Balcon del Cerro International Competition, Montevideo, Uruguay, Special Mention, 2022
with @gonzalorivaszinnoarchitecture, @felipereyno, @charliebunches and @bronstudiobron

The proposal for the new Balcón del Cerro project addresses the fragmented condition between the Parque Vaz Ferreira and the urban fabric of Cerro Norte in Montevideo as an opportunity to reconnect different urban, social and landscape systems through a new architectural and territorial strategy. The proposal is structured around two complementary interventions: the creation of the “Balcón del Cerro” promenade and the development of a new multifunctional public building conceived as an open civic infrastructure.

The new promenade transforms the park edge into a permeable and active public threshold. A network of pedestrian paths extends the existing urban streets into the park through sinuous routes that enhance the landscape qualities of the site, linking existing cultural and social elements —such as the Teatro del Verano, the former Parador del Cerro and the surrounding public spaces— while framing new visual relationships towards Montevideo Bay. Rather than mere paths, the “Balcón del Cerro” becomes a collective public space for contemplation, recreation and social integration.

The architectural proposal emerges directly from the site’s topography. The building operates in two directions: adapting longitudinally to the natural slope of the hill while opening transversally towards the panoramic views of the bay. The project minimizes its visual impact by embedding part of the program into the terrain and by using stepped exterior platforms that connect the multifunctional hall with the public promenade.

The building is organized through a modular system based on prefabricated and industrialized components, allowing economic feasibility, constructive efficiency and future adaptability. Passive environmental strategies —natural lighting, cross ventilation, rainwater collection and solar energy production— reinforce the sustainable character of the proposal. Through a restrained architectural language and a strong integration with the landscape, the project seeks to create a new civic landmark for the Cerro: a place of encounter, culture and collective identity.