Crisosto Smith Arquitectos

Federico Varela High School

Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros

FEDERICO VARELA HIGH SCHOOL

Crisosto Arquitectos Consultores

COLLABORATORS
Rodrigo Medina Y Pablo Carvajal

CONSULTANTS
Crisosto Arquitectos Consultores - Andrés Crisosto Smith Y Andrés Crisosto Aguilera

CLIENT
Gobierno Regional De Atacama

HOLDER
Municipalidad De Chañaral

CIVIL ENGINEER
Jorge Marambio Chávez

AREA
6616 M²

TOTAL AREA
15.969,0 M2

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Chañaral, Chile

CATEGORY
High School

Product of a public architectural competition for preliminary designs, at the town of Chañaral, located at the Atacama Region, a desertic zone in the north of Chile, the request was to conceive an educational establishment for secondary high school youngsters.

Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros
Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros

To be located in a whole block site, corresponding to downtown Chañaral. This courtyard or central space also allows an efficient control of the students, during break hours.

Thus ensuring an optimum coexistence between the student use of the space and adequate possibilities of assistance in case of emergencies.

Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros
Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros

The Project achieves various objectives and necessities for the local educational community.

One of these, is to count with a big central space by the way of courtyard or “pátio”, a space that could allow developing collective, cultural or sportsmanlike, activities, in a safe way, on the premises.

Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros
Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros

The central space is crossed by diagonal volume, producing a relationship between the front entrance and the opposite located pupil´s canteen or lunchroom.

The same diagonal volume also absorbs the soil levels in the site, while differentiating the upper and lower parts of it. On the other hand, the perimetral volume allows the generation of an internal covert pedestrian walkways.

Overlooking the central space or courtyard, defined by pillars in a regular rhythm, a remembrance of traditional wooden constructions of the Region.

Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros
Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros

This circulation, somewhat a ring, relates in a continuous way each and everyone one of the classrooms, workshops, special rooms, covered sports playground, and auditorium, located it´s perimeter. Thus providing a permeable, intermediate space, that concedes shadow and protects from intense solar radiation.

On the contrary, from outwards, the built complex is closed and hermetic, protecting the interior from the strong winds that arouse after midday. The exterior windows of the classrooms or of horizontal proportion, whereas located highly, near to the flat ceiling, seeking a controlled natural illumination, and avoiding overheating closed interior space.

Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros
Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros

The volumes are worked on the official or property line, marking the limit between what is public and what is private, breaking itself exclusively at the main entrance of the buildings. For the purpose of granting altitude and hierarchy, double heighted, two story precincts are disposed towards Zuleta Avenue, the main access road to the public school.

The other fronts, corresponding to borders, are one story high, adjusting themselves to the residential scale of the neighborhood. The library and the auditorium count with direct access from the community.

Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros
Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros

Elements of passive architecture are incorporates to improve interior comfort, such as sight beakers and reinforced concrete slabs over the windows. The building´s finishes are austere, and of good quality, so to avoid future –or important- maintenance expenses.

Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros


Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros
Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros
Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros
Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros
Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros
Federico Varela High School
© Pablo Blanco Barros


Federico Varela High School
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Federico Varela High School
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Federico Varela High School
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Federico Varela High School
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Federico Varela High School
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Federico Varela High School
Floor Plan
Federico Varela High School
Floor Plan
Federico Varela High School
Floor Plan

Crisosto Smith Arquitectos
T +56 2 22747252
Crisosto Smith Arquitectos
California 1945, oficina 102, 7501025 Providencia, Región Metropolitana, Chile