If you have ever had the chance to visit Pomaire, southwest of Santiago, Chile, you will have encountered a small artisanal town that dedicates much of its focus to greda (clay). In this very place, Domingo Arancibia was commissioned to design none other than the upcoming Pottery School. A sneak peek: this clay material will be one of the project's primary reference points.
The architect shared more details with us:
Intangible heritage refers to the practices, representations, and knowledge of a specific community, establishing a relationship between identity, memory, and territory, which connects us to our ancestors and collective history.
To preserve our traditions, transferring knowledge across generations is essential. This is achieved through active learning in gathering places, schools, or spaces designed for this vital exchange of knowledge, ultimately safeguarding our heritage.
Pottery is practiced throughout Chile, with several regions recognized for their distinct styles, including Atacama, Quinchamalí, Norte Chico / El Molle, Pitrén, El Vergel, and Pomaire, among others.
Pomaire is particularly well-known for its utilitarian pottery, its iconic three-legged pig (chancho de 3 patas), vessels, and planters.
This year, a group of potters led by Taller Barros, with support from the Melipilla municipal administration, commissioned architect Domingo Arancibia Tagle to design the New Pomaire Pottery School.
Rodrigo Véliz, a potter at Taller Barros, says:
“The idea of having a pottery school here in Pomaire began to take shape in 2000. We believe that this project will be fundamental for our community to preserve and promote our craft tradition and artisanal knowledge. Construction will begin at the end of this second semester.”
The school will have an area of over 100 square meters and a height of 6 meters, hosting workshops and classes on the processes of making this traditional clay craft.
Inside, a multipurpose space will be able to accommodate a range of activities related to artisanal crafts.
The design for the Pottery School draws inspiration from clay pieces, where both the air and the earthen shell are fundamental to the voids and structure of the local craft.
Furthermore, the proposal references the shape of the traditional three-legged pig through a volume built of earth and air. The design includes two natural light openings and an outlet for smoke from the main kiln, paying homage to this ancient Pomaire tradition.
The building's structure will be “molded” using an inflatable balloon that acts as a temporary structural shell. This will be removed once the permanent structure and clay are applied to the building.
This article was written by Fabian Dejtiar. The translation is powered by AI.
