Allpa Ch´aska

Project idea

Allpa Ch’aska, which means “ground and stars” in the Quechua language, arises from the idea of ​​the ensemble to establish the relationship between ground, architecture and astronomy. The objective for the ensemble was from the beginning to minimize the impact of the new volumes, even to hide them if possible. We propose an architecture that is related to its natural environment from the formal mimesis and the framing of the imposing landscape.

Project description

The project is located in the town of El Bañado, Tafí del Valle, Tucuman, Argentina. The site is known for its clear skies, its arid and dry climate, and for its excellent potential for viticulture, astronomy and tourism due to its geographical characteristics. Regarding the cultural heritage in the sector, there are the Ruins of Quilmes (Sacred City of the Town of Los Quilmes), one of the most valuable archaeological sites in the country. This project belongs to a particularly attractive and culturally rich site, so its development presented a challenge and a great responsibility. Designing something new in this place meant absorbing the existing: the mountain, the ruins, the visuals, the forms, the textures, the materials, and reinterpreting it. Is from this thought of path, of experiences and sensations to be generated in users that each space in our complex takes shape. It is the game between full / empty, light / dark, movement / serenity, which gives meaning to our proposal: wines and stars. We propose the manipulation of the ground plane as a rooting mechanism with the place. In this way the ground goes from being a passive object to being an operational one, becoming an active part of the actions that are applied on it. In this way, we take the ground as an architectural strategy, where the encounter between it and the construction, the form and the way in which the contact between the two is established, will always be specific to each situation. The roof becomes the fifth facade. We chose the circle because it is a universal symbol. In architecture it is the basic form, it has existed since the beginning of humanity in the first settlements. In geometry it is related to perfection, totality and unity. It transmits silence and movement at the same time. The gesture of the circular opening is generated in different buildings in different planes of each space. The facilities include: restaurant, winery, astronomical observatory, 12 boutique cabins and multiple recreational spaces. The important thing was to make nature appear in all the architecture and make the ensemble feel part of the site. The repetitive nature of certain gestures, although each space is unique and different, allows visitors to retain a sense of place throughout the larger ensemble.

Technical information

The different buildings of the ensemble are solved with simple geometric shapes and the use of a minimal palette of materials (concrete, pigmented concrete, stone and wood) to blend in with the environment. The structure is composed of points (the columns), lines (the partitions) and surfaces (the slabs).