Jorge and I wanted to see Casa Pueblo, so we went to Punta Ballena near Punta del Este. The building is exciting because it is quite unusual. Originally designed by Uruguayan painter/cineast/architect Carlos Paez Vilaró to be his home and workshop, it was later extended as a much bigger building (following the same style). The original part still belongs to the artist and can be visited for a very modest entry fee. There it is possible to admire the artist's paintings and sculptures, buy some, purchase books, reproductions or original canvases, and even enjoy a drink in a little cafe with indoor and terrace seats. The bigger part is a luxury hotel. Normally one has to be a paying hotel guest to be able to see the hotel part, but we just went to the restaurant on floor "minus 9," and, because the touristic season had not started yet and noone was in the pool area, we were given permission to walk down to an area normally reserved to hotel guests from which it is possible to see nearly the whole building. Of course, that was a great opportunity to take a lot of pictures. We don't think we'll get another chance to see the building from these angles in the future because hotel rooms are way beyond our budget! We were very impressed by the uncommon architecture which is, according to its creator, a "challenge to the straight line."
Carlos Paez Vilaró is also the author of a mural that all airline travelers to Montevideo can see because it is in the arrival area of the airport. Tourists and other passengers can enjoy looking at the mural while waiting for their luggage to appear on the carousel. Two of his main themes are the sun and the moon with faces.
Here is a selection of pictures of the building and of some of the artist's works of art.
