Torre K-23
Context
A new silhouette redefines Havana’s skyline: the K-23 tower, now Iberostar Selection La Habana, with its 42 floors and 155 metres in height, stands as a symbol of modernity in the heart of Vedado. This skyscraper, located on the iconic Calle 23, harmonises with the city’s architectural richness, elegantly integrating different styles into a contemporary language. Its design celebrates the vitality of Havana, offering 594 rooms designed according to the principles of sustainability and comfort, in an environment that invites guests to enjoy unique experiences to the vibrant rhythm of the Cuban capital.
Scope
The tower’s exterior is a technical and aesthetic feat that reinforces its iconic character. Its modular façade, composed of more than 4,200 units, is complemented by 2,000 square metres of stick system and more than 11,000 square metres of composite cladding, giving shape to an architectural skin of great precision and dynamism. On the upper floors, where the Skybar, one of the building’s most spectacular spaces, is located, the most imposing modules have been installed: pieces up to 5.40 metres high, over two metres wide and weighing more than 1,200 kilos. Transporting them from Spain and installing them at a height of nearly 150 metres represented a major logistical and technical challenge. The façade stands out not only for its scale, but also for the innovation it embodies. More than fifteen exclusive dies were designed to extrude custom aluminium profiles, giving rise to a unique modular system developed specifically for this project. Added to this are elements such as upper slats, steel structures assembled on site, cantilevered canopies, railings and a series of carefully crafted details that arrived from the factory ready to be integrated, thus consolidating a unique work in the Caribbean architectural landscape.
Challenge
One of the biggest challenges of the project was to design a tall structure capable of withstanding the extreme conditions of the Caribbean climate. The design of the construction system underwent rigorous testing at our testbed Aluman LAB, including seismic, watertightness and wind resistance tests, reaching pressure levels equivalent to hurricanes of over 250 km/h. This technical requirement was already tested during the construction phase: Havana was hit by phenomena such as Hurricane Ian in 2022 and Rafael in 2024. The façade responded with solidity, validating the precision of the design and the effectiveness of the previous tests. Thus, this tower not only stands as a new urban icon, but also as an example of resilient engineering in the face of adverse weather conditions.
