[ Bebin & Saxton ] Aonni Mineral Water Plant

Architects: Bebin & Saxton – Daniel Bebin y Tomás Saxton
Location: Punta Arenas, XII Región, Chile
Structural Engineer: Samuel Marín
Concept Consultant: Pablo Prieto
Client: Patagonia Mineral S.A. – Agua Mineral Aonni
Materials: Steel, Glass, Corrugated Aluminium, Timber
Site Area: 5,000 sqm
Constructed Area: 640 sqm
Project Year: 2007‐2008
Construction Year: 2008
Photographs: Franklin Pardon & Daniel Bebin

Chilean Patagonia has a particularity that is distinguished and exclusively of that place: THE DETACHMENT.

We can notice disunity, a separation of what was linked before, the surrounding elements live in constant alteration. This detachment produces cracks, isolations, torsions, new tensions. The glaciers detach from the massive ice fields, the trees get inclined by winds, the islands live separated from the land surrounded by water, and the geography is the result of energic erosions.

Therefore, the project is generated from the interactions of natural environment forces, revealing the elements detachment. The project also makes use of the natural elements as vital energy expressing particular characteristics of a territory.

Sustainable design principles as natural lighting, high internal gains and a good daylight factor can be recognized in the project.

Furthermore, the structure can be reutilized, guarantying a long life cycle for the materials used in this building.

water structure
We can also notice The Water in their different phases harvesting one of them: the iced water produce a unique single structure, recognized in that specific location. These forms are materialized on the large glass areas of the windows and the shape of the floors.

construction process
The materials used are part of Patagonia’s modern history: a resistant material, flexible, economic and with low cost maintenance capable to tolerate the extreme climatic conditions.