VISITOR CENTER CERO PAINE RANCH MAGALLANES, CHILE

Our office worked on a Master Plan for the touristic development of 5.000 hectare of Cerro Paine Ranch, which is inside the Torres del Paine National Park in Chilean Patagonia. Because of its important location inside the Park (declared World Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO), the plan was done with extreme care, and had involvement of an interdisciplinary team, together with the clients and authorities. The extraordinary site is literally on Finis Terrae, (Latitude 50º 55´S) and it has a hotel, some touristic facilities and rests of its past ranch use. It has one of the most pristine ecosystem on earth, so the plan leaves 80% of the area untouched, and only 0,05% for built programs. The VISITOR CENTER is the first project to be constructed. Its object is to receive the arriving visitors, to let them leave behind urban life and to experience what the park has to offer. Cars are replaced for equestrian or pedestrian transportation from this point. The parking area is formed by 5 circular modules made of local stone and it´s geometry reminds us of Patagonian equestrian pens and other images, from paleolithic and medieval ruins to the walls of Aran in Ireland. All visitors must pass through the stables, were horses are cared of and prepared. Metaphorically speaking it´s a great hallway were visitors pass from one world to another. It´s protected by tall stone walls on three sides, but to the west it was necessary to leave it open. So in order to let the strong wind pass, and avoid it getting stuck, the big roof is separated from the walls. Next to the stables are the equestrian patio and the patagonian pens. From this place there’s a road that leads visitors to the Observation Square, were they may look over amazing views of the famous geological Towers, the ranch, the Nordenskold lake and the far away Andes Mountains. As well, this area has the AMA offices and labs (Friends of the Environment Association), which is also a place with a conference room and an exhibition area were visitors may be informed of the park’s main attractions, rules and facilities. In addition to this research center, there are commercial spaces, cafeterias, public bathrooms and a locker room. From this point, visitors are free to choose where and when to go. These structures are made of stone walls that come off the hill, just like the diorite stone extrusions that are all over the park. The project looked from above almost disappears because of the green roofs, and when it´s noticed, it resembles antique ruins, some geological formation or something that was always there.