Alma Sports Hall

Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa

ALMA SPORTS HALL

Benjamín Murúa Arquitectos

ARCHITECTS
Benjamín Murúa Arquitectos

BUILDING OWNER / CLIENT
Associated Universities Inc (Aui)

CONSTRUCTION
Toptent - Sergenco

STRUCTURAL PROJECT
Juan Acevedo

MANUFACTURERS
Ingelam, Versaidag

LEAD ARCHITECT
Benjamín Murúa Acuña

SPECIAL FEATURES
Claudia Salinas Salamanca

DRAFTING
Benjamín Peralta Peralta

PROJECT COORDINATOR
Claudia Salinas Salamanca, Benjamín Peralta Peralta

ENERGY EFICIENCY
Lucas Vasquez

AREA
1333 M²

YEAR
2023

LOCATION
San Pedro De Atacama, Chile

CATEGORY
Recreation & Training

Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa

The design is a response to the environmental constraints encountered during the project development.

Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa

Located in the Atacama Desert at an altitude of 2,900 meters above sea level, the project is subjected to extreme environmental conditions: high radiation, winds, dust or snow storms, heat, and cold, so the building had to adapt and be designed based on the impacts that these factors could cause in the form.

First, the weight of the snow and the impact of the wind on the structure were considered, which could require over-structuring in order to prevent deformations.

Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa

Next, two strategies were considered, separated by layers. The first one was to think of an aerial structure with a lower curvature that would better adapt to the wind.

The second strategy consisted of burying the main level of the program, locating the court on an underground level, and taking advantage of the geothermal energy of the place.

Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa

Both strategies resulted in a concave shape, generating a continuous space with a high degree of comfort, as it has a clearly differentiated cool underground level from the roof.

Subsequently, the curvature of the roof was reduced, making it more aerodynamic and achieving a larger thermal comfort zone in the lower level, requiring even further burying of the usable space.

Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa


Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa


Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa
Alma Sports Hall
© Cristóbal Correa


Alma Sports Hall
Detail
Alma Sports Hall
Detail
Alma Sports Hall
Detail
Alma Sports Hall
Section AA'


Alma Sports Hall
Elevation
Alma Sports Hall
Elevation


Alma Sports Hall
Section
Alma Sports Hall
Section
Alma Sports Hall
Plan