#officetower

The VILO Office Tower in Buenos Aires presents a notable event for the firm of the deceased Rafael Viñoly. Positioned on Avenida del Libertador, the 16-floor building accommodates the main office of airport operator Corporación América and serves as a visual metaphor of openness, organization, and adaptability.

Project Overview

The construction reaches a height of about 60 meters and is made up of gigantic windows that measure 7.15 meters by 2.2 meters. The corners of the façade are rounded and are free from any visible supports, thus creating an unbroken visual connection between the two areas. A mixed structural system that includes a concrete core, columns, and slabs, combined with a two-story module, makes it possible to have mezzanines and double-height floor plates for flexible layouts.

Design Logic and Spatial Organisation

One of the most important aspects of the design is the glass-enclosed scissor staircase located at the back of the building. The stair and the elevator shaft are the two main elements that can be seen, while the front façade is more open. Double-height office floors are located on the street side, mezzanines in the middle, and single-level spaces at the back. The lobby on the ground floor is spread across three levels and provides facilities open to the public, such as a restaurant, which gives the building a civic presence rather than just a closed-off corporate tower.

Table: Key Zones ZoneFunctionArchitectural RoleLobby and BasePublic restaurant and entrance volumeActs as an urban gateway and connects city and buildingOffice FloorsHeadquarters and flexible workspacesDouble-height and mezzanine options maximise flexibilityTerrace & RoofRooftop terrace overlooking city and riverOffers amenity, views and daylight access Material and Structural Strategy

The façade glass panels let in a lot of daylight and virtually eliminate the boundary between the interior and exterior. The hybrid structural system is exposed on purpose so that both users and visitors can understand how the building is put together. The design is aimed at very high performance and is applying for a green certification through building materials and sustainability criteria like LEED Core & Shell Gold. Context and materials were important factors as well as a visible commitment to structure as architecture.

Urban and Cultural Context

Located by a main coastal road, the tower is a point of interaction between the city and the sea. It not only represents the headquarters of a prominent local operator but also welcomes the public into its ground floor area. The consequence is a building that integrates with its surroundings instead of being cut off. For more on urban engagement and city-scale thinking, visit cities.

Architectural Significance

The VILO Office Tower shows clearly how rationality, transparency, and structure can be mingled together in modern-day architecture. For designers and architects, this construction project is a good opportunity for pondering over the collaboration of exposure of structure, adaptable floor layouts, and extensive public ground floors in turning a commercial building from merely functional to important. The architectural vocabulary employed here is in tune with the current trends in architectural research.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The VILO Office Tower combines the different features of transparency, flexibility, and structural honesty into an elegant architectural statement. The giant glass panels and rounded edges of the building blend the inside and outside areas, while the use of both concrete and steel in the construction gives the building rhythm and precision.

This project changes the office typology by inserting civic value into a corporate program. The lobby and public restaurant open up the building to its urban surroundings, in opposition to the conventional secluded tower model. The exposed scissor staircase and the double-height floors make the building more readable and adaptable and strengthen the idea that architecture is an expressive and functional discipline. Though the tower is minimal, it reflects complexity with structural logic and public interaction.

Finally, this project shows that through lighting and revealing the structure, one can make buildings have both urban importance and visual lightness.

Conclusion

The VILO Office Tower, designed by Rafael Viñoly Architects, is a sophisticated architectural creation that unites the dual forces of corporate function and civic presence, the transparency of structure and the richness of materials. It shows that high-rise buildings can be beneficial to the city and the surroundings in a considerate manner. The building can serve as an example for architects, designers, and students in terms of the issues of transparency, flexibility, and the architectural value being timeless.

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In the heart of Ljubljana, a 100 meter office tower is taking shape, set to become a defining feature of the city’s urban landscape. The project forms part of a wider development that integrates administrative, commercial, and residential functions, marking a new phase in the city’s architectural evolution.

Ljubljana’s skyline gets a bold new landmark: the 100 meter Emonika Tower. More than just an office building, it’s a vibrant urban hub blending work, leisure, and sustainability complete with rooftop gardens, pedestrian walkways, and panoramic views. Designed to harmonize with the city’s historic charm while embracing the future, it stands as a symbol of Ljubljana’s evolving identity against a backdrop of rolling hills and clear skies. A new urban vision for the capital

The 23 story tower is part of a larger complex that includes a shopping center, hotel, and public spaces. Its design blends glass with sustainable materials, emphasizing natural light and smooth spatial flow between levels. The overall composition introduces a contemporary visual language that complements the rhythm of the surrounding city.

Where city life meets thoughtful design: The Emonika complex isn’t just another skyscraper it’s a living neighborhood. Offices, shops, a hotel, and inviting public spaces all come together around the railway, turning what could be noise and chaos into a vibrant, walkable urban experience. With green rooftops, shaded pathways, and human-scale plazas, it’s architecture that doesn’t just stand tall it breathes with the city. Design balancing function and form

The tower’s vertical composition reflects Ljubljana’s growing urban identity. The base hosts shops, restaurants, and public walkways, while the upper floors accommodate open office spaces framed by transparent façades overlooking the city. Crowning the structure is a hotel with an open terrace, offering panoramic views of the skyline.

As the sun dips behind the hills, this new tower in Ljubljana doesn’t just rise it breathes. Its sculpted wooden fins catch the golden light like leaves in the wind, wrapping the building in warmth and rhythm. Around it, life flows: trams glide, cars move, people stroll through green courtyards. This isn’t just architecture it’s a quiet revolution in how a city can grow, gently, beautifully, and with soul. Urban integration above and below ground

Beneath the development lies a multi-level underground parking facility, freeing surface areas for pedestrians and social activity. The substructure is directly linked to the nearby central railway station, ensuring seamless movement between the building and the city’s transport network.

Towering yet graceful the Emonika Tower doesn’t just reach for the sky, it dances with it. Its glass skin catches the light, echoing the clouds above, while down below, city life pulses: trams glide, cars weave, people stroll. In the distance, Castle Hill watches over it all a silent guardian of history meeting the boldness of tomorrow. This isn’t just a building. It’s Ljubljana whispering to the future elegantly, confidently, beautifully. A commitment to sustainability and identity

The project represents a step toward sustainable urban development, incorporating clean energy systems, heat recovery technology, and low emission materials. Its architectural approach strikes a balance between modernity and local character, merging contemporary aesthetics with respect for Ljubljana’s historical fabric.

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The article examines Ljubljana’s new tower as a visual and architectural shift in the city’s skyline. The design emerges as a layered glass volume balancing function and urban presence, with a controlled use of natural light and sustainable materials that convey structural clarity. Yet, the project raises questions about its contextual integration and whether it fosters an interactive urban experience beyond its exterior form. Still, it introduces a refined approach to vertical mixed use development, signaling a forward-looking direction in the evolving architectural landscape of Slovenia’s capital.

Explore the Latest Architecture Exhibitions & Conferences

ArchUp offers daily updates on top global architectural exhibitions, design conferences, and professional art and design forums. Follow key architecture competitions, check official results, and stay informed through the latest architectural news worldwide. ArchUp is your encyclopedic hub for discovering events and design-driven opportunities across the globe.