The Santiago Judicial Center in Chile is at once serene and powerful. It has given Santiago major new outdoor civic space, surrounded by eight glass-and-concrete buildings under a single ceremonial roof canopy, all reflecting a large civic plaza. The naturally ventilated façades enclose new courts, judges' chambers, and offices for the public prosecutors and defenders as well as municipal government. Large windows, angled downward, provide reflections of the Chilean citizens who visit the facility.
Echoing its noble public face, a dignified yet stripped-down modern aesthetic prevails within the structures. The pleasing, natural palette pairs concrete and glass with exposed metal and wood, including Natura wood ceilings and perforated acoustical planks by Hunter Douglas Contract.
The Natura Wood Tile System is a line of wood ceiling and wall panels appropriate for a wide range of horizontal and vertical applications, in 18 wood veneers—from traditional birch, eucalyptus, and walnut to the exotic coigue, curupixa, manio, markore, sucupira, and sapelli. Each can be customized with six stains from light oak to deep mahogany. Perforations and grooves are also available in a variety of sizes and designs.
The Natura system allows for seamless integration of ceiling and wall panels for clean, smooth applications. Wall panels clip onto a surface mounted track that secures them vertically. Ceiling panel installation uses a standard T-grid with a lay-in or semi-concealed option.
Hunter Douglas Contract Input No. 202 at BDCnetwork.com/quickResponse