Estación Mapocho
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Estación Mapocho is a former
railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in Track (rail transport), tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the ...
that, since 1994, has been refitted as a cultural centre that hosts many kinds of events.


History

The design and construction of the station began in 1905 at the hands of Emilio Jecquier, a Chilean architect based in France. The 280-metre-long, 17-metre-high structure was composed of a base of
masonry Masonry is the building of structures from individual units, which are often laid in and bound together by mortar; the term ''masonry'' can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are bricks, building ...
and a steel vault covered in glass (now copper). The steel structure was constructed by the Belgian company Haine Saint Pierre. The official inauguration of the station took place on May 12, 1912, and the station opened to the public in 1913. In many ways, Estación Mapocho is an relic of a significant period in
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the eas ...
an history when the country was going through major economic and social changes, as well as celebrating its first centenary. The station was one of several civil works commissioned to celebrate the first centenary of Chilean independence, along with the park of
Santa Lucía Hill Santa Lucía Hill ( es, Cerro Santa Lucía), also known in Mapuche as Huelén Hill ( es, Cerro Huelén), is a small hill in the centre of Santiago, Chile. It is situated between Alameda del Libertador Bernardo O'Higgins in the south, Santa ...
, the Chilean High Court of Justice, and the Chilean National Museum of Fine Arts. The building is located at the intersection of two streets, Presidente Balmaceda and Bandera, on the south bank of the
Mapocho River The River Mapocho ( es, Río Mapocho) ( Mapudungun: ''Mapu chuco'', "water that penetrates the land") is a river in Chile. It flows from its source in the Andes mountains onto the west and divides Chile's capital Santiago in two. Course The Map ...
close to the
Mercado Central de Santiago The Mercado Central de Santiago is the central market of Santiago de Chile. It was opened in 1872 and Fermín Vivaceta was in charge of its construction. The market replaced the Plaza del Abasto, which was destroyed by a fire in 1864. The mar ...
.
Puente Cal y Canto metro station Puente Cal y Canto is a transfer station between the Line 2 and Line 3 of the Santiago Metro. Originally named Mapocho, it was renamed to Puente Cal y Canto shortly after its opening. This name is taken from the former bridge on the Mapocho Rive ...
is beneath the "Plaza de la Cultura", or Culture Square, in front of the station. For many years, Estación Mapocho was Santiago's main
rail Rail or rails may refer to: Rail transport *Rail transport and related matters *Rail (rail transport) or railway lines, the running surface of a railway Arts and media Film * ''Rails'' (film), a 1929 Italian film by Mario Camerini * ''Rail'' ( ...
hub serving
Valparaíso Valparaíso (; ) is a major city, seaport, naval base, and educational centre in the commune of Valparaíso, Chile. "Greater Valparaíso" is the second largest metropolitan area in the country. Valparaíso is located about northwest of Santiago ...
,
Argentina Argentina (), officially the Argentine Republic ( es, link=no, República Argentina), is a country in the southern half of South America. Argentina covers an area of , making it the List of South American countries by area, second-largest ...
and northern
Chile Chile, officially the Republic of Chile, is a country in the western part of South America. It is the southernmost country in the world, and the closest to Antarctica, occupying a long and narrow strip of land between the Andes to the eas ...
, which at the time was the centre of Chile's
niter Niter or nitre is the mineral form of potassium nitrate, KNO3. It is a soft, white, highly soluble mineral found primarily in arid climates or cave deposits. Historically, the term ''niter'' was not well differentiated from natron, both of w ...
or
saltpeter Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . This alkali metal nitrate Salt (chemistry), salt is also known as Indian saltpetre (large deposits of which were historically mined in India). It is an ionic salt of potassium ...
boom. In recognition of its imposing architecture and its sentimental and historic value, the building was declared a
National Monument A national monument is a monument constructed in order to commemorate something of importance to national heritage, such as a country's founding, independence, war, or the life and death of a historical figure. The term may also refer to a spe ...
by law in 1976. Image:Construcción Estacion Mapocho.jpg , In its construction stage Image:EstacionMapocho-vistaaerea-2010.jpg , Aerial view of the Estación Mapocho. Image taken from the summit of the San Cristobal Hill. Image:Centro cultural Estación Mapocho 03.JPG , Details of the Interior Image:Estación Mapocho desde la micro..JPG , Facade Image:Vista desde plaza baja hall.jpg , View of the lower hall In 1986, the station was temporarily closed for remodeling and rail traffic was diverted to Alameda Station, causing great inconvenience to commuters coming from
Valparaíso Valparaíso (; ) is a major city, seaport, naval base, and educational centre in the commune of Valparaíso, Chile. "Greater Valparaíso" is the second largest metropolitan area in the country. Valparaíso is located about northwest of Santiago ...
and reducing passenger numbers on the line. The same year, the Queronque rail accident left 58 dead and caused the
Santiago–Valparaíso railway line The Santiago–Valparaíso railway is a railway line linking the Chilean capital city Santiago with the port city of Valparaíso. History The existing rail line between Santiago and Valparaíso was opened in 1863, and is long, single-track and ...
to close. In 1987, the Empresa de Ferrocarriles del Estado (Chile's State Railroad Company or EFE) stopped the remodeling works and Estación Mapocho was decommissioned. The serious structural decay and lack of use caused the station to be abandoned. Since demolition of a national monument is expressly forbidden by law, Empresa de los Ferrocarriles del Estado sold the building to
CORFO The Production Development Corporation (CORFO, from es, Corporación de Fomento de la Producción de Chile) is a Chilean governmental organization that was founded in 1939 by President Pedro Aguirre Cerda to promote economic growth in Chile. ...
, Chile's economic growth agency, in 1988.


Estacion Mapocho Cultural Centre

In 1991, a
non profit A nonprofit organization (NPO) or non-profit organisation, also known as a non-business entity, not-for-profit organization, or nonprofit institution, is a legal entity organized and operated for a collective, public or social benefit, in co ...
private organization called "Corporación Cultural de la Estación Mapocho" (Estación Mapocho Cultural Corporation) to oversee the redevelopment and management of the building. Sponsored by the "Colegio de Arquitectos" (Architects’ Association), the city of Santiago invited tenders from private organisations to refurbish the building. It was one of the first instances of a private organization managing a public building in Chile, and one of the first cultural projects carried out after Chile's transition to democracy. Architects Montserrat Palmer, Teodoro Fernández, Ramón López and Rodrigo Pérez de Arce were appointed to carry out the remodeling work. Their proposal involved remodeling the 10,000 square metre space with minimal alteration or disruption, preserving the original work of architect wherever possible. The project cost an estimated $10 million
US dollars The United States dollar (symbol: $; code: USD; also abbreviated US$ or U.S. Dollar, to distinguish it from other dollar-denominated currencies; referred to as the dollar, U.S. dollar, American dollar, or colloquially buck) is the official ...
. The restoration work was completed by the beginning of 1994, and the new Estación Mapocho Cultural Centre was inaugurated on March 3, 1994. Today, the centre is a heritage site dedicated to the promotion of culture in Chile. The building serves as venue for cultural events such as art exhibitions, musical performances and conventions. The
Santiago International Book Fair The Santiago International Book Fair (''Spanish: Feria Internacional del Libro de Santiago, FILSA'') is an annual book fair held in Santiago, Chile, during October–December. It is organised by the Chilean Chamber for Books (''Cámara Chilena de ...
is held there every year in late spring. The centre's success in promoting and preserving the heritage of Chile was recognised when it won the City Heritage Award in 2005, its 100th anniversary as a building and 15th anniversary as a cultural centre. It also received the Reina Sofía International Award for Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage in 2008.El Centro Cultural Mapocho de Sntiago de Chile y el Museo del Carnaval de Montevideo, premios Reina Sofía de Conservación y Restauración del Patrimonio Cultural
Gobierno de España, Madrid, April 24, 2009 and in 2005, when


See also

*
Culture of Chile The culture of Chile reflects the population and the geographic isolation of the country in relation to the rest of South America. Since colonial times, the Chilean culture has been a mix of Spanish colonial elements with elements of indigenous ( ...
*
Music of Chile Chilean music refers to all kinds of music developed in Chile, or by Chileans in other countries, from the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors to the modern day. It also includes the native pre-Columbian music from what is today Chilean terri ...


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Estacion Mapocho Buildings and structures in Santiago Santiago Mapocho Mapocho Station Railway stations opened in 1913 Railway stations closed in 1987 Sports venues in Santiago Indoor arenas in Chile Music venues in Chile National Monuments of Chile 1913 establishments in Chile 1987 disestablishments in Chile