By understanding that a public building is not only a structure that houses an institution but also an example on how to enhance the public condition, this project for the Ministry of Housing and Urbanism’s building in the city of Rancagua puts forward an urban strategy for public land that has been so effective that is even being replicated by its neighbors in their own new buildings.

KeywOrds · building, public, land, block, opening

After several years of neglect and the 2010 earthquake, a public competition was opened to seize part of the lot belonging to the old Rancagua prison with the institutional building for the Ministry of Housing and Urbanism for the O’Higgins Region. The plot is inserted in a commercial neighborhood with high traffic density, adjacent to the railway station. The commission brief asked for a larger building separated into two independent administrative units. The strategy of subdividing the site was part of the proposal, leaving vacant land for future construction. In addition, the competition aimed for a building that conveyed a civic complex idea for the rest of the site.

The project then became an opportunity to act directly onto the city. As headquarters intended for the ministry in charge of planning and territorial development, it seemed relevant to complement and improve the place’s original lands and public spaces. Surrounding buildings have continuous facades and use

edificio iNStitucioNAl PArA el miNiSterio de vivieNdA y urBANiSmo,

regióN de o’higgiNS

Mario CarreñoProfesor, Escuela de Arquitectura, Pontificia

Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

Piera SartoriProfesora, Escuela de Arquitectura, Pontificia

Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile

ARQ 93 62 UC CHILE

Arquitectos / Architects

Carreño Sartori Arquitectos (Mario Carreño Zunino,

Piera Sartori del Campo)

Arquitecto coordinador / Coordination architect

Darío Rodríguez Panebianco - AurA Ltda.

Colaboradores / Collaborators

Raúl Rencoret, María José Sáez,

Paulette Sirner, Blanca Barragán, Tomás Romero,

José Ignacio Valdivieso

Ubicación / Location

José Victorino Lastarria 410, Rancagua, Chile

Cliente / Client

Ministerio de Vivienda y Urbanismo,

Gobierno de Chile

Ingeniería estructural / Structural engineering

Luis Soler P. y Asociados

Construcción / Building contractor

Constructora Larraín, Prieto, Risopatrón

Instalación sanitaria / Mechanical engineering

Fernando Hidalgo

Instalación eléctrica / Electrical system

icg

Proyecto ambiental y LEEd /

Environmental and LeeD project

B-Green

Proyecto de paisajismo / Landscaping project

Carreño Sartori Arquitectos

Materiales / Materials

Hormigón armado, paneles de h.A . / Reinforced

concrete, concrete panels

Materiales de terminaciones / Finishing materials

Hormigón armado, paneles de h.A ., madera

aglomerada chapa coigüe, vidrio par, piedra

pizarra, metal perforado / Reinforced concrete,

concrete panels, coigüe wood boards, glass, slate tiles,

perforated metal

Presupuesto / Cost

us $ 1340 / m2

Superficie construida / Built surface

5545 m2

Superficie terreno / Site surface

10.173 m2

Año de proyecto / Project year

2013

Año de construcción / Construction year

2015

Imágenes y maqueta / Renders and model

Carreño Sartori Arquitectos

Imágenes de concurso / Competition render © Carreño Sartori Arquitectos

© Marcos Mendizábal

© Marcos Mendizábal

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Planta primer piso / Ground floor plan E. / S. 1: 750

Planta tercer piso / Third floor plan E. / S. 1: 750

A

B

A

B

C C

ARQ 93 64 UC CHILE

the whole plot, putting in crisis the environmental contact relationship between interior and exterior.

The window dispersion is a strategy intended to optimize natural light and ventilation in all offices. Following this purpose, the building projects itself from its voids.

The site –enclosed by a 4.5 meters tall masonry wall– shaped a block with long sidewalks lacking associated programs.

Following the layout of the old prison pavilions (meant to be demolished), the proposal, with a building 110 meters long by 10 meters wide that opens a public land –a passage–, connects two parallel streets through the block. Thus, one unit (serViu) can be accessed on Brazil Street and the other (sereMi) on O’Carrol, differentiating both programs. This operation opens up what used to be a prohibiting interior.

The design proposed for the plot includes a central widening traversed by the building, leaving a patio for both private and public use where upcoming projects can coalesce. More than a shortcut-passage, the project aims for a place to stay surrounded by trees and gardens. The accurate length of the building evidences the variable width of the proposed demarcations.

The office plans have a central aisle and lateral working spaces. The geometric relationship with the sun is mediated by a system of precast concrete panels arranged in a combination of elements parallel and perpendicular to the facade, allowing for distant views and avoiding direct light on desktops. All spaces, including the central corridor, are illuminated by natural light.

The building’s length and circulations are fragmented by three interior voids which organize the plan. The one in the center emphasizes the separation of programmatic units –serViu and sereMi– while independent vertical circulations are located on both ends.

The historic center regulations required for continuous facades perpendicular to the proposed building. The original

Corte / Section AA E. / S. 1: 750

Corte / Section BB E. / S. 1: 750

Corte / Section CC E. / S. 1: 750

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Escantillón fachada / Facade detail E. / S. 1: 75

© Marcos Mendizábal

© Marcos Mendizábal

Impermeabilizacion tipo wet proof sin tinte o equivalenteCortagotera 1 x 1 cmPerfil C Fe. 200 x 50 x 3 mm, sujeción perno HiltiCanal zinc alum 0,6 mm, pendiente 1%Soporte canal agua lluvia, osb 15mmCubierta A2 Instapanel 0,6 mm, prepintada color gris perlaPolipropileno barrera de humedadCostanera perfil omega Metalcon c/60 cm Lana mineral e. 100 mm 14 kg/m2 Plancha osb 15 mmSubestructura perfil Metalcon 40ca085, instalación seg. fabricante

Pendiente 1%

1%

Losa H.A. seg. cálculoViga H.A. seg. cálculoMarco aluminio Indalum serie 70 o equivalenteVidrio termopanel con protección uv transparente, seg. normaPerfil tubular Fe Ø 150 mm, tubo interior pvc Ø 75 mm Placa prefabricada H.A. seg. cálculoAnclaje placa prefabricada seg. cálculoCortagoteras 1 x 1 cm

Conector ángulo L zinc 70 x 70 x 140 x 1,60 mm, en grilla c/ 1 mConector ti Metalcon 150 x 66 x 0,85 mm c/ 1 m Larguero perfil at Metalcon 20 x 25 x 4 x 0,5 mm c/ 1mPerfil at Metalcon 20 x 25 x 4 x 0,5 mmCostanera perfil omega sistema Metalcon c/ 51 cmMadera aglomerada Masisa 15 mm, chapa ext. y cantos en coihueÁngulo aluminio 50 x 50 x 1 mm. mate seg. detalleCon perno Hilti expansion c/ 50 cm

Viga H.A. seg. cálculoPerfil C inserto metálico sujeción a placa prefabricada Placa prefabricada H.A. seg. cálculoPerfil tubular Fe Ø 150 mm, tubo interior pvc Ø 75 mm

Anclaje placa prefabricada seg. cálculoCortagoteras 1 x 1 cmPlaca de aislación Volcapol 40 mmEstucado y pintado blanco

Viga H.A. seg. cálculoMarco aluminio Indalum serie 70 o equivalenteVidrio termopanel con protección uv transparente seg. normaPerfil tubular Fe Ø 150 mm, tubo interior pvc Ø 75 mm Anclaje placa prefabricada seg. cálculoCortagoteras 1 x 1 cm

Piedra pizarra negra 40 x 40 x 0,9 cmAdhesivo Solcrom Aocem 320 piedras o equivalente

Camarilla decantadora seg. cálculo

Pintura Sika Chapdur, color seg. plano pavimentoRadier 200 mm afinado con helicóptero seg. cálculoCapa ripio 100 mmEstabilizado 200 mm seg. cálculoTerreno natural compactado

Baldosa Bubnik granallada gris V 40 x 40/ 60 x 60 cmMortero pega Bekron da 60 mm o equiv.,

Barrera de humedad lamina polietileno 0,2 mm Capa ripio 100 mmEstabilizado 200 mm seg. cálculoViga H.A. seg. cálculo

Impermeabilizacion tipo wet proof sin tinte o equivalenteSobre mortero nivelador Sikalisto

Impermeabilizacion tipo wet proof sin tinte o equivalentesobre mortero nivelador SikalistoCanal C inserto metálico sujeción placa prefabricada

1%

Placa prefabricada H.A. seg. cálculo

con malla Acma c-92 Ø 5 mm, tercio superior

mariO carrEñO zUninO<mcarrenz@uc.cl>

Undergraduate studies, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, 1990-1992. Architect and Graduate studies, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2000. He is currently Adjunct Assistant Professor at the Escuela de Arquitectura, uc. Co-founder in 2000 of Carreño Sartori Arquitectos, his work has been published in different media, exhibitions and biennials.

piEra SartOri dEL campO<pierasartori@gmail.com>

Architect, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 1999. Graduate studies in Landscape Architecture, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 2003. She is currently visiting professor at the Escuela de Arquitectura, uc. Co-founder in 2000 of Carreño Sartori Arquitectos, her work has been published in different media, exhibitions and biennials.

perimeter wall was replaced by a controlled transparency facade, displaying the interior promenade and gardens where the original dividing wall is preserved and exposed.

That which is closed –the continuous facade– is thought of as open. That which is long –the slab building– is thought of, in connection to the open patios, as wide. The distance from the edges ensures views both to the Andes and the coast, which surround the valley where the city of Rancagua is located. ARQ

© Marcos Mendizábal

© Marcos Mendizábal

Planta emplazamiento 2015 / 2015 site plan La estrategia del proyecto es continuada por los nuevos edificios adyacentes. / The new adjacent buildings continue the project strategy. E. / S. 1: 2.500

Cal

le L

asta

rria

Calle San M

artin

Calle Brasil

Calle O'Carrol

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