Punte Del Este, Uruguay : Architecture Information

Information from Rafael Viñoly Architects 18 Dec 2007: Edificio Acqua Punta del Este, Uruguay images from Rafael Viñoly Architects Edificio Acqua, a six-storey luxury residential complex, will be Rafael Viñoly Architects’ first completed project in Rafael’s home country of Uruguay. Currently under construction in the upscale beachfront resort of Punta del Este, the building is scheduled for occupancy in the spring. When it opens, it will introduce an unprecedented level of construction quality and architectural refinement to the high end of the Uruguayan housing market. The L-shaped, 34-unit structure faces the South Atlantic Ocean adjacent to the main oceanfront roadway with a terraced elevation that dramatically steps back floor by floor. Four single-floor “manor” and two “penthouse” apartments with total living areas ranging from 6,750 to 9,050 square feet feature abundant glazing on their three ocean-view sides, as well as private terraces and swimming pools. The building also contains five double-height lofts and 24 single-floor apartment units. Living and dining areas typically face the ocean, while bedrooms, bathrooms, and other private spaces are situated along the glass exterior wall toward the rear and sides of the building with views of surrounding gardens and forests. Most bedrooms feature walk-in closets and in-suite bathrooms. Passing through both wings of the building at ground level, a vehicular road provides access to ground-level parking bays in the base of the building adjacent to seven elevator cores. A fitness center, spa, and outdoor pool are available to all residents. Key features at Edificio Acqua: • setbacks obscure views of other apartments to create a sense of separate residences • terraces and infi nity pools visually extend the ocean into the apartments • varied terraces and openings through the building help minimize overall mass “For me, Edificio Acqua has special meaning,” says Rafael Viñoly, “and its design refl ects the uniqueness and beauty of its fashionable surroundings. Spectacular views create a sense of openness and accessibility, and the innovative use of materials and space produces a timeless architectural message.” The building was the recipient of “The Most Attractive International Project” at the 2007 SIMA (Feria de Salon Internacional de Madrid) conference, and received the 2007 Real Estate Excellence Award from the Federación Internacional de Profesiones Inmobiliarias-Uruguay (FIABCI-Uruguay) in the category of Project Ideas in Process-Residential Area. Edificio Acqua images / information from Rafael Viñoly Architects 181207 American Architecture Rafael Viñoly Architects PC is a critically acclaimed international practice headquartered in New York, with affiliate offi ces in London and Los Angeles. Founded in 1983, and now employing over 225 architects and support staff, the firm provides comprehensive services in building design, urban planning, and interior design for new facilities and renovations. Its many successes include the Howard Hughes Medical Institute Janelia Farm Campus (Ashburn, Virginia), the Tokyo International Forum (Tokyo, Japan), the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania), and the Mahler 4 Offi ce Tower (Amsterdam, The Netherlands). Rafael Viñoly, the firm’s principal, has practiced architecture for forty-five years in the United States, Latin America, Europe, and Asia.Driven by the conviction that the essential responsibility of architecture is to elevate the public realm, his work has been recognized in the world’s leading design publications and by numerous prestigious awards. He is a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects, an International Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, and a member of the Japan Institute of Architects.