Dunalastair School Gymnasium

Text description provided by architect.

The building is part of a complex which englobes the Dunalastair School (Colegio Dunalastair), located in the Community of Peñalolén, which is characterized for being a traditional, slightly urbanized rural area.

The whole project, totaling an extension of 2070 m2,will consider a multi activity field with bleachers for 300 spectators, dressing rooms, storage rooms plus an infirmary.

For this reason, it has been decided to sink the construction to certain extend so as to minimize the volumetric impact in relation with the surrounding landscape.

The building consists of 2 concrete volumes (invested with bricks) at each end, making up the most hermetic space of the structure, holding the stage, toilets and storage rooms at one enf, and the dressing rooms at the other end.

One of the main objectives is to allow natural light to infiltrate in all the premises, thus reducing to a minimum the energy consumption.

Due to the multiple purpose uses of the building it was necessary to improve the warmth and acoustics of the premises by using an interior finishing with MDF boards,veneered with natural wood, in 2 different formats: a) In the ceiling, through the original modulation of the manufacturer in 15 x 240 cm strips, 3 cm apart, lined with an acoustic insulation fabric in the inner side, in order to reduce resonance, and b) in the walls, 60x120 cm panels drilled with holes of different diameters, with the same acoustic objective but aimed to simulate an interior vegetal landscape, providing an atmosphere connected with nature.