Globally Renowned Architect Rafael Viñoly Dies Aged 78

6/6/23

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