Uruguay’s Atlantic coast is home to some of the country’s most remarkable works of architecture. Between 1940 and 1980, this region reaches its peak, as high construction standards coincide with significant foreign investments, mainly from Argentina. Punta del Este, once a remote, arid peninsula, undergoes a distinctive transformation, becoming the most prestigious resort in South America. Increased prominence leads developers and architects to take risks and invest more, in budgets and design. Unfortunately, the region’s economy enters extended recession and the architectural landscape deteriorates rapidly. Although real estate pressure persists, construction quality declines, resulting in unfortunate replacements. As an outcome of this process, the finest examples must be recorded to ensure their preservation.

Leandro Villalba is an architect and self-taught photographer based in Punta del Este. Since 2017 he has collaborated with leading Swiss firms such as Christ & Gantenbein and Buchner Bründler. Parallel to his professional experience, he has developed his photographic skills, focusing on portraying twentieth-century architecture with analog techniques. This builds on his education in Montevideo, Uruguay, where he graduated as an architect in 2012. That year, he won first prize for designing a summer residence in Punta del Este, a project completed the following year. In 2014, he participated in the Uruguayan Pavilion at the 14th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia, with his essay “Grutas y Psicodelia” (Grottos and the Psychedelic) included in the exhibition publication. In 2022, he collaborated with Harald R. Stühlinger on Casa Kalman – Luigi Snozzi, a publication featuring his photographs and published by Christoph Merian Verlag.