Vallarta Tower 

Guadalajara / Mexico / 2002 (Project)

Limited International competition for a thirty story building 

Client: JVC Center

Net Area: 20,000 m2

Structural Engineer: Atelier One

When building a new tower of lofts one has not only to emulate the potential of the converted industrial space but also to extend it with the possibilities of the brand new and to edit out some of the inherited drawbacks of the old. The majority of lofts are slices and sections, carves of thick buildings. It is very common for them to have only one direction of glazing to the outside world. By building a tower of lofts one can achieve a plot in the sky windowed to all directions.

The small column-less footprint of the building takes less of the plot and enjoys a bigger breathing space, leaving room for communal gardens and landscaping at ground level. The slimness and height of the building creates a bold landmark and enhances the tower experience. As the structural service core is located between the two wings, this leaves the floor slabs at each level free to accommodate whatever internal layout is desired. Each apartment has its own spacious and special garden/balcony.

There are 30 levels including the special penthouses that occupy three levels. Each loft has three sides of glazing; the front is totally operable so that the garden terrace can be annexed to the living space. The skin enveloping the wings will be fabricated from Alucobond incorporating an insulated lightweight sandwich composite.

Vertical Parking Facility: Our proposal also tackles one of the main problems of dwellings in a tower block - the parking. In accordance with the brief requirement, we propose a vertical parking facility to provide the space for two cars per apartment. As there is insufficient space on the site for surface parking, the only other possibility would of course be multi-level underground parking. Underground car parks have not only become notoriously dangerous places but are also very inconvenient. A journey to the comfort of one’s home need not include a stop underground and a walk from the car to the lift. Taking your car and luggage up to the floor level by means of an external vertical car lift seems a lot more appealing. Computer controlled high-rise car park facilities are tried and tested propositions - what we propose in our scheme is a car parking space at each level with four cars per level, two cars per wing. Parking at your front door.