The Virtuoso of Architecture
Architect Rafael Viñoly designs Philadelphia’s next landmark
To anyone who has seen Rafael Viñoly’s plans for Philadelphia’s Regional Performing Arts Center, it’s no surprise to learn that the architect is also a classically-trained cellist and pianist who once considered a concert career. His sensitivity to the nuances of performance makes him especially adept at designing acoustically-derived spaces that fulfill the needs of both performer and audience.
"I do think my musical background is an asset, because I can understand the language," said Viñoly. "Besides, buildings are forms of performance."
"Unlike what most people think, architecture isn’t only visual," he added. "There are many other things you don’t see, such as how the building sounds."
Born in Montevideo, Uruguay, and raised in Argentina, Viñoly has lived and worked in the United States since 1979. He is principal of the internationally-renowned Rafael Viñoly Architects PC, with practices in New York, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires.
After completing architectural studies at the University of Buenos Aires, Viñoly founded a firm that became one of the largest in South America. He also served on the University’s faculty until 1974, when a military coup resulted in major reorganization of the school, prompting him to establish an alternative architecture school that operated independently during the military occupation.
Viñoly’s design for the Tokyo International Forum, a 6.7 acre performing arts complex and convention center in the heart of the Marunouchi District, received worldwide acclaim for setting new standards in the design of performance spaces.
Herbert Muschamp, architecture critic for The New York Times called the Forum "such a perfectly realized building that you may actually find yourself hoping that a flaw will turn up." He added, "The only thing it can be faulted for is a pursuit of excellence so unyielding that it seems to not quite deserve a place in our world of scintillating compromise."
Viñoly’s recent and current projects include a sports stadium for Princeton University, a courthouse for the New York State Supreme Court, and an office building for Samsung Corp. in Korea.
A two-time recipient of the American Institute of Architecture’s (AIA) Excellence in Design Award, as well as the AIA Medal of Honor, Viñoly became a member of the American Academy of Design in 1996. His work has been featured in many national and international publications, including Architectural Record, Architecture, Architectural Review, Casa Bella, Construcciones, Domus, Global Architecture, Nuestra Architectura, Japan Architecture and Japan Interior Design.
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