Battersea Power Station architect completes first project in native country of Uruguay
After 45 years of practicing architecture around the world, Rafael Viñoly has returned to his roots with Edificio Acqua, his first building to be completed on his home turf in Uruguay.
The six-storey residential complex situated in the Punta del Este resort, features views across the South Atlantic Ocean, maximised by floor-to ceiling glazing and a terraced elevation which recesses with each floor. This evokes what the architects believe to be “a staircase leading residents directly to the water’s edge”, allowing them to enjoy the scenery, as the integrated outdoor infinity pools appear to “extend to the ocean”.
The 34-unit complex consists of a variety of living configurations including five double-height lofts and 23 single-floor apartment units, with total living areas reaching up to 9,050ft². The building’s terraces are cantilevered or recessed alternately, providing the necessary outdoor spaces. Its appearance is brought to life by an animated facade
Exterior finishes include a Jura stone facade encrusted with aquatic fossils, an anodized aluminium curtain wall and wooden slats. These features embellish the building, adding character in a way that is sensitive to the local area.
Rafael Viñoly has spoken of the building’s special meaning: “Punta del Este is a place of enormous natural beauty and I wanted my design to celebrate the extraordinary views that make this place so distinctive. The view from Acqua is different from everywhere else. It’s like being in a place that categorises everything else in a very different way.”
Viñoly’s clever use of spaces that hang off and set back into each other and the fine detailing on the building’s exterior create an unusual residential complex that is always mindful of its location. Sensitively built in response to its context, we are reminded that Edificio Acqua and Uruguay has special meaning to the architect himself.
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