Dawn Villa — parametric GFRC facade
225 unique GFRC panels, 19,178 sq ft of sculptural envelope, modulated from parametric Grasshopper geometry to anchored panel on site.
Render — Creato Arquitectos
Creato delivers the project in architectural language: white curved surfaces with wing-like cantilevers, front, rear and lateral elevations following one continuous plastic rhythm. The question for MODECO is not how it looks — it's how to break it down so it can be fabricated.
Parametric modeling — Grasshopper / Rhino
MODECO translates the surface into parametric geometry controlled in Rhino + Grasshopper. This is where modulation is decided: joints, flat vs. single-curved vs. double-curved panels, concealed anchor locations. Each panel receives a unique code (D-65, D-66...), its theoretical weight and the exact coordinate of its final position.
Mold — one per panel, none repeated
The mold is the industrial bottleneck for GFRC: every unique panel needs its own mold. With 225 non-repeating pieces, MODECO industrialized the flow to deliver roughly one mold per week without sacrificing ±2 mm tolerance on curved surfaces.
Fabrication — spray-up, cure and finish
GFRC is sprayed onto the mold, perimeter-reinforced with a steel back-frame, controlled-cure, and finished with a uniform matte white surface. Panels are coded, dimensionally and visually QC'd, and moved to staging. Status as of Apr 26, 2026: 130 cast (58%), 125 with finish complete (56%).
Transport — workshop to site
Each panel travels with its code and installation sequence. The heaviest pieces — up to 2,879 kg (6,348 lb) — require dedicated flatbed, validated route, and on-site maneuver coordinated with the GC. Status: 119 panels delivered to site (53%).
Installation — the coordinate locked 18 months earlier
Crane lift, anchor to substructure, tolerance adjustment, joint sealing. Each panel has exactly one correct position — the coordinate locked in during the parametric phase. Status as of Apr 26, 2026: 111 panels installed of 225 (49%), 865.65 m² (9,318 sq ft) of facade closed.