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Memorial Museum of the Military Dictatorship in Chile

Part 2 Project 2003
Cristian Mauricio Vergara Sanhueza
 University of the Bio Bio | Chile
Remember and reconstruct the forgotten memory of 17 years of dictatorship in Chile is the objective of the MMMD, situated in Pisagua, ex-prisoners camp.
It's design reflects the ‘Unheimlich’ (Freud, 1953); "That class of the terrifying which leads back to something long known, once very familiar, but now hidden, in the shades". That is why the geometry and formality of the MMMD is based on the solar map of 11/09/1973. The visit is structured along the human rights that were violated here. This sensorial and physical experience creates a conscious memory so that this history never repeats itself.



This project offers a strong architectural response to the necesity of our country to face it’s past in order to evolve towards the future. The dictatorship has never before been tackled as an architectural project in Chile.
The MMMD is excepcional among this year’s projects for its very firm fundament both in a filosofical as in a sensorial way. The challenge to insert this design in the desert and the use of a very proper and particular language of evocation, physical experiences and dreams, enhances it’s guiding and poetic character that stirs the body and the mind.
2003
Extracts of the foundation of the Memorial Museum of the Military Dictatorship in Chile (MMMD)
Aerial view of the totality and the immensity. The ‘Plaza del Sol’ is the geometric and temporal compass of the axiality of the MMMD
Lateral Aerial view NO From the desert emerges the construction as a projection of the hidden body in the earth that looks for light. It integrates in the horizon of the landscape and in the path through the hidden history.
Viewpoints towards the Pacific Ocean The extreme of the body in its projection towards the unreachable horizon. This takes the visitor on his path towards relief of sensations and experiences.
Aerial view Pisagua. The geography of Pisagua as a natural prison, reason for it to be used as such on different occasions in the history of Chile. The mass grave was discovered on 21/07/90, during the first democratic government after dictatorship
Access to the threshold of the MMMD’s access. The game between light and shadow is the sensorial language that takes us closer to the history of the violated human rights in Chile.
Cross section of the Project
Interior view room ‘Right to Personal Security’ The order of this room in two levels, by an open and at the time closed bridge, shows the duplicity of information, security and truth that was experienced during the dictatorship.
Interior view room ‘Right to equality before the law’ This space and geometry of labyrinth is alegorical to the way law functioned during dictatorship which opened the door to uncontrolled human rights violations.
‘Space of Torture’. This area uses the rocks and their qualities, reinforced moreover by a contrast of shapes, lights and images. It’s purpose is lead through the rocks and telling in a sensorial way what can not be said in words about torture
Plans and axis of the Project.
View of the ramp next to the torture area. This image shows an alternative path next to the torture area, using however in its spaces some elements of the Torture area.
‘The Bridges of Memory’ This space tries to cross the threshold of division lived by our country searching for the forgotten memory. It is orientated towards the angle of the ‘last light’ on 05/10/1988, election day that gave the hope of liberty
Interior view room ‘Freedom of opinion and expression’ The arquitecture holds control of the partial areas and openings showing thus the negation of body and mind.
Longitudinal Section through the rooms.
Interior view room ‘Right to Personal Liberty’ The configuration of the diverging paths takes the body through isolating and extreme spacial situations, in an apparent and anialating distance. This process was lived in exile, detention and prison.
Interior view ‘The Light of Relief’ Space that embraces reflection about our past, present and perhaps our future.
‘Right to life’ This space is at level 0, fundament of this project. All discovered mass graves are represented here, in memory of the snatched lives and the disappearances. It arises from the emptiness that project the upper floors.
‘11 September 1973 Memorial’ Landmark of the division of memory, history and people. The light bombs the darkness of the oblivision. The bombing that suffered the Presidential Palace consisted of 24 impacts that are reproduced in light.
Interior view ‘Mass grave of Pisagua Memorial’ It is not only a reminder of the Pisagua mass grave but also of every one of the victims that died in the prisoner’s camp of Pisagua.
• Page Hits: 5267         • Entry Date: 05 August 2003         • Last Update: 05 August 2003