The project for the reconversion of the ruins of the former warehouses at the Chillán Railway Station, led by architects Cristóbal Tirado and Alberto Moletto, was selected by the jury as the winning proposal in the preliminary architectural design competition. Organized by the Directorate of Architecture of the Ministry of Public Works on behalf of the Ministry of Cultures, Arts, and Heritage, the competition aimed to rehabilitate this infrastructure and transform it into a cultural space, ultimately defining the program and general layout of the future Ñuble Regional Museum. In addition to strengthening regional heritage identity, the project aims to contribute to the urban regeneration of Chillán, specifically the surrounding area and the future Ultraestación Intercommunal Park, whose industrial structures are part of the city's modern architectural legacy. The Ministry highlighted the winning proposal's ability to "breathe life into this iconic city space and, in doing so, establish a new urban landmark for Chillán."
The rehabilitation project for the former railway workshops incorporates nearly 6,000 square meters of abandoned infrastructure, reclaiming and enhancing it by repurposing four warehouses for museum use. These structures are part of the local modern heritage, built in 1939 following the major earthquake that struck the region. The new Regional Museum aims to position itself as the central axis and main infrastructure of the Ultraestación sector and its future park, a project currently in the design phase by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning.
In addition, the preliminary design includes a new five-story building to house the museum's offices and technical facilities. This vertical volume complements the characteristic horizontality of the existing structures. It is topped by a viewpoint offering panoramic vistas of the museum, Ultraestación Park, and the city of Chillán. Furthermore, the elevated walkways defining the museum's interior layout will provide various exhibition routes designed to align with the museographical script.
