
