Architecture of Chile

Due to the unique geographical environment, Chilean architecture was also designed to accommodate these natural conditions.

The arrival of Spanish conquistadors in 1541 saw the development of more urban architecture; however, the first colonial buildings they built were highly vulnerable to earthquake activity.

Even though Inca builders usually employed no mortar, their architecture was highly resilient, and in fact, their particular use of dry stone masonry gave their buildings good anti-seismic qualities, which made them well-suited to the earthquake-prone regions of what is now Chile.

[8] Relatively few examples of Inca architecture in Chilean territory have survived to this day in good condition, though some remains of pukarás, or stone fortresses, can still be found.

These defensive complexes, such as the Pukara of La Compañía and the Pucará de Chena, were linked by the road network known as the Inca Trail or Qhapak Ñan.

Although the fortress of Quitor is also classified under the generic term of pucará, its construction actually predates Inca presence by a couple of centuries, which makes it one of the few well-preserved examples of both pre-Spanish and pre-Inca architecture in the country.

During the Arauco War, Spanish chroniclers would make note of the ability of the Mapuche to quickly erect simple but effective defensive fortifications.

These were also given the generic term of pucará, though evidence suggests that Mapuche builders preferred the use of earthworks over stone masonry.

One of the most famous architect Joaquín Toesca arrived in Chile in 1780 and was responsible for the renovation of the Mapocho river dikes, the La Moneda and the finishing of the new cathedral, which were the most important architectural works of the period.

Usually, the buildings surrounding the square are the residences of churches, royal courts, state treasury, city halls, prisons, and dignitaries.

In 1860, influenced by European trends at the time, the square began to be gardened, and the centre opened a walking trail with green flowers and lush trees.

The tall bronze statue of Allende stands on the Constitution Square outside the north gate of the presidential palace.

In 1780, the bishop recommended to the Spanish royal family the Roman architect Joaquín Toesca to repair the front of the cathedral and chapel.

As he proposed and promulgated some advanced clauses, such as abolishing the nobility, developing public schools, allowing the spread of Protestantism and encouraging foreign trade, new ideas penetrated into the framework of society and in architecture.

[20] The Central Post Office Building was originally built as the private residence of the Spanish conquistador Pedro de Valdivia.

In 1908, to welcome the celebration of Chile's independence for its centenary, a third layer of French Neoclassical style and a dome by Ramón Feherman were added to the Central Post Office.

Coal and silver mines (in Lota and Chañarcillo, respectively) were an important early source of revenue for private families and the state alike, but this process was exacerbated by the end of the War of the Pacific (1879–1884), when Chile came into possession of large territories rich in saltpeter deposits.

These families were capable of commissioning large residential projects from European and Chilean architects, done in the styles that were fashionable at the time: Neoclassicism, Second Empire, Gothic and Spanish Colonial Revival were among the major influences, though many of these buildings merged different styles in examples of Eclecticism.

As the Great Depression led to the financial ruin of many mining dynasties, several of these palaces were eventually acquired by city governments, and now function as city halls, cultural centers or museums, while others were sectioned for smaller residential and commercial use, and others still (such as the Palacio Pereira in Santiago or the Palacio Subercaseaux in Valparaíso) fell into disrepair and have been abandoned or demolished.

The extensive renovations of the layout of downtown Santiago started by Benjamín Vicuña Mackenna coincide with this period, as do multiple public buildings such as the Museum of Fine Arts, the Central Post Office Building, the National Library, the entrance to Santa Lucía Hill or the Central Railway Station.

Since the end of Pinochet's rule in the 1980s, a number of new architects have emerged in Chile, hoping to make new contributions to the construction of their motherland.

[24] The Templo Baháʼí is a Bahá'í House of Worship nestled into the foothills of the Andes Mountains looking over the city of Santiago, Chile.

The most unique feature of this temple is its translucent reinforced concrete structure, which has an anti-seismic three-pendulum friction insulation system.

Unlike traditional Spanish colonial architecture, the Churches are made entirely of native wood and uses a large number of wooden tiles.

These churches are built of materials to resist the humid and rainy ocean climate of Chiloe Archipelago.