World-Renowned Architect Rafael Viñoly Breaks Down his Biggest Projects | Architectural Digest

Architectural Digest sits down with world-renowned architect Rafael Viñoly to discuss several of his major projects around the world like 432 Park Avenue, the tallest residential tower in the Northern Hemisphere, and the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Transcript
[Voiceover] I'm Rafael Viñoly.
I'm an architect in New York
and in many other parts of the world.
We've done a lot of work in America,
but also in Europe and in London,
and a very large project in Japan.
We have offices in the West Coast and in London
and in the Middle East.
What makes a piece of architecture into something
significant in terms of its artistic value
is something very difficult to define,
but that everybody knows one way or another
which is the way the proportions work.
It is a very efficient structure
for such a slender building so tall.
The form responds to a number of conditions
making the building less impacted
by the forces of wind and so on.
It has a dignity I say and simplicity
that is quite striking in my mind.
And I think the building is, as I say
is a very good contribution to a very desperate
collection of different approaches to
how to do architecture.
This town invented high rise luxury housing
and we thought that this building could actually
take the problem a quantum leap forward, right?
And you could have a life experience
from your home which is really unique.
And I think the building does do that.
And so, it's literally like six buildings
one on top of the other and all encased
into this sort of frame that has a
carefully studied proportional base.
Imagine what it is to be driving in a car
in one of the most phenomenally beautiful
places in the world and you can never see anything.
In a straight bridge, you never do.
It makes a place in the middle of the water
and also forces everybody to reduce speed.
And at the same time, have this unbelievable
panoramic view of the environment.
It's the first time in a car that you're
forced to look this way, right?
And then inside of this thing is a
you define a place, which is what attracts people.
I mean see a lot of people walking around it
and if you could fish in here,
which is what we plan and hopefully this thing
will be completed this year.
[Interviewer] So what's next for you?
I guess...
going to lunch or something.


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World-Renowned Architect Rafael Viñoly Breaks Down his Biggest Projects | Architectural Digest

[niceprofile-ki]

Isn’t this the tool that made that building that melts cars?

[juano]

No metion to the Vdara Hotel, nor the Walkie Talkie? Hilarious 🤣

[miloshp]

nothing special about Park 432

slightly unique superficial design of a cashgrab skyscrapper

are we suposed to be amazed by that?
no

[omars.]

432 Park is an architectural abomination. But it makes all the sense in the world if you're trying to maximize capital.

[taylorhickman]

renowned for designs that melt passers by?

[OfficerStiffy]

This guy disrespected New York with the design of this building. First it is inspired by a trash can. Second of all it's too tall and skinny. And third of all it's uncreative. This man should be ashamed of himself!

[echao]

Architects who had ever designed a straight bridge had never considered the inefficient use of space, material and time (of the bridge builders AND the bridge users), but were simply uninspired. Wow!

[itsrosso]

Every time I am in Manhattan I have to try really hard to blot this thing out of my view of the skyline. It is just so basically hideous.

[hansmeyer]

Does anyone know what type of pen he is using?

[maureenhansen]

The ordinary cheetah arthroscopically load because hose phylogentically listen notwithstanding a jealous jaw. redundant, glistening glorious swing

[AribellaAC]

Beauty is subjective. In paintings, in architecture, in life. I got on twitter the other day and clutched my pearls when I saw people calling Van Gogh "overrated". Similarly, I would say I find it odd that people find 432 Park ugly. But I love clean, straight lines. Again, subjective. We all have different opinions, and either way this man woke up and to the check being cut. I can't be mad at it.

[danfer]

Genius and argentine in some way because he studyed in buenos aires and worked here before to usa.