Designing a More Livable World

He finds satisfaction at every stage of the project—taking a holistic approach to architecture that takes into account each structure’s relationship to its surroundings—and  thrives on the constant challenges of his chosen profession. “Each project is in a different site, in a different place, for different uses, for different clients, and so each project is unique,” says Pelli. “The fact that I am continuously having to deal with emergencies, with people that disagree with me, is somehow what keeps me alive.”

For all his accomplishments and awards, Pelli isn’t finished making his mark on the world. He’s contributing to the Las Vegas skyline with the 61-story, 4,004-room Aria Resort & Casino: two curved glass towers that will use natural light to showcase an interior that features reclaimed wood and native sandstone elements. The sustainable design of the resort, which opens in December, includes use of wood products from responsibly managed forests, high-efficiency water use both inside and outside, and features that raise energy-efficiency to 30 percent above standard building codes.

“Such a project suggests Cesar Pelli’s ability and willingness to adapt to the needs of a given project,” says Kevin Fuller, technical director at Gensler, a global architectural design firm headquartered in San Francisco.
 
Pelli’s firm is also working on new projects in Latin America, Amsterdam, Spain, London, Dubai, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore, China, Japan—just about anywhere new buildings are rising from the dirt.
 
Among Latin American projects, Pelli recently designed Torre Libertad, a 31-story mixed-use tower along Mexico City’s grand historic boulevard Paseo de la Reforma. In response to its historically significant site, the design of the tower is simple and sculptural. As with the Aria, the building is designed with energy-efficient features and state-of-the-art, eco-friendly technology, including the first use in Mexico of an “intelligent” automatic water-saving system. 
 
And back in his motherland, Pelli recently designed the Repsol-YPF Headquarters in Buenos Aires. Its shape consists of  a triangular prism juxtaposed to a rotated square prism topped by a five-story winter garden with sweeping views of the city.

After 60 years designing landmarks, does he have a favorite? The question elicits a smile: “My buildings are like my children, so I cannot have favorites,” Pelli says.  
 
He finds architectural design as rewarding now as when he started and has no plans to curb his pace. “Architecture adds dimensions to my life that would be impossible to acquire if I retired,” says Pelli, who came to the United States at age 26 with $10 in his pocket. “The beautiful thing about architecture is that every project is brand new. I am forced to renew myself with every project. Isn’t that wonderful?”

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