ENRIQUE BROWNE & ASSOCIATE ARCHITECTS
PROFILE ARCHITECTURE
COMPLETE CATALOGUE
DESIGN PUBLICATIONS
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CHURCH IN VILLA MARIA SCHOOL Location: Las Condes, Santiago de Chile Architects: Enrique Browne y Mario Pérez de Arce A. Associated architect: Ricardo Judson Collaborator Architects: Jaime Irarrázabal and Patricio Sancha Project coordination: Enrique Donoso Structural calculations: Félix Gutiérrez Site surface: 13.430 m2. Built surface: 1.238 m2. Photography Credits: Guy Wenborne, Enrique Browne Date: 1992 The Villa María School, built towards the end of the 50`s, had a severe of lack of infrastructure and green spaces. The command was to improve in both aspects. The solution was not easy, since there was no more land available. The "L" which formed the original school was cleared and, simultaneously, the green areas were expanded and unified. At both ends of the "L" were located the new buildings: a Gym to one side and to the other the Administration area with the Church above. The "L" was joined outside by a covered walkway that connects the two entrances of the school. The garden was crossed diagonally by a 100 meters long athletic track. One goes up to the church by a ramp that starts at a translucent covered yard. The atmosphere inside gives the feeling of being among clouds circumvented by light: white in general, gold on the altar, blue in the chapel of the Virgin. The ceilings were projected as segments of asymptotic curves, separated by walls and gorges of light. The Church, like the rest of the works, was built with minimal financial resources.