The RAIC, Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, awarded the Baha’i Temple of South America in Santiago, Chile.
The temple won the 2019 RAIC International Prize. The architects behind the temple were Hariri Pontarini Architects. The architectural firm is a leading company in the business servicing in Canada.
It was in the year 1994 when Hariri Pontarini Architects was founded by Siamak Hariri and David Pontarini as a joint venture in Toronto, Canada. The main aim of the founders was to design great quality projects, and since then, the firm has been doing an excellent job at it.
A big success
At present, Hariri Pontarini Architects has 130 employees who are dealing with clients and helping them through all the stages of development. It was on the 25th of October 2019 when the winner was announced by RAIC. 260 members of the Canadian and International architecture community attended the award ceremony. This event took place at the Westin Harbour Castle in Toronto.
The epitome of communality
The Baha’i Temple of South America stands as an epitome of elegance and a place that is welcome for everyone. The design by Hariri Pontarini Architects showcases commonality and generates a feeling of diversity amongst people. The temple opened in the year 2014, and since then, over 1.4 million people have visited the brilliantly designed temple.
Hariri Pontarini Architects receive great appreciation
The jury appreciated the architecture of the temple greatly. As per the jury, the design of the Baha’i Temple of South America is timeless and is a truly inspirational one.
The architecture is thoughtful and expresses the Baha’i philosophy really well in the form of spacing, light, as well as materials.
As a prize, Hariri Pontarini Architects have received a generous monetary reward. Also, the company received a sculpture that is designed by Wei Yew, a popular Canadian designer.
The prize celebrates the transformative nature with respect to society through its design. It displays values of respect, humanity, equality, and inclusiveness.
Stunning architecture by the architects
Set in a dramatic setting, it is a jewel, an element of natural beauty. The variations of shades and lights on the architecture’s surfaces look soft and charming. During night time, the temple looks like a lantern, emitting soft light.
The interiors of the Baha’i temple symbolize togetherness. The exteriors display cast-glass panels and have an interior layer of translucent marble. The unique design makes it stand out in the place.
The building is of great relevance to the Chilean community. This is because it hosts community clubs, children’s activities by building partnerships with certain public schools, and youth outreach programs.
The architects portray the value of bringing everyone together, and the temple shows aspirations and beliefs. There are different architectural elements responsible for different emotions and qualities. For instance, the arched lines of the wood benches bring different people together.
They create an environment and atmosphere for people to sit with each other and contemplate things. Hariri Pontarini Architects is one of the best architectural firms in Toronto, Canada.
The company has plenty of experience in creating projects with excellent designs that stand out in terms of timeless style and quality. Click here to stay up to date with similar stories.
Leave a comment