The highly reflective exterior cladding allows the building to s…
The highly reflective exterior cladding allows the building to showcase its surroundings.
Courtesy Cristobal Valdes
The bottling plant sits adjacent to its glacial source.
Courtesy Cristobal Valdes
Cutouts from the façade allow outward views to the waterf…
Cutouts from the façade allow outward views to the waterfall.
Courtesy Cristobal Valdes
The plant sits atop a 1.5 meter raised berm to prevent flooding …
The plant sits atop a 1.5 meter raised berm to prevent flooding during times of river swelling.
Courtesy Cristobal Valdes
A view toward the bottling plant entry.
Courtesy Cristobal Valdes
Entry to the bottling plant.
Courtesy Cristobal Valdes
Office spaces within the plant are in spaces with lower ceilings…
Office spaces within the plant are in spaces with lower ceilings.
Courtesy Cristobal Valdes
A lofted space above the offices provides casual meeting space o…
A lofted space above the offices provides casual meeting space overlooking the bottling process portion of the facility.
Courtesy Cristobal Valdes
The kitchen, at far left, and a supply closet, are in the lower …
The kitchen, at far left, and a supply closet, are in the lower level of the facility.
Courtesy Cristobal Valdes
The bottling process takes place in a double-height section of t…
The bottling process takes place in a double-height section of the interior.
Courtesy Panorama Arquitectos
Site plan.
Courtesy Panorama Arquitectos
First floor plan.
Courtesy Panorama Arquitectos
Second floor plan.
Courtesy Panorama Arquitectos
Roof plan.
Courtesy Panorama Arquitectos
Section A-A.
Courtesy Panorama Arquitectos
Section B-B.
Courtesy Panorama Arquitectos
Unfolded elevations.
Courtesy Cristobal Valdes
Another look at the façade, with its glazing reflecting t…
Another look at the façade, with its glazing reflecting the surrounding landscape.
Courtesy Panorama Arquitectos
Architects Constanza Hagemann and Nicolás Valdés.
Designing a flood-resistant water bottling facility may seem ironic, but that’s exactly the challenge Chilean firm Panorama faced in their recent commission for the Glacial Water Bottling Plant, located just outside Queulat National Park in the Patagonia region of Chile. The facility sits adjacent to a glacial waterfall that floods in the winter months; by placing the building atop a tapered soil podium, Panorama hopes to keep these exterior waters at bay. The 324-square-meter (3,888-square-foot) plant reflects its usually idyllic mountainside surroundings with a steel-supported curtain wall of toughened glass, a material chosen for its ability to withstand a broad spectrum of seasonal climate shifts. Inside, the bottling process occurs within a double-height space that allows ample room for equipment. Offices for the plant are opposite the processing zone in single-height wood-clad volumes with observation areas above. Large windows throughout the facility offer views of the nearby cascading waterfalls, reminding plant workers of their livelihood’s source; its exact location, however, like many natural springs, remains a closely guarded secret.
Deane Madsen, Assoc. AIA, LEED Green Associate, is the former associate design editor for ARCHITECT, and still covers architecture and design in Washington, D.C. He earned his M.Arch. at UCLA's Department of Architecture and Urban Design. Follow Deane on Twitter at @deane_madsen.
