Viñoly, Rafael, 1944–, Uruguayan-American architect, b. Montevideo. Even before receiving his architectural degrees (1968, 1969) from the Univ. of Buenos Aires, he and six associates founded Argentina's Estudio de Arquitectura, which became one of South America's largest and most successful architectural firms. In 1978 Viñoly immigrated to the United States, opening Rafael Viñoly Architects in 1983 in New York (and later London and Tokyo). His first major American project was the John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York City (1988). He established his international reputation with the International Forum, Tokyo (1996), a glimmering urban complex with a cantilevered glass roof. Viñoly is especially known for public buildings that display structural originality, often featuring a bold central geometric element and skillful detailing, and are integrated into their settings. Among his other buildings are the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh (2003), Rose Hall at Jazz at Lincoln Center, New York City (2004), the Howard Hughes Medical Institute facility near Ashburn, Va. (2006), and a terminal at Carrasco International Airport, Montevideo (2009).
See his Rafael Viñoly (2002).
The Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia, 6th ed. Copyright © 2024, Columbia University Press. All rights reserved.
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Architecture: Biographies
