Creating a public space capable of reclaiming the neighborhood's heritage value while fostering participation and community appropriation among local residents was one of the primary goals driving the creation of the Zenteno Cultural Plaza. It is part of a balanced densification project that seeks to integrate local historical and cultural heritage while designing flexible, integrated spaces. Carried out by Activa Inmobiliaria, the project also enabled the preservation of the "Inmaculado Corazón de María" Basilica, a heritage building adjacent to the new plaza. Located in the historic center of Santiago, at the corner of Zenteno and Copiapó streets, the project freed up an area previously occupied by a warehouse building to expose and restore the brick facade of the basilica, which was declared a historic monument in 1987.
Zenteno Cultural Plaza covers an area of 1,600 square meters, which includes green areas, paved surfaces, playgrounds, and street furniture. The project also includes free Wi-Fi access, renewable energy facilities located in the Activa Plaza Zenteno mixed-use building, and QR codes designed to inform users of both the project's features and the historical and cultural heritage of the neighborhood. In turn, the building seeks to establish a dialogue with its surroundings by employing a double-height, 5-meter facade and a commercial plinth designed to activate the space throughout the day.
