ENRIQUE BROWNE & ASSOCIATE ARCHITECTS
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OFFICES OF PIONEER CHILE S.A. Architect: Enrique Browne Associate Architect: Eugenio Browne Structural Engineer: Larrain, Ruiz, Saavedra Engineers Location: 1621 Gran Avenida, Paine, Chile Plot Area: 10.76 Has. Building: 698 sq. mt. Landscape Architect: Elizabeth Huyghe Photographer: Guy Wenborne and Enrique Browne Date: 1995-1996 PIONEER is an international firm dedicated to the production and commercialization of seeds. Their chilean factory was constructed in 1983, in Paine some 55 kilometers south of Santiago. In 1995 they decided to build their permanent offices for 40 persons. The volume of the offices could not compete visually with the large industrial installations. For this reason, a landscape focus rather than an architectonic one was chosen. A park extending the whole length of the site’s front was established, improving the public aspect of the factory. The offices were constructed at the eastern edge of the park, merging with it and providing for easy future growth towards the west. Previous construction projects at the factory had generated large accumulations of soil. These were used to form slopes with grass and trees that blended the offices with the park, isolated the offices’ from noise and improved the offices thermal conditions. Also the merge of building and park is symbolic of the company’s production of seeds. The project consisted of two parallel wings joined by a lounge area. This is a tall space inside a volume with an inclined facade. Crowned with flags, this volume is the most visible element and acts as a culmination point for the park. The entrance is through a groove in the northern - most slope. The private offices and meeting rooms open onto the central gardens that continue the park, generating natural ventilation. The offices are covered with laminated wooden beams, forming arcs supported in the load - bearing walls. Natural materials are utilized in the interior. Also translucent glass, which increases the natural light and creates a pleasant work environment.