Lastarria Quarter Buildings

© Giuseppe Brucculeri

© Giuseppe Brucculeri

Architects: Hernán Flaño A., Max Núñez D. y José Tuca G.
Collaborators: BMA Arquitectos
Owner: Inmobiliaria Lastarria
Location: Lastarria 52 a 86, Padre Luis de Valdivia 352, Santiago
General Contractor: Serinco
Structural Engineering: Luis  Soler y Asociados Ingenierios
Materials: Reinforced concrete, brick veneer, litofren (colored gravel based finishing paste)
Site Area: 2.697 m2
Built Area: 18.050 m2
Project Year: 2008
Photographs: Giuseppe Brucculeri

The land where the Lastarria Quarter Buildings are situated –in a Historical Preservation sector in Santiago– is a merge of several lots, 4 along Lastarria Street and 1 along Padre Luis de Valdivia Street. There were several residences along the street from the beginnings of the 20th century, all in very bad condition, with the only exception being the Tudor-style façade –fronting Lastarria Street– purportedly by architect Luciano Kulczewski.

Aided by its clear landscape limits definition, the area marked between Alameda Avenue, Forestal Park and Santa Lucia Hill, has been able to configure a quarter in which Lastarria Street becomes the main axis connecting north and south.

The neighborhood has maintained at least 3 characteristics, which are also its attributes:
1. Preservation of the corridor street of continuous façades.
2. Homogeneous building height of 5 to 6 floors
3. A small front on each of the lots, which allows for the juxtaposing of diverse buildings, of different styles and architectural moments.

These factors permit the cohabitation and sharing of the public space by independent modern works, such as an apartment building by architect Mauricio Despouy, along with neoclassical or Tudor buildings.

The municipal code has defined the sector as of Historical Preservation, which requires the compliance to certain composition guidelines and the approval of all projects before the Council of National Monuments. Hence, the buildings cannot exceed 18 meters in height and their development has to be continuous. The façades have to respect the classical principles of base, body and crown, and must have a low percentage of openings, with a dominating solid expression.

Given the urban context and the building codes, the intention of this complex was to emphasize the corridor street characteristics of Lastarria, bringing it to the interior of the plot, and extending the perimeter that faces the street. This created a new urban space, an alley with a direct connection, visually part of the street but allowing for activities on the multitudinous public sidewalk.

The municipal code has defined the sector as of Historical Preservation, which requires the compliance to certain composition guidelines and the approval of all projects before the Council of National Monuments. Hence, the buildings cannot exceed 18 meters in height and their development has to be continuous. The façades have to respect the classical principles of base, body and crown, and must have a low percentage of openings, with a dominating solid expression.

Given the urban context and the building codes, the intention of this complex was to emphasize the corridor street characteristics of Lastarria, bringing it to the interior of the plot, and extending the perimeter that faces the street. This created a new urban space, an alley with a direct connection, visually part of the street but allowing for activities on the multitudinous public sidewalk.

One of the important aspects in the development of the project was the self-imposed obligation of maintaining the façade of an existing Tudor-style house. Its interior, which had adobe walls, was in ruins and its demolition was necessary. Nevertheless, the project considered transforming the façade of a house located in the middle of the street into a corner house. This became the point of inflection towards the interior of the block.

This decision meant that a section of the residence, almost 6 meters in length, was “pivoted” to create the corner. This construction curiosity was carried out by cutting the façade to be displaced into 16 pieces, which were kept in an external storeroom, and were put back together once the underground parking areas were built.

The building has 3 levels of underground parking, a street level destined mainly for restaurants, 6 stories of 1 to 2 bedroom apartments and finally, the creation of an urban space which is incorporated into the bustling life of the Lastarria quarter.