Chile singular. Apuntes de viaje

F O R T B U L N E S & T O R R E S D E L P A I N E I N T H E E X T R E M E S O U T H Due to the Punta Arenas airport project and my work at the University of Magallanes, I have traveled several times to the southernmost tip of Chile, where America ends. During my travels, half of the plane was always occupied by foreign travelers heading to do trekking in the Torres del Paine National Park. Intrigued to delve deeper into the south and understand the reason behind the allure of this tourist magnet, I journeyed to Puerto Natales, on the edge of the Strait of Magellan, and ventured into the vast chilean region of Patagonia. Through trails that cut across lenga beech forests, streams, and slopes, one arrives at the three enormous granite massifs that constitute the main attraction of Torres del Paine Park. Known as the Horns of Paine [Cuernos del Paine], they are reflected in the lake and pierce the sky. The patagonian wind challenges sketching in my notebook and outlines the summits. Waters cascade from the peaks to the lakes, while glaciers gift enormous ice chunks that navigate through mighty rivers towards the sea. Embarking on this journey , I understand why so many backpacks, parkas, and climbing shoes are on the plane. Beyond the landscape and driven by my passion as an architect, I seek architecture to observe, draw, and take back with me alongside the powerful images of Torres del Paine. Following the coastline, I reach Fort Bulnes, the place where Chile consolidated its position at the southernmost point of the American continent almost 100 years ago. It was the first permanent settlement in the vastness of Patagonia facing the Strait of Magellan, which connect both oceans. Fort Bulnes not only exemplifies Chile’s geopolitical vision but also showcases the strength and courage of the early settlers. This sketchbook gathers images of an impressive natural landscape with its tectonics and scenic power, alongside the simplicity of the architecture of trunks of wood that tells the story of men who responded to this giant, exposed, and challenging location with bravery and determination. Fort Bulnes has been declared a National Heritage Site. PU NTA ARENAS , 2004 – 2006 . 206