Chilean architecture often shows or mimic the materiality. Throughout the duration of the trip, I have learned that many buildings in Chile embraces materiality and expose structures and mechanical works. Many buildings around here are made of strengthen concrete in order for it to withstand earthquakes. The concrete is then left exposed to show the infrastructure of the building. This occurs in many types of infrastructure ranging from metro stations, museum, monasteries and museum and school. They were all build in different eras but still represent the same idea.
First are metro stations. Some were built more than 20 years ago and some were built this past year.a majority of them are located underground, but there are exceptions. Underground infrastructures are made of concrete. The concrete are often smashed like brutalist concrete with a large structural beam supporting the weight above and mechanical wiring exposed. The stations above ground are often made of copper or metal. The different pieces are then bolted together to create the infrastructure. All the bolts and metal are left exposed like the stations underground.
Underground Station Structures
Underground Station Material Patterns
Above Ground Station Materiality
Underground Station Structural Joint
Second are local monasteries and museums in Santiago. The Precolombino Museum and the monastery are both made of concrete and glass. The glass shows the lightness of the structure and the concrete shows the roughness of it. The way concrete is pour in Chile often leaves a unique pattern that looks like wood on the surface of the concrete. Sometime Chilean architecture uses one material to mimic another. In this case it is wood, because there are more than 100 difference species of trees. This technique allows the concrete to keep up its materiality and let it mimic wood.
Monastery Material Pattern
Third are educational institution. Many schools we visited uses the same materials. University Adolfo Ibanez is made entirely of concrete. However, it breaks away form the traditional style of Chilean concrete pouring. Instead of a rough pattern, it embraced a smooth concrete surface and still embrace the idea of exposing the material. The school also brings back the importance of wood to Chilean culture by utilizing it in the architecture.
Educational Insitution Materiality Differentiation
With Santiago and all of Chile being located on the Ring of Fire, the buildings must properly account for seismic activity. I agree with you, as there has been a strong trend for buildings to use reinforced concrete for their structures. However, like shown in the metro stations, not only is concrete used. When I analyzed the structure and how Costanera tower, the designers and engineers achieved unimaginable heights, not solely due to reinforced concrete but a blend of structural trusses. However, the Chilean buildings built solely with reinforced concrete are impressive with how they hand seismic activity so efficiently. I also think your point about the various types of finishes of concrete is an important topic to perhaps further analyze. The finish of the concrete can vastly change the effect of a building. Smoother concrete at a university suggests sleekness, and may appear more professional and clean cut. Conversely, by showcasing the formwork as if it looks like wooden panels, like at the monastery, it appears to have a warmer effect and feeling.