Bahá’í Temple of South America

PrizeWinner in Architectural Design / Cultural Architecture
Firm LocationToronto, Canada
CompanyHariri Pontarini Architects
Lead ArchitectSiamak Hariri
Design Team Architect: Hariri Pontarini Architects Partner-in-Charge: Siamak Hariri Project Manager: Doron Meinhard Project Architect: Justin Huang Ford Project Team: Michael Boxer, George Simionopoulos, Tiago Masrour, Tahirih Viveros, Jin-Yi McMillen, Jaegap Chung, Adriana Balen, Mehrdad Tavakkolian, Donald Peters, Jimmy Farrington, John Cook Project Management: Desarrolllo y Construccion del Templo Bahá’í de Sudamerica Ltda. Superstructure and Cladding: Gartner Steel and Glass GmbH Glass Casting: Jeff Goodman Studio and CGD Glass Stone Fabrication: EDM Subconsultants: Local Architect: Benkal y Larrain Arquitectos Landscape Architect: Juan Grimm Structural Consultants: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger, Halcrow Yolles, EXP, Patricio Bertholet M. Cladding Consultants: Simpson Gumpertz & Heger Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing, HVAC Consultants: MMM Group, Videla & Asociados, The OPS Group Lighting Consultant: Isometrix, Limari Lighting Design Ltda Acoustics: Verónica Wulf
ClientThe National Spiritual Assembly of the Bahá'ís of Chile

Set within the Andean foothills, just beyond the metropolis of Santiago, Chile, the Bahá’í Temple of South America is a domed, luminous structure that echoes the rolling topography of the mountains. Its nine monumental glass veils frame an open and accessible worship space where up to 600 visitors can be accommodated. Looking up to the central oculus at the apex of the dome, visitors will experience a mesmerizing transfer of light from the exterior of cast glass to an interior of translucent Portuguese marble. At sunset, the light captured within the dome shifts from white to silver to ochre and purple.