Punta Piedra

Waterfront Microcity for Rodriguez Pons Architects

Punta Piedra is a waterfront masterplan development in the city of Carmelo, Uruguay. This is a human scale micro city, 100% ecologically oriented, based on a 15 minutes city concept premise. Its oval shape has been conceived as an elliptical boulevard called the Gran Via, which runs through the entire enterprise from the forest inland into the Rio de la Plata waters. Located all along it you can find residences, offices, commercial and cultural areas, nurseries, schools, the yacht club, promenade, parks and beaches to give it functionality and public-spirited presence 24/7.

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Punta Piedra by Marcello Rodriguez Pons

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Waterfront Microcity by Marcello Rodriguez Pons

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Marcello Rodriguez Pons Punta Piedra

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Marcello Rodriguez Pons Waterfront Microcity

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Unique Properties

Punta Piedra is a new river waterfront masterplan development in the city of Carmelo, Uruguay. Its oval shape has been conceived as an elliptical boulevard called the Gran Via, which runs through the entire development from the high inland forest into the waters of the River de la Plata. Located all along it you can find residences, offices, commercial and cultural areas, nurseries, schools, the yacht club, promenade, parks and beaches to give it functionality, mixed use and public-spirited presence. Two high-rise towers crown the city view from the river which will be the new city icons.

Tags

Marina, Microcity, 15 minutes, Oval, Waterfront, Yacht, Park, Carmelo, Uruguay

Production Technology

Construction and demolition waste (CDW) from the city of Montevideo, the country capital, will be used for filling the sheet pile walls and to produce new concrete and other materials for streets and buildings. The development aims to use 50% of recycled materials for all its new constructions.

Design Challenge

The waterfronts in this microcity are not dominated by residential developments. Why? Because these are places that are full of people, day and night. They are the sites of festivals, markets, fireworks display, concerts and other high energy gatherings. A high concentration of residential development limits the diversity of waterfront use and an ideal 24/7 hour activity from flourishing. This mixed use development was achieved with project explanation to privates and authorities vs their economic interests.

Project Duration

The masterplan project started in 2019 and was finished in late 2022. It was exhibited at the World Architecture Community New York, USA and other city planning conventions because of its compact and multi-use design concept. Phase 1 of the marina sheet pile walls and the promenade filling construction should be starting late 2025.

Operation Flow

This will be a human scale waterfront microcity. The masterplan is based on a 15 minutes city premise: the proximity of everything you need in a city (residences, workplace, supermarkets and shops, nurseries, schools, culture and parks) are within a very short distance on foot or by bicycle. Additionally, 100% ecologically oriented with plug-in services transport for electrical vehicles (EV city) have also been designed.

Research

The master plan is very respectful of the local topography, water influences (rains and tides) and plants (eucalyptus forest in the highlands & the mangroves by the river) and has adapted itself to preserve and enhance them, thus providing the maximum functionality and flexibility for the XXI century living requirements. All of it designed with rigorous rationality and adjusted to a viable budget and execution.

Inspiration

The initial idea of this neighborhood was to create vibrant public spaces and by extension an animated microcity. To do so, the waterfront promenade was designed with several public access points to the coast all along the masterplan, so people could participate of the coastline in many ways from swimming or fishing, dining or picnicking dockside, boarding boats to feeding the ducks. Creating these specific designed connection points also means enticing people to the waterfront on foot or bike and with that create a real community living place.

Image Credits

All images copyright: Rodriguez Pons / Architects, 2024

Project Overview

Punta Piedra Waterfront Microcity has been a Silver winner in the Urban Planning and Urban Design award category in the year 2024 organized by the prestigious A' Design Award & Competition. The Silver A' Design Award celebrates top-tier designs that embody excellence and innovation. This award acknowledges creations that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also highly functional, reflecting the designer's deep understanding and skill. Silver A' Design Award recipients are recognized for their contribution to raising industry standards and advancing the practice of design. Their work often incorporates original innovations and elicits a strong emotional response, making a notable impact on the improvement of everyday life.

Silver Recognition

Marcello Rodriguez Pons was recognized with the coveted Silver A' Design Award in 2025, a testament to excellence of their work Punta Piedra Waterfront Microcity.

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