MASTERPLAN, DESIGN AND ARCHITECTURE: MARIO CONNIO

When we thought about a designer to create Pinar del Faro concept, we looked for a professional who knows Punta del Este and its way of life. Somebody who, at the same time, brings a breath of fresh air with ingenious ideas, such as those that changed Punta del Este during the 40's and 50's, when San Rafael developed a style with yards, rounded corners, and a common criteria among houses in the same block.

We, ourselves, visited the houses Mario built from Piriápolis to La Pedrera: around 30 houses along the seacoast, where each member of the house has his own space although there is also a common area. We loved the independence concept, those never-ending galleries covered with bamboo so that the light filters in all directions the inside to the outside, the yards, the custom-designed water fountains, all of a craftsman quality.

Mario's first idea about Pinar was to create a place in which it feels like being in small town. Hence, three squares, in which Butia palm trees were planted, were designed following the line of José Ignacio, Maldonado and San Carlos' squares, as well as a tennis club, which will be the meeting point for children and adults, and a swimming pool with a bar for those which do not want to move very much. In order to make everyday life easier, here will also function a lobby, designed as a hotel lobby or reception, where owners can leave packages or keys, and pay bills, among others. This lobby will be in permanent comunication with the main entrance and with the access gate to the beach, so in this way, messages or notes to the gardener, friend or builder may be addressed.



At a second stage, once the concept has been already designed, we focused on those details that would make Pinar a quality and different place. Although streets could be 12 meters-wide according to public laws, we made them of 17 meters and their levels were lowered on the average a meter and a half so that cars were driven below the plot of land levels; all that sand was transferred towards Pinar lowest areas and squares. At a greater cost, services were decided to be underground, installing electricity and telephony first and laying pipes appropriate for broadband, video and security wiring; in this way we anticipated future works.

Finally, at a third stage, Mario detailed the architectural line he wanted for the project -you can find this at Pinar building code- so as to maintain coherence as it happens in the small towns of south Spain.

Pinar acquired from him three two-floor house models of 150m, 205m and 250m each. Co-owners also have the possibility of dreaming about their own design following the characteristics detailed in the Code.

People may enter Pinar by car or on foot through its main entrance, , and may go to the beach walking or riding a bicycle through a direct exit. At both accesses, people's entrance will be controlled.