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Globally Renowned Architect Rafael Viñoly Dies Aged 78

Renowned architect Rafael Viñoly, famous in the UK for the ‘Walkie-Talkie’ tower, has died in New York aged 78. Responsible for hundreds of influential builds globally, the Rafael Viñoly Architects practice had studios in the London, Manchester, US, Abu Dhabi, and Buenos Aires. Famous buildings include the 432 Park Avenue skyscraper in New York City, known for being the tallest residential building in the world for a short time.

Outside of the UK Viñoly’s notable designs included the Van Andel Institute for cancer research in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and the Bronx County Hall of Justice. His competition-winning proposal for the Tokyo International Forum in Japan, featuring a glazed hall with a 60 metre high curtain wall of laminated glass, brought Viñoly worldwide recognition.

Viñoly was the mastermind behind the divisive Walkie Talkie Tower, a 37-storey London structure on Fenchurch Street. The building became infamous after the curved glass facade reportedly caused damage to nearby properties due to reflected sunlight. Other UK projects included a visual arts facility in Colchester, and the Curve theatre project in Leicester.

The studio was also responsible for planning the Manchester City Football Academy next to the Etihad Stadium, the University of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter and Mathematical Institute, and the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre at the University of Manchester.

In 2008 Viñoly was selected to oversee plans for a £5.5 billion overhaul of the Battersea power station. The original plan for the famous landmark featured a 300 metre glass ‘eco-tower’, however, this was later dropped. Viñoly was based in New York since 1978 but continued to work globally.

IMAGE: Jane Gitschier - Renowned architect Rafael Viñoly has died in New York aged 78

The regeneration arm of Peel Group has announced developer X1 will now build its 31-storey tower that will form part of its Liverpool Waters scheme. Patagonia Place had initially been scheduled to be delivered by Your Housing Group, but the residential provider opted to walk away from the development last year.

X1 will continue with Your Housing Group’s £50 million plans for the site, which planning consultant Arup helped to secure permission in 2020. The proposals include 278 apartments designed by Falconer Chester Hall.

Chris Capes, Director of Development at Liverpool Waters said: “With planning already approved by Liverpool City Council and a world-renowned residential developer at the helm, we are delighted that the construction of Patagonia Place can now proceed full steam ahead.”

Liverpool Waters is expected to be delivered over 30 years and is said to be a development that will ‘completely transform’ the city's northern docks, creating a sustainable world-class, high-quality waterfront, including retail, leisure, office and residential space – bringing life back to the historic docklands.

The waterfront development will be the home for the new Isle of Man ferry terminal, being built by McLaughlin & Harvey and Everton Football Club’s new stadium at Bramley-Moore Dock, being built by Laing O'Rourke.

IMAGE: Peel Group/ Liverpool Waters - Patagonia Place part of the Liverpool Waters development that will transform the northern docks