Santiago is going through an architectural renaissance of sorts. Led by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Alejandro Aravena and his practice ELEMENTAL, the city is bustling with exciting new projects that stay true to its regional vernacular while exploring new forms and technologies. One of its most beautiful projects, the Bahá’í Temple (pictured above) by Canadian architect Siamak Hariri is particularly stunning as its lotus-like facade made out of glass stands over the city as a crowning jewel.
Check out Santiago’s amazing #mustseearchitecture below.
Contemporary Architecture
Bahá’í Temple
Set within the Andean foothills just outside Santiago, this stunning building by Canadian architect Siamak Hariri is a temple of light for the religious in all walks of life. Composed of nine elegant glass veils, this non-denominational temple brings together all faiths under the organically-inspired roof. Practical Information Architect: Hariri Pontarini Architects Built: 2016 Type: Temple Address: Diagonal Las Torres, Penalolen, Region Metropolitana, Chile Open to the Public: Yes Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 3:00pm - 7:00pm, Sunday: 9:00am - 7:00pm Website: www.templo.bahai.cl
Innovation Center UC
The innovation center is the sophisticated integration of private business with academic research in one monolithic building. Designed by Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Alejandro Aravena, the building is intended to flip the traditional functions of a building by putting its structure on the outside, creating opportunities for meeting and collaboration between interest groups within. The large concrete mass and large voids on the outside of the building also allows it to naturally heat and cool itself throughout the year, drastically decreasing the need for heating and air conditioning. Practical Information Architect: Alejandro Aravena | ELEMENTAL Built: 2014 Type: Innovation Center Address: Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile Open to the Public: Yes Website: www.centrodeinnovacion.uc.cl
Siamese Towers
The Siamese Towers house all of the computer infrastructure and programming for the local university. Despite the client's demands for a glass tower, the building uses a double-skin facade to regulate the amount of daylight getting into the internal spaces, while allowing heat to escape naturally up through the building. The split at the top giving it its iconic look is purely for aesthetic purposes. Practical Information Architect: Alejandro Aravena | ELEMENTAL Built: 2003 Type: Institutional Address: Camino Privado, Macul, Región Metropolitana, Chile Open to the Public: Yes
Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center
The Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center is an excellent example of adapting and reusing an existing building, albeit one with a rich yet arguably controversial past. The original building was constructed as a monument to Salavador Allende's rule and housed dictator Augusto Pinochet's government following Allende's eventual coup. The architectural design, therefore, focuses on transparency and openness to invite a new relationship with the city. Weathering steel, concrete, glass, and wood are all used to reinforce this idea and integrate the new program with the old. Practical Information Architect: Cristian Fernandez Arquitectos + Lateral Arquitectura & Diseño Built: 2010 Type: Cultural Center Address: Gabriela Mistral Cultural Center - Av Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins 227, Barrio Lastarria, Santiago, Chile Open to the Public: Yes Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 3:00pm - 7:00pm, Sunday: 9:00am - 7:00pm Website: www.templo.bahai.cl
UDP Economics and Business Faculty
Located at the foot of San Cristobal hill, this Economics building for Diego Portales University rises above the valley to provide protected leisure spaces for the students below. Its monumental design with massive concrete walls speaks to the architect's desire to create a building with permanence and stability. A series of large voids and scattered punched windows provide relief in the building's facade and spaces for connection to the region's landscape. Practical Information Architect: Rafael Hevia, Rodrigo Duque Motta, Gabriela Manzi Built: 2014 Type: Institutional Address: Huechuraba, Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile Open to the Public: Yes Website: www.templo.bahai.clView this post on Instagram
Universidad Católica de Chile Mathematics School
Practical Information Architect: Alejandro Aravena + Luis Lucero Built: 1990 Type: Institutional Address: Vicuña Mackenna 4860, Macul, Región Metropolitana, Chile Open to the Public: YesView this post on Instagram
Boulevard Ñuñoa Square
Located next to Santiago's city hall, this submerged outdoor shopping area is an interesting study in mixing vehicular traffic with public space. At the street level, a large void separates the cars from a large open square revealing commercial and cultural spaces below. Practical Information Architect: PLAN Arquitectos Built: 2012 Type: Retail Address: Plaza Ñuñoa, Región Metropolitana,Chile Open to the Public: Yes
Alto El Golf
A relatively new office building in Santiago, the architects divided the tower into a series of shifting planes and volumes to provide outdoor space for the workers to socialize. Floor-to-ceiling curtain wall allows for ample natural daylight to flood the interior. Practical Information Architect: Handel Architects Built: 2014 Type: Office Address: 2969 Av Vitacura, Las Condes, Santiago Metropolitan Region Open to the Public: No
Historic Architecture
Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts (Museo de Bellas Artes)
Nicknamed 'The Palace', the Museo de Bellas Artes was inspired by the Petit Palais in Paris and is one of Chile's most architecturally-significant buildings. Designed by French-Chilean architect Emile Jéquier, the museum is most noted for its centrally-located glass cupola which was imported from Belgium back in 1907. Practical Information Architect: Emile Jéquier Built: 1910 Style: Baroque and Art Nouveau Type: Museum Address: José Miguel de La Barra 650, Santiago, Metropolitan Region, Chile Open to the Public: Yes Hours: Tuesday to Saturday: 10:00am - 7:45pm Cost: Website: http://www.mnba.cl/View this post on Instagram
Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago
Located in Santiago's historic center, the Catedral Metropolitana de Santiago was first built in the 1500's but was reconstructed several times due to earthquakes. Italian architect Joaquín Toesca is noted for the design of the current church and while Ignacio Cremonesi added Tuscan and Roman touches to the facade closer to the end of the construction. Practical Information Architect: Joaquín Toesca, Ignacio Cremonesi Built: 1748-1800 Style: Neoclassical Type: Cathedral Address: Plaza de Armas, Santiago, Metropolitan Region, Chile Open to the Public: Yes Website: http://www.iglesiadesantiago.cl/View this post on Instagram
Basilica de La Merced
Constructed in 1795, this adobe basilica is a Chilean national monument designed by Joaquín Toesca in the Neorenaissance style. Practical Information Architect: Joaquín Toesca, Ignacio Cremonesi Built: 1795 Style: Neorenaissance Type: Basilica Address: Merced 628, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile Open to the Public: Yes Website: http://www.mercedarios.cl/View this post on Instagram
Palace of the Courts of Justice (Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia)
Palacio de los Tribunales de Justicia de Santiago hosts the Supreme Court of Chile amongst other Chilean civic institutions. The building was constructed over two phases with the western portion completed in 1911 and designed in the neoclassical style. A two-tiered portico composed of ionic and doric columns demark its entrance. Practical Information Architect: Émile Doyère Built: 1905-1930 Style: Neoclassical Type: Civic Address: Company of Jesus 1140, Santiago, Metropolitan Region, Chile Open to the Public: Yes Hours: Monday to Friday: 8:00am - 2:00pm Website: http://www.pjud.cl/View this post on Instagram
Palacio de La Moneda
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Originally designed as the city's mint during colonial times, the Palacio de La Moneda is the seat of the President of the Republic of Chile and was designed by Italian architect Joaquín Toesca who is credited for several of Santiago's most notable classical building.
Practical Information Architect: Joaquín Toesca Built: 1784-1805 Style: Neoclassical Type: Civic Address: Moneda S/N, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile Open to the Public: Yes Hours: Daily: 9:00am - 5:00pm Website: http://www.gob.cl/historia-palacio/Teatro Municipal de Santiago
The Teatro Municipal is the most significant Theater and Opera House in Santiago and was designed by French-Chilean architect Claudio Brunet des Baines in the neoclassical style. The building was the subject of a massive fire in 1870 and was completely rebuilt in 1873 by Lucien Henault. Practical Information Architect: Claudio Brunet des Baines Built: 1857 Style: Neoclassical Type: Opera House, Theatre Address: Agustinas 794, Santiago, Región Metropolitana, Chile Open to the Public: Yes Website: http://www.municipal.cl/ We do our best to provide accurate and up-to-date information, locations, and opening hours whenever possible. It is recommended that you double-check any information that you may need to ensure your visit is a success. Want to see your picture featured or wish to have it removed? Send all inquiries to karl@avontuura.com [mappress mapid="26"]View this post on Instagram
