CasaGrande Building by Estudio Planta: A Contemporary Condo-Hotel Rooted in the Spirit of José Ignacio

Located at the entrance of José Ignacio, Uruguay, the CasaGrande Building by Estudio Planta redefines large-scale hospitality architecture within a delicate coastal context. Completed in 2020, this condo-hotel development spans approximately 6,200 m² (66,736 ft²) and represents the first building of its scale on the peninsula, establishing itself as a new architectural landmark while remaining deeply connected to the town’s beachside identity.

Conceived as a hybrid model, CasaGrande operates as a condo-hotel, where privately owned apartments are managed and rented under a hotel administration for a period of ten years. This programmatic approach required a careful balance between residential comfort, hospitality efficiency, and contextual sensitivity, an architectural challenge that became central to the project’s design philosophy.

Preserving the Character of a Coastal Fishing Village

One of the primary ambitions of Estudio Planta was to preserve the rustic, relaxed character that defines José Ignacio, a town historically shaped by its origins as a small fishing village. Introducing a building of this size demanded a design strategy that respected existing urban scale while accommodating a contemporary hotel program.

Rather than imposing a monolithic volume, the architects fragmented the massing and articulated the building as a three-level cloister organized around a central courtyard. This approach allows the project to integrate seamlessly into its surroundings, maintaining a human scale and reinforcing the town’s informal, coastal atmosphere.

Modular Design and Volumetric Articulation

The overall configuration of CasaGrande is based on a three-dimensional orthogonal structural grid, which serves as the foundation for both spatial diversity and construction efficiency. The grid, designed on a 4.75 x 3.15 meter module, enables a flexible arrangement of spaces while minimizing structural effort.

This system supports the assembly of 56 apartment units across 26 different typologies, each carefully composed to create varied spatial experiences. The articulation of volumes: often described as a “Tetris-like” composition: results in dynamic facades, terraces, and shaded recesses, giving the building a sense of depth and movement.

Central Courtyard and Climate-Responsive Circulation

At the heart of the project lies the central courtyard, a defining element that acts as both a social nucleus and a climatic regulator. Sheltered from strong coastal winds, the courtyard generates a protected microclimate that enhances outdoor comfort throughout the year.

Circulation within the building is entirely external, unfolding through a series of labyrinthine walkways that weave through vegetation and elevated paths. These circulation routes are intentionally distanced from apartment windows, ensuring privacy while creating a pleasant, social promenade among treetops. This design reinforces the communal nature of the project without compromising the intimacy of individual units.

Cross Ventilation and Passive Comfort Strategies

Each apartment benefits from dual orientation, facing both the exterior landscape and the internal courtyard. This configuration allows for cross ventilation, significantly reducing the need for mechanical air conditioning. The elimination of active climate systems aligns the project with passive design principles, enhancing energy efficiency while responding to Uruguay’s coastal climate.

Outdoor living spaces play a crucial role in this strategy. Every apartment includes at least one private terrace or balcony, designed for intensive use. These spaces are equipped with pergolas, deep eaves, and glass railings for wind protection, while integrated vegetation provides shade, privacy, and a sensory connection to nature.

Landscape Integration and Visual Camouflage

CasaGrande is carefully camouflaged within its environment through the use of terracing and native vegetation. Green roofs, planted terraces, and landscape buffers soften the building’s edges and reduce its visual impact when viewed from the surrounding area.

The vegetation creates the impression of a meadow elevated above ground, reinforcing the project’s connection to the coastal landscape and enhancing biodiversity. This strategy allows the building to blend into its context rather than dominate it, a critical consideration given its prominent location at the town’s entrance.

Materiality and Facade Design

Structurally, the building is constructed in reinforced concrete, while the exterior is clad in brick and in-situ concrete panels. These panels were cast using twelve different sawn wooden molds, introducing subtle variations in texture and rhythm across the facade.

Although the original design proposed operable shutters for all windows, budget constraints led to their replacement with deep eaves, which continue to provide solar protection while maintaining the building’s understated aesthetic. The resulting facade balances robustness with warmth, reflecting both contemporary construction techniques and traditional coastal materials.

Urban Interface and Commercial Activation

To buffer the project from Route 10 and reinforce urban continuity, three blocks of commercial spaces were introduced along the street edge. These shops form a small commercial hub at the entrance to José Ignacio, extending the existing urban fabric and encouraging pedestrian activity.

Arranged in a comb-like layout, the shops create passageways that lead to Plaza Chica, a small public square that serves as an extension of the hotel’s restaurant and connects directly to the main entrance gallery. This sequence of public spaces enhances the project’s integration into the town’s social life.

Amenities and Shared Spaces

CasaGrande offers a range of amenities designed to support seasonal living and leisure. These include a cold pool and a heated pool nestled among maritime pine trees, as well as a generous green rooftop terrace featuring barbecue areas, outdoor lounges, showers, and panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

The hotel entrance is discreetly positioned on Lobos Street, partially submerged to create a cool, shaded arrival experience. Underground parking is naturally lit and ventilated through vertical circulation cores, ensuring functionality without compromising environmental quality.

A Contemporary Landmark with Local Roots

Through its careful massing, climate-responsive design, and sensitive material palette, CasaGrande Building stands as a model for contemporary coastal hospitality architecture. Estudio Planta successfully demonstrates how large-scale development can coexist with local identity, offering a refined architectural response that respects landscape, climate, and community.