Although the Olympic Pool of Arica, built in 1972 by architect Alicia Meza and former CORMU members Nelson Berthelon and Sergio Román, received widespread national and international recognition at the time, today it is far from being part of the collective imaginary of modern architecture in Chile.
The project consists of two pools—one Olympic-sized and one for diving—bounded on their southwest corner by an L-shaped grandstand that houses the facilities and services necessary for its operation within its sealed base. The design was developed as part of an architectural competition aimed at establishing continuity between the park and the beach. However, the proposal had to be modified during construction due to unfavorable soil mechanics. The Olympic Pool of Arica stands two hundred meters from the coastline and three meters above ground level. This condition determines both the distinct stratification of the project according to its respective functions—a quintessentially modern feature—and its fragmented execution.
