Architectural and Structural Design Statement
The project is conceived as a composition of interconnected operations in which the new and the existing are integrated inextricably, forming a unified ensemble that emphasizes both architectures as a totality. It establishes a contrapuntal relationship as much as it creates a dialogue. The expression of the new building draws from the contemporary image of the Chilean Army: a modern, transparent, and approachable institution, yet stable, sober, and austere.
Equally, the intervention is highly sensitive to its geographic setting, responding to the natural slope of the terrain, the character of the park, and the stunning views toward the Santiago basin as fundamental design elements.
The intervention strategy is grounded in three core actions:
Restoring the original architectural condition
Reorganizing the internal layout
Enhancing spatial qualities in accordance with the new functional scheme
Most interior partitions have been removed, original openings reinstated, and the southern façade opened entirely at the western end. A new double-height entrance hall is introduced, framing the panoramic view over Santiago. The second floor is opened vertically to expose its original structure and improve spatial clarity. The «Pagoda» building is preserved with minor internal changes, mainly improving service access from the hardscape courtyard.
This structure acts as the unifying base of the complex—anchoring the existing War Academy and connecting it to the new Classroom Pavilion. Architecturally, it expresses a solid and grounded base that extends as paving up to Avenida Las Perdices to the north (including the drill yard and the «Pagoda») and as structural support for the elevated pavilion to the south.
Embedded in the slope, the Plinth contains:
Level -1: 100 parking spaces
Level 0: Library, Research Center, Leadership Center, and Cafeteria
This level also provides independent access to both auditoriums.
The new Classroom Pavilion is the project’s protagonist. Suspended atop three support volumes (two auditoriums and the Plinth Building), it rises above the ground, freeing green space and reclaiming the park at ground level. This landscape intervention restores the terrain’s natural character.
The elevated volume is arranged as a ring around a central void, connected to the ground by a vertical circulation core at one corner. The rooftop includes a public lookout terrace.
The peripheral ring is glazed and organized in two levels:
First Floor: Classrooms with dual circulation (internal and external), allowing flexible access and functioning independently
Second Floor: Offices with a more private character