STATUS
IDEA
CLIENT
Werthein Group
TYPOLOGY
Residential
SIZE M2/FT2
150,000 / 1,614,600
SHARE
BIG was invited to design two new city blocks at one of the main entrances to Buenos Aires. The zoning called for a dense development within two compact volumes capped at 100 m of height framing a small public space. The result was like a tall urban wall with a small gap in it.
Buenos Aires is a lively city with a vibrant social life, but to our surprise it only has 2 m2 of public green space per person compared to the nine square meters recommended by WHO. This was something BIG’s design could address. As a result, the two blocks are transformed into five towers. Each tower is given a different height to eliminate the sensation of a wall. The podium is reduced into semi-sunken pavilions, turning their roofs into green slopes. The bases of each tower are eroded diminishing the footprint and allowing a public park to expand.
The site is located along Avenida Del Libertador, which is one of the major streets of Buenos Aires. The location is prominent and highly visible. It varies in width and is composed of 6 directional traffic lanes framed by an extensive bicycle network along wide pedestrian sidewalks.
5 TOWERS
— The program is divided between five towers and four podium buildings. Each
residential building has 9 floors of premium residential, 22 floors of residential,
and amenities and lobbies at the top and bottom. The mixed use building has
11 office floors, and 15 hotel floors. Two of the podium buildings are shared
lobbies and two are full retail podiums.
CUT THE TOP FOR VIEWS
— Cutting the top of each tower in two directions increases space towards the more premium units at the top, and better orients these units towards water and urban views.
GREEN TERRACES
— The cuts at the top of each
tower are then stepped to
provide outdoor terraces that seamlessly connect to the
indoor living space. These
tenants get the park experience right outside their doors.
OPEN URBAN CORNERS
— The base of the towers are
carved inward in order the open public space at the ground floor, and soften the urban edges of the tower footprints.
TERRACED PODIUMS
— Four podium buildings define the urban space of the towers. They all step away from the towers to allow for more space between the towers and podiums. Two of shared lobbies for the residential and two are full of retail.
HABIT TOWERS
— Together the Habit Towers
provide a strong urban
realm, and a distinct skyline
formed from the stepped
green terraces. It is a striking ecological landmark for Buenos Aires.
Toward the top, the towers erode in a similar way by creating a landscape of terraces for the people living and working there. The resulting complex provides a new park with a more than threefold increase in public green space, and an alpine architectural silhouette on the city’s skyline. In a synergy of public and private interest, by offering the space to the public where it is the most in need, we earn the freedom to redistribute the lost density above.
Agustin Perez-Torres Alejandra Cortes Bjarke Ingels Chris Tron Danna Lei Kristian Hindsberg Mike Munoz Sebastian Claussnitzer Simon Scheller Siqi Zhang Yi Lun Yang Ana Luisa Pedreira Andres Romero Autumn Visconti Douglas Breuer James Hartman Josiah Poland Julian Ocampo Salazar Mo Li
COLLABORATORS
RED
