Kouvo & Partanen was recently announced as the winners of design competition for the Alma Hotel Residence in the Atacama Observatory and Research Center in the desert of northern Chile. The aim of the competition was to find the best solution on a fixed design fee and construction price for the building that offers the astronomers, engineers, and other staff working at the observatory accommodation, restaurant and office services and recreational spaces. More images and architects’ description after the break.
Alma is one of the largest ground-based astronomy projects of the next decade. Alma is a global partnership between Europe, North America (USA and Canada) and East Asia (Taiwan and Japan), in cooperation with the Republic of Chile. At the altitude of 5000 meters on the Chajnantor plateau Alma telescope consisting 66 radio antennas will be at one of the highest altitudes in the world. The Research Center, where the new Hotel Residence will be located, is at 2900 above sea level. The building complex comprises of dormitories providing 120 accommodation rooms, and of the main building that locates common rooms such as restaurants, offices and recreational areas. The total floor area is about 5900m.
