Small Pavilion

Located in San Borja Park in Santiago, Chile, Small Pavilion is conceived as a temporary, minimal-scale public infrastructure. More than an autonomous object, the project proposes a spatial framework capable of enabling rest and changing activities through a light, reversible, and constructively legible intervention.

The pavilion was prefabricated at the School of Architecture of Universidad Mayor and subsequently assembled in the park in a short period of time. From its inception, it was designed as a demountable system, using simple joints, minimal intervention on the pieces, and the use of commercially available lengths, so that its components can be reused in future constructions.

The slenderness of the structure is a result of this assembly and transport logic, where transportation, handling, and manual assembly determine the dimensions of each element. This allows the work to be constructed without machinery and with a clear economy of means.

The structure is organized through the repetition of wooden frames constructed with standard slats. These frames are linked longitudinally by a tubular steel beam that stabilizes the system and allows the pavilion to function as a continuous sequence of repeated elements.

The structural logic is deliberately left exposed. Frames, bracing, and connections are clearly visible, revealing how the architecture is assembled and supported.

The pavilion rests on a raised wooden platform that functions simultaneously as a lightweight foundation and a habitable space. This surface incorporates a continuous bench and extends the usable area beyond the roof, expanding the possibilities for lingering and personal use.

The cantilevered slabs serve a dual purpose: they act as sunshades and protect the building envelope, while also contributing to fire safety. The continuous parapets enhance the privacy of the homes and allow for greater freedom in interior layout.

The placement adapts to the existing trees, incorporating their interferences as part of the site conditions and reinforcing the open and situated character of the intervention.

The building envelope combines wood and industrial zincalum panels. The panels were pre-curved and compressed between the wooden frames, creating a continuous surface that increases its rigidity and transforms a standard material into an active element of the construction system.

Through this approach, the project introduces texture, movement, and light reflections that amplify its presence within the park. Small Pavilion thus explores the spatial and expressive potential of conventional materials used in unconventional ways.