Boca Sur civic center – Smiljan Radic
Architects Smiljan Radić, Eduardo Castillo and Danilo Lazcano teamed up on this community hub in San Pedro de La Paz, Chile, featuring a bright red fire station, raised black walkway and a playground.
Radić, Castillo and Lazcano won a contest to design the 15,050-square-metre masterplan for the Boca Sur neighbourhood. The competition titled I Love my Suburb called for a plan that included a fire station alongside a range of community facilities such as a multi-use hall, a library and play areas.
The architects wanted to “consolidate this area as a protected, public space” within the low-income neighbourhood, which is bordered by farmland on one side. They designed two board-marked concrete structures to define the perimeter of the Boca Sur Civic District, enclosing an open area containing a playground, sports court and seating area at the centre.
