Miramar Tower by OODA

Rising prominently near the coastline, Miramar Tower by OODA distinguishes itself from the surrounding landscape while subtly referencing the proportionality of Pasteleira Park’s northern buildings. Unlike its neighbors, the tower embraces a unique conceptual approach, focusing on expansive living spaces with over 200 square meters of balcony per floor. The design intent was to create a bold, sculptural presence while maintaining spatial harmony with the site and surrounding structures.

The building occupies the central portion of the plot, optimizing spacing for neighboring developments and enhancing visual openness. Its volumetric composition is rooted in a structuralist matrix with a vertical dendriform section, allowing adaptability and optimization of apartment typologies. The spiral arrangement of the floors, combined with terraces modeled at 360 degrees, generates a compelling sense of verticality while providing each unit with unique outdoor spaces.

Architectural Expression

Each residence within the tower is defined by its individual terrace and garden, reinforcing a sense of uniqueness for every apartment. To avoid repetitive visual patterns and create dynamism, the horizontal slabs of the balconies are strategically offset, introducing movement and sculptural rhythm to the tower’s concrete envelope. These terraces serve not only as functional outdoor spaces but also as primary aesthetic elements, creating a playful dialogue of forms that changes with perspective.

Inside, the fluidity of common areas contrasts with the compartmentalized private rooms. This juxtaposition enhances spatial diversity and emphasizes exceptional user experiences. The ground floor houses an atrium connected to shared amenities, incorporating natural vegetation that fosters a microclimate and encourages biodiversity, blending the built environment with its natural surroundings.

Spatial Experience and Interior-Exterior Relationship

Miramar Tower’s design celebrates the relationship between interior and exterior spaces. Panoramic balconies extend the living areas outward, creating visual continuity with the horizon and allowing residents to experience the full breadth of the coastal landscape. The dynamic exterior terraces amplify the perception of movement, while the interior layouts maintain comfort and functionality. This tension between open fluidity and compartmentalization creates spaces that feel both expansive and intimate.

Materiality and Sculptural Presence

Concrete serves as the primary medium, giving the tower a robust and sculptural presence. The plasticity of the material allows for the creation of complex balcony forms and curving floor slabs, transforming the building into what OODA describes as a “habitable sculpture.” The concrete surfaces are treated with precision to highlight both structural integrity and architectural artistry, ensuring that the tower communicates strength, elegance, and permanence.

The interplay of balconies, terraces, and vertical circulation elements creates a layered facade that shifts dynamically as one moves around the tower. This approach ensures that the building remains visually engaging from every vantage point, reinforcing its iconic identity within the urban and coastal fabric.

Ground-Level Integration and Ecology

The ground floor integrates amenities such as a gym and communal spaces, designed to engage with the surrounding landscape and vegetation. The atrium acts as a green lung, supporting microclimatic conditions and enhancing biodiversity. This ecological sensitivity ensures that the tower is not merely a visual statement but also a sustainable, site-responsive intervention that respects the natural context.

Conceptual Vision

OODA envisioned Miramar Tower as potentially unrepeatable architecture, emphasizing both aesthetic boldness and functional excellence. By combining expansive balconies, sculptural concrete forms, and carefully designed interior-exterior relationships, the tower achieves a strong visual identity and residential comfort. Each apartment becomes a living sculpture, where form, light, and landscape merge to create a unique experience for residents.

Conclusion

Miramar Tower exemplifies a new approach to coastal high-rise living, where architectural ambition meets thoughtful design. Its panoramic terraces, sculptural concrete forms, and ecological integration create a tower that is as visually striking as it is functional. More than a building, Miramar Tower stands as a habitable work of art, offering residents expansive, dynamic, and individualized spaces that celebrate both the landscape and the possibilities of contemporary architecture.

Photography: Fernando Guerra | FG+SG