Late in 1984, the author got a three-months assignment from the Belgian Ministry of Cooperation to the Ecuadorian National Institute of Cultural Heritage, Quito. The main aim being to train local students in the inventory techniques suitable to the architectural heritage. Thanks to special authorizations, seven casas de haciendas (country farmhouses) were the subject of this first survey. This unknown adobe architecture - colonial rural heritage stretching over three centuries - proves evidence of high quality in building techniques and architectural design, as the expression of the wellbeing of privileged people. The complete report will be published in 1988 by Unesco, Division of human settlements (70 pages highlighted by plans, elevations and photos). On the other hand, the best and most colorful photos will be printed in a glamorous photographic album entitled TERRA INCOGNITA dealing with the history of monumental earth architecture through the great past civilizations.