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Polaroid of the Week: Stunning Contemporary Architecture in Santiago, Chile

Polaroid of the Week: Stunning Contemporary Architecture in Santiago, Chile
Chile stands out as one of South America's most prosperous nations, maintaining a budget surplus and a low unemployment rate of around 6%. Despite frequent earthquakes, its economy has demonstrated greater resilience than the Great Recession that impacted Europe and the U.S. In recent decades, Santiago has positioned itself as the region's most progressive capital, with its skyline of modern skyscrapers showcasing remarkable economic strength.

Steel-and-glass towers now define the cityscape. We celebrated New Year's Eve from one such rooftop, captivated by the spectacular fireworks—the city is truly mesmerizing at night. The Gran Torre Santiago in the Costanera Center, set to reach 301 meters (988 feet), will be South America's tallest skyscraper upon completion. Notably, while many nations import international architects for landmark projects, Chile boasts homegrown talent that has earned global acclaim, reshaping Santiago's urban landscape.

This week's Polaroid features the Cruz del Sur building, completed in 2009. Among the city's architectural gems, this 21-story steel, concrete, and glass structure is an engineering marvel: only its core touches the ground, while the trapezoidal tower appears to hover, with each level wider than the one below.


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