Las Américas

Architect

Nicolás Matzner Weisner

Associate Architect on Design

Daniela Davanzo Matte

Construction Company

Librería Nené

Date of Construction

March - May 2011

Built Area

290 m2

Location

Av. Héroes De La Concepción 2555
Local 625, Iquique, Chile.

The city of Iquique is one of the largest tax-free ports in the Southern Cone. International economic exchange and the mining industry have transformed it into a place of flowing business.

For over four decades Librería Nené has been the main distributor chain of stationery products, with a dozen stores throughout the city.

Given the need to evolve from counter served shops to an assisted self-service store; the assignment was to construct a space for a large plant on the first level and a smaller mezzanine.

It should include an area for selling papers, another for gondolas and counter attention. Two of the store´s existing accesses located had were used to enhance the pedestrians’ walkway for the mall, offering a shortcut connection between public corridors.

The mezzanine floor was installed as storage for stock, as well as a multi-purpose room for classes and training for customers.

To give birth to a new visual language for the stores chain, special gondolas were designed in achromatic and blue tones, and the space was illuminated via a "caterpillar" module made from LED tubes.

Across the entire store and escorting the structural ceiling, is a tray system designed to accommodate electrical cables, and support the perpendicular light tubes.