Baha’i Temple

Location: Santiago, Chile
ClientBaha’i
Designed ByHariri Pontarini Architects
CategoryReligious Temple

 

The Bahá’í Temple is designed by Hariri Pontarini Architects. In 2002, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá’ís of Chile and the Universal House of Justice announced a competition for the design of the newest House of Worship, to be built in Chile. Out of over 180 entries from 80 countries, Siamak Hariri, from Toronto, was chosen to design the temple. The temple itself is made mostly of translucent stone and glass. These materials are use in order to capture both the physiological and spiritual charm of natural light used in architecture. We are extremely honored to be working on a project that has such amazing values behind it. CBD Glass Stusios carried out the complex task of programming, water-jet cutting and thermoforming the glass panels, including the bending and curving, as well as deviation registration of each thermoformed piece. We finished each piece of glass with a specialized treatment to create the soft satin finish. It is then shipped to Germany for additional trimming, then sent to Santiago to be used in the construction of the temple.

“TORONTO, October  25, 2019 – The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is pleased to announce the Baha’i Temple of South America in Santiago, Chile as the winner of the 2019 RAIC International Prize. The architects are Hariri Pontarini Architects of Toronto, Canada.

The winner was revealed on October 25, 2019, during an awards ceremony and gala at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto, attended by over 260 members of the Canadian and international architecture community.

The Baha’i Temple of South America is designed to be a place of welcome and meaning for everyone. Its design aspires to commonality within diversity, and it has attracted over 1.4 million visitors since opening in 2016″.