Wedoany.com Report on Feb 27th, In Buenos Aires, Argentina, the Vuelta 475 green high-rise, created by architectural studio Adamo-Faiden, has become a new urban landmark. This building stands out with its unique design while cleverly integrating into its surroundings. The project is situated at the junction between the old and new city centers, with one side facing the Puerto Madero redeveloped dock area featuring luxurious green high-rises, and the other side adjacent to Avenida Vuelta and the historic civic district.
The Vuelta 475 green high-rise is the result of a collaboration between Adamo-Faiden and Consultatio. It comprises 39 floors, housing 507 residential units and public spaces, with a total floor area of 44,560 square meters and a height of 120.6 meters. Its three basement levels contain parking facilities and technical areas, while above them lies a 2,575-square-meter public plaza open to the public during business hours. A public passageway that also functions as an atrium features cafes and restaurants, designed to increase foot traffic and public interaction.
Argentine architects Sebastián Adamo and Marcelo Faiden are committed to creating an inclusive, democratic green high-rise that encourages residents to interact with their neighbors both inside and outside the building. The building incorporates multiple public spaces internally, while externally, it emphasizes "dialogue" with surrounding structures, flora, and fauna, aiming to embrace the community and break away from the exclusive, isolated model typical of many high-rise developments. This EDGE-certified green high-rise features a moss-green facade that mimics the hues of the adjacent tree-filled park and also possesses waterproofing properties.
Structurally, the high-rise is built around a central core, utilizing perforated perimeter shear walls and partially relieved flat slabs. From the 13th floor upwards, a 37-foot cantilever is supported by a specialized structural system that distributes loads every five floors to the central core and the two side facades. The fair-faced concrete facade is not only a structural element but also a key defining feature of the project. It achieves a monolithic appearance through textured formwork, with design elements like balcony railings matching its color tone.
This is the studio's first large-scale green high-rise project, drawing on over two decades of experience with smaller residential works. Adamo stated that large-scale projects require different construction techniques, involving considerations such as wind pressure, system complexity, and modes of living. The building's planning challenges conventional housing concepts, with public spaces designed as extensions of the home, evenly distributed throughout the high-rise to foster community exchange.
The architects view this high-rise as a dynamic presence, reflected in the unique facade and volumetric decisions. Adamo explained that the facade design considers the urban scale; the fractured, long facade captures light reflections, creating a dynamic effect that connects with viewers and offers a synesthetic experience. Simultaneously, attention is paid to interaction at the neighborhood and pedestrian scale, achieving a harmonious integration of aesthetic, technical, and construction choices.
Even with the project's completion, the studio remains reluctant to define or categorize itself. Adamo expressed that the studio's biography is what it has done, not a description of its work, preserving the freedom of description to avoid limiting future exploration.
