The top of the tower with its shifted floors

Raquet Club

Project
Raquet Club
Architect
MVRDV Architects
Collaborators
Andriana Vasilatou
Location
Miami, USA
Materials
3D print (FDM), MDF wood, mixed media
Exhibition Model
1:300

On a prime seaside location, the proposed mixed-use tower aims to transform this vacant plot into a dynamic recreational landmark in the city centre. The 23-story building will house a mix of hotel accommodations, residential and dining functions, with most of the building mass reserved for sport facilities. By stacking various tennis courts, paddle fields, wellness centres, and gyms within the compact urban slice, the development seamlessly integrates recreational amenities into the heart of the city.

model created during a tenure at MVRDV. Ownership credited to the firm.

  • Close-up of the outdoor terraces with pools and greenery 1/6
  • The full tower standing on its base, front view 2/6
  • The tower from the side, its floors stepping in and out 3/6
  • 1:300 model of the Raquet Club tower: shifting floors clad in aluminium and blue glass 4/6
  • The narrow side of the tower with the stacked terraces 5/6
  • The tower model taken apart into three sections, lying on a white surface 6/6

Each level of the tower is designed with sufficient height to accommodate sports fields. By slightly shifting and setting back each floor, the volume is broken up, creating dynamic views and outdoor terraces. The facade is clad with both glass and aluminium panels, that when intersect create a gradient effect and accentuate the tower's verticality. Given the design's complexity in both the volume and materials, it was essential to simplify and clarify the project, without compromising its readability and understanding.

The roof and the terraces looking down the facade

To achieve this, we constructed the model floor by floor, stacking them around two stabilizing cores. By isolating key components - aluminium, glass and slabs - we were able to give each element the necessary attention and precision. The horizontal slabs were laser-cut and painted to match the design's colours. Combined with the different outdoor spaces, their materials and textures break up the vertical mass, as envisioned by the architect.

Simplified 3D-printed volumes on top of these slabs represent each floor, capturing the intended shape and ripple effect. The aluminium panels were individually cut and placed to create a reflective, unified surface that reads as distinct panes, while the blue glass facade was carefully tinted in the correct tone to achieve the right balance of transparency and colour. This approach highlights the facade’s striking blue hue while maintaining focus on the overall building mass.

  • The 3D printer producing the floor slabs 1/6
  • Blue glass facade parts sorted and labelled on cardboard 2/6
  • Terrace and slab parts taped and labelled per floor 3/6
  • The aluminium facade panels laid out in a fan 4/6
  • The tower assembled around its two cores, with loose sections 5/6
  • The finished model on a table at the office, next to another study model 6/6
A hand placing a green acrylic core into the white grid of the model