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Santiago Bahá’í Temple

A translucent marble shell facing Santiago del Chile is the new Bahá’í Temple of South America, designed by Canadian studio Hariri Pontarini Architects.

Hariri Pontarini Architects, Bahá’í Temple of South America, Santiago del Chile, 2016

Using glass and translucent Portuguese marble, Hariri Pontarini Architects designed the new Bahá’í Temple of South America in the outskirts of Santiago, Chile. Surrounded by reflecting pools and a landscape of native grasses, the temple is a domed, luminous structure that echoes the rolling topography of the Andes while appearing to float some 30 metres above the earth.

The Bahá’ís believe in the critical role of volunteerism to heighten their prayer and reflection. Its nine monumental glass veils frame an open and accessible worship space where up to 600 visitors can be accommodated on curved walnut and leather seating. Looking up to the central oculus at the apex of the dome, visitors can experience a transfer of light from the exterior of cast glass to an interior of translucent Portuguese marble. At sunset, the light captured within the dome shifts from white and silver to ochre and purple. Bahá’í Temples are conceived to reflect an ideal of universal worship where women, men and children can gather together as equals.

Openness and transparency are fundamental to both the structure and its site. The structure be accessed by nine entrances located at regular intervals around the domed structure, while curving paths lead visitors on walking meditations through the sloped landscape. Chilean landscape architect Juan Grimm transformed a barren golf course into a colourful landscape planted with native, drought-resistant varieties that extend generously around the temple.

Hariri Pontarini Architects, Bahá’í Temple of South America, Santiago del Chile, 2016

Hariri Pontarini Architects, Bahá’í Temple of South America, construction of the marble shell

Hariri Pontarini Architects, Bahá’í Temple of South America, construction of the metal structure

Hariri Pontarini Architects, Bahá’í Temple of South America, Santiago del Chile, 2016

Bahá’í Temple of South America, Santiago del Chile
Program: religious building
Architects: Hariri Pontarini Architects
In situ architects: Benkal y Larrain Arquitectos
Team: Siamak Hariri, Justin Ford, Doron Meinhard, Michael Boxer, Tiago Masrour, Jin-Yi McMillen, Adriana Balen, Donald Peters, John Cook, George Simionopoulos, Tahirih Viveros, Jaegap Chung, Mehrdad Tavakkolian, Jimmy Farrington
Structure and cladding: Gartner Steel and Glass GmbH
Structural engineering: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Halcrow Yolles
Glass casting: Jeff Goodman Studio and CGD Glass
Landscape: Juan Grimm
Completion: 2016

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Santiago Bahá’í Temple

A translucent marble shell facing Santiago del Chile is the new Bahá’í Temple of South America, designed by Canadian studio Hariri Pontarini Architects.

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