House of Worship in Santiago, Chile

arthra · 02-21-2007, 02:50 PM

Fabrication begins on components for Baha'i temple in South America
TORONTO, Canada, 19 February 2007 (BWNS) --

After months of testing a key computer model for the unique Baha'i house of worship to be built in Chile, architects have announced that fabrication of components for the structure is now beginning.
The milestone comes just as the design for the building received a coveted architectural award - a citation from Architect magazine in its annual Progressive Architecture competition. The awards, established in 1954, are among the most prestigious honors for projects that have not yet been built.
The Baha'i temple in Chile is one of eight projects from around the world that received an award or citation in the program this year.
"For architects, it's the award that recognizes designs that go in a new direction," said Siamak Hariri of Hariri Pontarini Architects of Toronto, the firm that designed the house of worship and is overseeing its construction. Representatives of the firm traveled to New York last month for the awards ceremony.
Mr. Hariri describes the building as a "temple of light." The structure will be created by nine translucent alabaster and cast-glass "wings," which during the day will allow sunlight to filter through. At night the temple will emit a warm glow from the interior lighting.
The huge segments that will form the sides and dome of the building are being fabricated in Toronto and then will be transported to Chile.

Hariri Pontarini Architects of Toronto have two full-time teams, one in Canada and one in Chile, working on the temple project.
>Larger Photo > Related Photos

"It's a little bit unorthodox, but it's the most cost effective way to do it," Mr. Hariri said of doing part of the work off-site. Five countries, including Chile, were considered for the fabrication, but the Canadian bid turned out to be the least expensive, he said.
Extensive and detailed testing, now in its final stages, has proved that a key computer model for the temple "was 100 percent accurate," he said. This was exciting news to the architects because it means the project now proceeds to actual fabrication without significant adjustments, he said.
Part of the testing involved fabrication of a one-sixth scale model of one of the steel frames that will form the sides of the temple.
The engineering software used for the model is often employed in the aerospace industry but rarely has been used by architects, Mr. Hariri said.
It will take two to three years to complete the pieces of the temple that are being fabricated in Canada. At the actual site in Chile, construction of the foundation is tentatively set to begin next October.
The temple in Santiago will be the eighth such Baha'i house of worship. All have a dome and nine sides but otherwise differ greatly in appearance. The other temples are located in India, Germany, the United States, Australia, Panama, Uganda and Samoa.

Fabrication is set to begin on components for the house of worship.
>Larger Photo > Related Photos

The house of worship in Chile, like the others, will be financed entirely by voluntary contributions from Baha'is around the world. The cost of the Chile project has been estimated at US$27 million.
In the Baha'i scriptures Baha'u'llah designates the houses of worship as gathering places for prayer and meditation, which in the future are envisioned to be the center of a group of buildings housing social, humanitarian, educational and scientific institutions.

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I really enjoyed these animations:

Baha'i World News Service - Chile temple Animations

- Art

Promethium · 02-21-2007, 06:22 PM

Wow pretty amazing. Thanks for the links.

Mick · 02-21-2007, 09:18 PM

Art,

A few of us are talking about motorcycling down to Chile for the dedication. We will be using chase vehicles and will be looking for support from Baha'is as we travel. This would give us an opportunity to travel teach as well. Some may not be able to make the whole journey, but many have show interest. We may also hop around Columbia and Peru by boat. Interested?

Mick

arthra · 02-22-2007, 01:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mick

Art,

A few of us are talking about motorcycling down to Chile for the dedication. We will be using chase vehicles and will be looking for support from Baha'is as we travel. This would give us an opportunity to travel teach as well. Some may not be able to make the whole journey, but many have show interest. We may also hop around Columbia and Peru by boat. Interested?

Mick

How far away is that dedication Mick? I'm pretty rusty these days but attending a dedication is a pretty much once in a lifetime thing..hmmm.

- Art

Mick · 02-22-2007, 02:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arthra

How far away is that dedication Mick? I'm pretty rusty these days but attending a dedication is a pretty much once in a lifetime thing..hmmm.

- Art

We started talking about it in, I think, 2003/2004 and I thought it would be only a couple of years away. Sassafras just informed me that they are looking at a 2010 dedication. Lots of time to plan and get our ducks in a row. I know what you mean about a once in a lifetime event. My mother attended the dedication in 1954 for the House of Worship in Wilmette, IL and I have the prayer book she brought home to me next to my computer screen. I was 7 years old at the time. She kindly dated and signed it. I am now 60 and would love so much to attend this one myself. I also think that the trip through Central America would be a wonderful teaching journey. I pray for this to happen. Nick from California, Lee from Wyoming and others have said they are planning on being a part of the trip. I would think with publicity, we could create a glorious Caravan for the Kingdom.

Mick

arthra · 02-22-2007, 03:23 PM

I think that sounds like a great plan.

I should start modestly and first obtain a passa porta.... I heard you can leave the country but need one for re-entry. Anyway maybe by then they'll accept the One World Citizen card....

My wife attended the dedication of the Panama Temple.

- Art

Mick · 02-22-2007, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by arthra

I think that sounds like a great plan.

I should start modestly and first obtain a passa porta.... I heard you can leave the country but need one for re-entry. Anyway maybe by then they'll accept the One World Citizen card....

My wife attended the dedication of the Panama Temple.

- Art

Art,

Go here Passport Home

I just let mine lapse...duh, but will be able to renew it yet, it looks like. Sass has to apply for her first. We will do it this spring. Living near Canada, and planning to move closer this spring, St. Ignace, MI., we should have one for reentry into the US.

Actually, you are usually required to have one to enter most other countries, Canada and Mexico the exceptions. Some countries may require a visa, a permission stamp from that country. I am not sure what we will have to pursue for this trip, but I will be starting my research shortly.

Having a passport is a good idea in today's world, anyway. It is simply another form of identification and it is not obtrusive to get.

Mick

arthra · 02-27-2007, 04:31 AM

This film has a "fly through" of the 3-D model of the Temple and other fascinating images along with explanantions:

Mother Temple of South America

- Art

BruceDLimber · 02-27-2007, 01:10 PM

Mick, hi!

As the time approaches, you'll typically see informatory articles offering group rates on flights and hotels, along with information about whether passports or tourist cards will be required.

(BTW, I was also at the Panama temple dedication. And the biggest mistake I ever made was missing the dedication of the New Delhi temple in the mid-Eighties! <I did get there later, fortunately.>)

Regards,

Bruce