Architecture firm Rafael Viñoly Architects has completed construction of the Vilo Tower, a striking 16-story office skyscraper in Buenos Aires that features double-height floors connected by a concrete scissor staircase enclosed in glass. The building, which stands 60 meters (197 feet) tall, serves as the headquarters for airport operator Corporación América and is positioned along the bustling Avenida del Libertador thoroughfare that follows the city's coastline.
The tower's distinctive design centers around what the architects describe as "transparency and rationality." The facade consists of translucent glass panels measuring 7.15 meters by 2.2 meters, with curved corners that are free of visible mullions. This design approach intentionally "dissolves the interior and exterior boundary," creating a seamless visual connection between the building's interior spaces and the urban environment outside.
One of the building's most notable architectural features is its exposed structural elements. The scissor staircase and elevator shaft form a prominent spine on the building's back side, while the glass-enclosed office floors extend outward along the front facade. This hybrid structural system combines traditional concrete construction with a innovative "two-story module" that provides significant interior flexibility and creates spatially varied floor plates throughout the building.
"In designing Vilo Tower, Rafael Viñoly succeeded in creating an architecture of transparency and rationality," explained Román Viñoly, partner at Rafael Viñoly Architects and son of the late founder. "It elegantly dialogues with its surroundings and gives its occupants the greatest layout flexibility. The way the design reveals its hybrid structural system is a hallmark of our firm's commitment to putting logic at the center of architectural expression."
The building's interior organization reflects this commitment to flexibility and functionality. Along the facade, the floors feature double-height spaces with mezzanine levels at the center, while single-story spaces are positioned toward the back of the building. The mezzanine level varies in width on each floor, allowing for customized office configurations that can adapt to different tenant needs.
At ground level, the building's base functions as what the architects describe as an "urban greenhouse," expanding across three stories with the ground floor positioned below street level. This triple-height lobby space contains a public restaurant connected to the main elevator bay via a curving, black-clad spiral staircase. Concrete pillars extend throughout the full height of this dramatic entrance space, emphasizing the building's structural honesty.
Throughout the office floors, the interior design features a sophisticated palette of light wood-lined panels and black accents, including dark-hued office furniture and textured ceiling and wall panels. This material selection creates a warm, professional atmosphere while maintaining the building's emphasis on rational, functional design.
The uppermost floor houses a unique terrace space wrapped in the same double-height glass panels that characterize the rest of the building's facade. However, this top-floor space features a ceiling that opens directly to the sky, creating an outdoor retreat for building occupants while maintaining visual continuity with the tower's overall design language.
Sustainability considerations played an important role in the building's design and construction. The Vilo Tower is currently pursuing LEED v4 Core and Shell Gold certification, demonstrating the architects' commitment to environmental responsibility alongside their focus on transparency and rational design.
The project represents a significant milestone for Rafael Viñoly Architects, as it marks one of the final contributions from the firm's founder, Rafael Viñoly, who passed away in 2023. The Uruguayan-born architect was raised in Buenos Aires and began his architectural education at the University of Buenos Aires before opening his first office in the city. "The [Vilo] building marks my father's final contribution to the city that gave him his start as an architect," reflected Román Viñoly.
The Vilo Tower continues Rafael Viñoly Architects' reputation for creating buildings with exposed structural elements and innovative approaches to transparency. The firm recently completed a skyscraper in New York City featuring a similarly exposed concrete core and has unveiled plans for a terminal at Florence Airport in Italy that will be covered with a vineyard.
The project involved collaboration with several specialized consultants, including Curutchet del Villar as structural engineers, GNBA as MEP/FP engineers, Cappiello Partners as lighting designers, and Amarilla as construction managers. Photography of the completed building was captured by Daniela Mac Adden, showcasing the tower's dramatic interplay of transparency, structure, and light.
