This year, Rafael Viñoly Architects unveiled innovative residential and aviation projects that I wanted to share with you for any end of year roundups you might be working on. As some of the last designs by the late, renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, these projects exemplify the firm’s mission to honor its namesake’s legacy while pushing the boundaries of what design can and should be. Below are two projects the firm unveiled in 2024, including what will be the first Zero-Energy Building and potentially carbon-neutral construction in the Southern hemisphere and an airport with a fully functioning vineyard on top of the terminal.
Médano El Pinar in Montevideo, Uruguay
Located just outside of Montevideo, Médano El Pinar is an innovative, sustainable, multi-family luxury residential development that aims to be the first nearly Zero-Energy Building and potentially carbon-neutral construction in the region, making it one of the most sustainable projects in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a Mass Timber structure, aligning with Uruguay’s commitment to sustainability. Located only 300 meters from the coastline, Rafael Viñoly Architects needed special permission from the government to build this close to the coastline, a rare approval that underscores the project's consideration of the surrounding landscape. The project includes the extensive use of locally sourced carbon-sequestering building materials, utility-scale photovoltaic power generation, redundant centralized thermal plants, rainwater recapture, green roofing, heat pumps, and ubiquitous cross ventilation.
International Terminal at Aeroporto Amerigo Vespucci in Florence, Italy
Atop the new terminal will be a 19-acre vineyard that gently slopes upward to embrace the sky-lit airport terminal, featuring 38 rows of productive vineyards on the building's rooftop that contribute to the LEED Platinum sustainability rating and symbolize Italy's rich traditions and innovative spirit. A leading vintner from the region will cultivate the vineyards, and the wine will be crafted and aged in specialized cellars beneath the terminal's roof. The new airport’s design also cultivates a more thoughtful sense ofplace to improve passenger experience. By placing Arrivals and Departures facing each other across a large public space – a “Piazza” at the center of the new terminal – circulation into and out of the terminal will be streamlined, while also providing access to mass transit, parking and retail that serves the local community as well as travelers.
