"Nautical heritage" informs Pininfarina's design of the tallest skyscraper in Brazil

Italian design studio Pininfarina's Yachthouse has become the tallest building in Brazil, located in the skyscraper capital of Balneário Camboriú whose recent flurry of skyscraper construction was recently examined in a Dezeen feature.

Located in the southern city of Balneário Camboriú, the Yachthouse project contains two 81-storey residential skyscrapers that each reach 294 metres high (964 feet) – only six metres from the supertall skyscraper designation.

Developed by local company Pasqualotto & GT, the skyscrapers contain luxury residences and were designed to be an "architectural icon" in the city, which is populated with a band of skyscrapers lining its coast.

"With Yachthouse, the objective was never just to build the tallest building – it was to create an architectural icon that embodies performance, elegance, and innovation," Pininfarina chief architect officer Samuele Sordi told Dezeen.

"The impressive height is a direct result of this ambition, offering unparalleled views, an immersive luxury experience, and a striking presence in the skyline."

The towers sit on a shared triangular podium and are clad in dark, reflective glass with horizontal aluminium bands that provide shade to the buildings, according to the studio.

Each tower also features a notched cap and an opaque spine that travels down the backside.

The design was informed by the buildings' site, the Marina Tedesco marina that sits at the end of Balneário Camboriú's beachfront strip.

"Catalyzing urban revitalisation"

"The design of Yachthouse by Pininfarina draws inspiration from its coastal surroundings and nautical heritage," said the studio. "The triangular base of the structure represents the keel of a yacht, anchoring two towers that soar towards the sky."

Yachthouse was also designed to contribute to Balneário Camboriú's urban development, a unique result of its reputation as a tourist city, its protected geography and local zoning laws that allow private developers to effectively buy height increases in the city.

"It serves as a destination for both Balneário Camboriú residents and tourists, catalyzing urban revitalisation and embodying the vibrancy of contemporary Brazilian lifestyle," said Pininfarnia.

The completion of Yachthouse in 2024 unseated the previous tallest tower in the city by four metres, the One Tower by local developer FG Empreendimentos.

According to local news outlet G1, two decorative 13-metre pinnacles added to the top of towers attributed to the feat.

"We are honored to shape the city's skyline and contribute to its bold, forward-thinking architectural identity," said Sordi. "Achieving one of the tallest residential towers in Latin America is a milestone we take great pride in."

At over 500 metres tall, the Senna Tower is also in progress in the city and is set to be the world's tallest residential skyscraper upon completion, among others vying for the title.

Other skyscrapers completed in the country include two residential skyscrapers by UNStudio in the nearby city of São Paulo, where an expansion to Lina Bo Bardi's Museu de Arte de São Paulo by Metro Arquitetos Associados was also recently completed.

The photography is courtesy of Pininfarnia

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