As part of the “Bicentenial Legacy” programme, the Government in col-laboration with The Ministry for Housing and Urbanism of Chile organized in November 2011 an international ideas competition to draw a coherent urban vision for one of the most important sites in the capital city - The Bulnes Pedestrian Axis and Almagro Park. The masterplan requires the completion of Bulnes Axis with an urban element articulated to the park. Also, it implies a feasible redrawing of the public space and new regulations for the urban blocks presently unbuilt.

In 2025 Santiago’s Civic District has become the city’s most popular dis-trict, attracting public clerks, small business and city dwellers in an inviting and unique public environment. The area’s newest attraction, Bulnes Sky Loop, part of a larger sustainability project for making the Civic District a “cooling island” has effectively doubled commercial and green spaces along the Bulnes Axis. Also, it provides direct views into the public institutions’ inner workings/meeting rooms. The Bulnes Sky Loop is set to become a symbol for the country’s renowned transparent administrative process.

The Santiago Pavilion has been functioning for five years already and has become a beloved icon itself. Its highly interactive urban history exhibition is still attracting large crowds of visitors. The idea of learning about Santiago’s important landmarks while at the same time viewing them live in a 360° panorama has boosted local pride. Below the pavilion, Pedro Agguire Plaza a popular meeting place for all Santiagoians, is capable of accommodating various artistic performances. However, tonight’s concert stage is set up in the sky – the Santiago Pavilion. The 30 000 plus expected attendance is going to fill all of Bulnes Axis taking part in one of the city’s most epic music concerts.

Short introduction

client: Municipality of Santiago de Chiledate: November 2012program: central area masterplansize: L / 21 halocation: Santiago de Chileteam: Wolfhouse Productions

* the title is inspired by the fifth track on The Dark Side of the Moon, the 1973 album by Pink Floyd

THE GREAT GIG IN THE SKY*. A focus on city identity through iconic sightseeing.* inspired by the title of the fifth track on The Dark Side of the Moon, the 1973 album by the English progressive rock band Pink Floyd.

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Santiagoians have gathered around the Pavilion for one of the city’s most epic music concerts

The Great Gig in the Sky, Santiago de Chile, Chile

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Where to look for when designing an iconic urban element? Study worldwide attitudes to understand what works and what doesn’t.

Monumental statue of Citizen Square in Santiago de Chile- inappropiate scale -

Gateway to Amsterdam by Slot Arch.- program too complex -

The Glass House by Philip Johnson - obstructed view by the trees -

Saint Louis Arc by Eero Saarinen- no element to fit in the back -

Palm Grove’s Viewpoint by S.T.A.R.- fashionable -

Stockholmsporten by BIG Architects- iconic reflections from street level -

California Academy of Sciences- sustainable -

The Cloud Gate by Anish Kapoor- monofunctional -

The Montreal Biosphere by B. Fuller- transparency creates lightness -

Khor I Temporary Theatre by TAAT- too weighty -

The Bridge by Maxwan- panoramic view -

Your rainbow panorama by Olafur Eliasson- 360° dialog between city & users -

The Great Gig in the Sky, Santiago de Chile, Chile

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The Civic District Today

Growth Scenarios

1. Constitution Square2. La Moneda Palace3. Citizenship Square4. Alameda Avenue5. Bulnes Square6. Bulnes Pedestrian Axis7. Central University of Chile8. Cousino Palace9. Almagro Park10. Basilica Sacramentinos

Urban system. The grand vision for the Civic District of Santiago de Chile never fully realised, so today the state’s most important institutions and symbols in the northern half around the Civic Square polarised, leaving to the south an incomplete urban fabric - The Bulnes Pedestrian Axis that dissolves into Almagro Park without a proper ending. The six hectares Almagro Park, engulfed by a wide area of dense built environment, is lacking an attractive offer of leisure activities.

In order to function as a coherent urban system, the Civic District needs to develop a continous axis of popular and at-tractive public activities that will draw consistent users and activities.

Built environment. The present Bulnes Pedestrian Axis’ buildings create a uniform and symmetrical image. Lack of similar building regulations on the additional Nathaniel Cox and Zenteno streets has led to a miscella-neous urban image due to recent high rise residential developments. Lack of clear functionality and defined areas for public activities is making the axis unsuccesful in attracting more daily users.

Completing the vacant lots with modern buidlings that submit to the masterplan’s regulations is an important chal-lenge. In order to achieve a more harmonious urban image, clear regulations need to be established for the Bulnes Pe-destrian Axis. There is a need for a more diversified functional program along the axis and in the same time strenghtening its civic status. More permeable buildings, with floors con-nected to public space, will result in an increase of urban life.

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The Great Gig in the Sky, Santiago de Chile, Chile

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The Civic District In 2025

Growth Scenarios Circulation and accessibility. Designed to work as a direct con-nection to the south end of the civic district, the Bulnes pedestrian axis is actu-ally an unpopular one-way circulation. The main pedestrian flows pass through the centre of the axis and access to ground floor commercial functions is difficult due to the presence of elevated planters along the axis.

An improved pedestrian accessibility will have to take into account the need to properly connect three of Santiago’s most important buildings: La Moneda Palace, Palacio Cous-ino and Basilica Sacramentinos. Good connections between these landmarks will ensure an increase in the area’s attrac-tiveness. Also general traffic conditions in the area around the axis need to be improved with larger pedestrian walk-ways, bike lanes and continuous vehicle circulation.

Public space and urban experiences. The main pedestrian flow in the center of Bulnes is virtually separated from any attractive activities on the sides. Moreover, it is ending abruply in Almagro Park with no distinctive feature at its southern end. The park is the only green area in the district and it is surrounded by university buildings and important city landmarks.

Therefore, Almagro Park should be one of the city’s most popular recreational hubs. A new public feature providing proper articulation between the park and Bulnes Axis is a de-sign priority.

Sustainability. One of South America’s biggest metroplises, Santiago de Chile is facing inherent pollution problems.

Lowering its carbon footprint is one of the most important issues the city needs to tackle in the years to come. Future urban development in the Bulnes area will have to be done in a responsible and sustainable way. All new buildings and public areas will have to use non-polluting materials pro-duced or manufactured locally. New energy saving and alter-native production technologies will have to be implemented into the buildings’ design. Diminishing the area’s heat island effect is an important objective to be achieved.

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1. Constitution Square2. La Moneda Palace3. Citizenship Square4. Alameda Avenue5. Bulnes Square6. Bulnes Pedestrian Axis7. Central University of Chile8. Cousino Palace9. Almagro Park10. Basilica Sacramentinos11. Santiago Pavilion12. Pedro Agguire Plaza

The Great Gig in the Sky, Santiago de Chile, Chile

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image courtesy of Wolfhouse Productions image courtesy of Wolfhouse Productions

The Santiago Pavilion

Plan view People flows scenarios Specific sections

1. When there is a concert people gather down the Bulnes Axis.

2. When a medium group (~200 people) gather for different events the sunken plaza is emptied.

3. When small groups gather around several attrac-tion points the sunken plaza is filled with water.

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Inside the Santiago Pavilion

The Great Gig in the Sky, Santiago de Chile, Chile

The Santiago Pavilion and the Pedro Agguire Sunken Plaza

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