Goethe Institut

Santiago de Chile
2009-2024
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Over the years the Goethe-Institut´s 1940s townhouse in downtown Santiago has been transformed into a disorienting maze of corridors, rooms and staircases as a result of various architectural and technical “upgrades”. The resulting spatial residuum undermines the very public, transparent and welcoming nature the institute has come to be known for. We were contracted to refurbish the building by integrating even more of these so-called “upgrades”, amongst them the compliance with current earthquake and environmental requirements. Instead of adding yet another bureaucratic layer to the spatial thicket, we introduced two architecturally multi-tasking elements: The “Circulatory Double Helix” is inserted into the existing building. Its spiraling flights of stairs incorporate an enclosed vertical fire escape while bracing the building laterally in the case of earthquakes.
The “Inverted Theater” offers a double-reading, turning a new, environmentally performative courtyard into an added outdoor theater: a stepped bris-soleil acts as seating, a sun-protection membrane doubles as screen, and a seminar space transforms into stage.
FAR Frohn&Rojas
Project Team: Marc Frohn, Mario Rojas Toledo, Max Koch, Ian Miguez, Oscar Herrera, Danielle Rosman, Isabel Chua, Oliver Claussen, Marius Helten, Massimo Sean Pepe, Lydia Karagiannaki, Daniel Felgendreher, Katrin Tacke, Ulrike Stier
Consultants: CH-Ingenieure, pin-berlin, Leiva&Asoc., DRS, Absorbe, Vicky Rojas, Integral-Ingenieure, KNP Bauphysik, Pabst&Partner Ingenieure, Errealcubo
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inverted theatre and circulatory double-helix
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"Dr. Jekyll and Mr. hyde" architecture
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model photos of the circulatory double-helix
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LONGITUDINAL SECTION AND FLOOR PLANS