At Centre Gabriela Mistral, I was primarily focused on the cladding technique. Not only does the oxidized steel serve to block sun, but has a various aesthetic features. The building’s ambition of transparency is clearly achieved with its exterior facade design. Specifically, there is a clear system of solids versus voids on each sheet of steel. There is a small, medium, and large size. These panels arrange the several sizes of voids across the sheets, yet remaining in a very strict gridded organizational system. The panels are then hoisted up to elegantly wrap the entire building.
This sketch is overlaid on top of a photograph, showing the gridded facade design of the punctured oxidized steel.
Not only does this exterior quality serve for aesthetic purposes, it also acts as an exterior sun screen. By using this cladding technique, less sun radiates and warms the building throughout Chilean hot summers. This is a very sustainable idea for cladding a building, as it improves a building’ efficiency.
Detail of the connection merging the exterior building to the steel facade skin. Note the various sizes in voids in the steel and how the light is filtered to inside of the building.
Another unique component of the Centre Gabriela Mistral is that it blends many artworks into its design. For instance, on the exterior there’s a large stained glass roof feature. The beautiful colors will radiate into the covered courtyard space.
Pictured shows how the roof stained glass roof features bleeds its colors onto the facade. This creates interesting lighting designs.
The colors will bleed onto the oxidized brown steel, adding color and breaking the monotonous organization of the steel panels. In all, the exterior facades have been gracefully designed, through a clear system. Not only does this cladding serve a unique aesthetic purpose, making it a very iconic building in Santiago, it also serves sustainability purposes.
Detail of the stained glass feature on the top of the roof in the outdoor atrium space.