6th Edition of "Y ahora qué?” in Punta del Este: Regional Perspectives for 2025
The event "What Now?", held on January 13 at the Enjoy Punta del Este Hotel, brought together prominent leaders in politics, economics, and architecture to explore the challenges and opportunities facing the region as it looks toward 2025.
Photo: Leonardo Mainé/El País
Publication Date: January 00, 2025
Reading Time: 6 minutes
On January 13, the Enjoy Punta del Este Hotel became the focal point of an event that, for the sixth consecutive year, convened leading voices in politics, economics, and urban development to discuss the region's outlook for 2025. Organized by El País in collaboration with Enjoy Punta del Este, the event, titled "¿Y ahora qué? (What Now?)", offered a comprehensive analysis of the political, economic, and social transformations shaping the regional landscape.
The event featured José del Río, Content Director and General Secretary of Editorial at Grupo La Nación, and Martín Aguirre, Editorial Director of El País. Both journalists provided in-depth analyses of political transitions and their economic implications in Argentina and Uruguay. Del Río examined the economic and social measures introduced by Argentina's new administration, while Aguirre assessed the impact of Uruguay's outgoing government on the local economy, as well as the communication strategies of presidential candidates and the profiles of the incoming cabinet.
Adding to these insights, Hernán Bonilla, President of the Center for Development Studies, presented an economic review of 2024 and outlined projections for 2025, situating Uruguay within a broader regional and global context.
Following the presentations, Del Río and Aguirre hosted a panel to address questions submitted in real time during their talks. In the second half, they were joined by Eduardo Bastitta, CEO of +Colonia, and Martín Gómez Platero, founder and director of Estudio Gómez Platero, who enriched the discussion with their business and architectural insights.
One of the key topics was the surge in real estate development in Uruguay, with a particular focus on "promoted housing." This model, designed to encourage private investment in residential projects through tax incentives, has been instrumental in revitalizing the construction sector and attracting foreign capital. Both Bastitta and Gómez Platero emphasized that the continuation of these policies under the new administration will be critical to sustaining growth in the sector.
Bastitta highlighted Uruguay's political and economic stability as a unique advantage in the Latin American context, underscoring the country's potential to attract foreign investment. He pointed to the +Colonia project—a global-scale Smart City—as a prime example of how architecture and urban planning can integrate with technology to create sustainable, internationally competitive living environments.
Martín Gómez Platero reflected on the internationalization of his studio, one of Uruguay's most renowned, and the challenges that come with it. "Uruguayan architects possess the technical and creative expertise to compete anywhere in the world," he stated. However, he stressed the importance of complementing technical skills with a global perspective that considers the cultural, economic, and technological dynamics of international markets.
Gómez Platero also emphasized that while technology is an essential tool for global competitiveness, the human element remains the defining factor in architectural practice. "At the end of the day, it’s people who make the difference," he noted, highlighting the importance of maintaining an ethical and human-centered approach to design.
The +Colonia project, led by Eduardo Bastitta, exemplifies how technology can be seamlessly integrated into urban development to create smart cities. The entrepreneur noted that one of the project's main challenges was managing the rapid pace of technological change while coordinating multiple work streams. To address these challenges, the +Colonia team partnered with the Uruguayan government and established a strategic alliance with the Fraunhofer Institute, Germany's leading think tank specializing in Smart Cities.
This collaboration enabled the incorporation of global best practices into the design and planning of +Colonia, positioning the project as a benchmark in urban innovation. Bastitta emphasized that technology is not only a tool for optimizing processes but also a means to attract talent and encourage immigration—key components of Uruguay's sustainable development strategy.
The event underscored that architecture and Real Estate development are not merely peripheral players in the region's political and economic landscape but are, in fact, central drivers of transformation. From promoted housing to Smart Cities, the construction sector is emerging as a catalyst for investment, innovation, and social progress.
In a world marked by uncertainty, Uruguay stands out as a model of stability and openness, with projects like +Colonia and studios like Gómez Platero leading the way toward a more sustainable and interconnected future. Architecture, in this context, is not just about designing spaces—it’s about building opportunities, redefining identities, and shaping visions for the future.
