Patio Mayor is landscaped with gardens on the first level and on the north and west facades, where the transit areas are.
Creating a horizontal and vertical garden like this amplifies the upper walkways larger than technically required in places of residence. These high level passage ways are arranged in order to maximize sunlight for the mainly south and east facing classrooms and laboratories, having them aligned to the north and west makes the most of the light, looking over and enriching the experience of the Patio Mayor. The perimeter building was divided into two blocks staggered in half and connected by ramps facilitating the movement of students and reducing the use of elevators, also the access zone and public spaces gain mean additional height improving spatiality.
Andrés Bello University Regional Headquarters, Viña del Mar, Chile
Program: university campus
Architects: Schmidt Arquitectos Asociados (Horacio Schmidt Cortes, Horacio Schmidt Radic, Martin Schmidt Radic)
Associated Architect: Nicolás Norero
Contributors: Cristián Maze, Karen Pradenas, Lina Rojas
Client: Universidad Andrés Bello
Contractor: Guzman y Larraín
Structural Engineer: Sergio Contreras
Landscaping: Juan Grimm
Facade: Hunter Douglas
Area: 43,000 sqm
Completion: 2014