SubCentro Las Condes

Metro Escuela Militar
Santiago, Chile

Submitted by: Marcello Corbo

transit station and public square URLS: www.subcentro.cl

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Why It Works

This is the last stops of the main subway line in Santiago, at the intersection of Americo Vespucio and Apoquindo (the city's main arteries). The station and the surface were recently redeveloped to reclaim this place for the community, and the millions who use it monthly as a transit station.

What Makes SubCentro Las Condes a Great Place?

The place is dominated today by those who use it as a transit station. However, due to redevelopment, it has recently become a popular destination for those who live and work nearby. The place offers excellent access and connectivity with public transportation and is walkable from all directions.

SubCentro was recently redeveloped by a company called Urban Development in a collaborative effort involving multiple municipal agencies with help from PPS. The structural changes were small but made a significant impact. The redesign included letting in more light to make the inside brighter and feel safer; barriers between the businesses were replaced with glass to create a feeling of openness, and the park design was changed to a plaza surface to encourage more public use.

Commuters pass through and stop for quick shopping while people who live and work nearby frequent the plazas for relaxation and to meet friends, or visit the shops.

The four plazas are beautiful new meeting places and provide a great place for travelers and visitors alike to relax.

History & Background

SubCentro has been a major transportation hub in the center of Santiago for a long time. However, the dark enclosed space became a deterrent as vendors began closing up shop and the space became a sort of haven for criminals and muggers. People would rush through SubCentro to avoid trouble. It was a place of immense potential that Santiago was recently able to harness.

Contact Info:

Marcello Corbo mcorbo@subcentro.cl

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User Comments:

02/16/09 Andrea Kast said:
Modern concept, beautiful design, but no access for handicapped people. It was a promise at the initial project, but not a reality at the inauguration moment. Last stops of the main subway line in Santiago, last hope to enjoy an accessible and independent life in Santiago. As a wheelchair-user, I'm very disappointed, they took the best of other countries, but forgot something essential as the Universal Design… Andrea Kast

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