The Uruguayan architect residing in New York Rafael Vinoly, designer of iconic contemporary skyscrapers such as the Walkie-Talkie Tower at 20 Fenchurch Street in London, passed away at age 78, reported his family. “On behalf of my family, my colleagues and our many partners around the world, I am saddened to announce that my father (& mldr;) passed away unexpectedly yesterday (Thursday) March 2 at the age of 78,” said the son of he Roman.
Acclaimed and sometimes controversial, the architect born in Montevideo in 1944 leaves more than 600 works around the world, hotels, concert halls, stadiums and other infrastructures, such as the circular bridge over the Garzón lagoon, in Uruguay. He also stood out for his designs of the Tokyo International Forum, the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Carrasco Airport in Montevideo.
English football club Manchester City, for which he designed the training center City Football Academypaid tribute to him on Twitter.
Controversy
But some of his projects have been controversial. This is the case of a 426-meter-tall, 85-story luxury residential building in Manhattan, 432 Park Avenue. Its millionaire residents have sued it for noise and vibrations inside the apartments.
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In London, the Walkie-Talkie skyscraper in the City made headlines in 2013 because the reflection of the sun’s rays from its concave glass façade had damaged a Jaguar parked below.
Rafael Viñoly “leaves a rich legacy of unique and timeless designs that have been expressed in some of the most recognizable and iconic buildings in the world”, added his son in the note that he has published in the Viñoly Architects website.