Santiago Bahá'í Temple

In 1953, Shoghi Effendi, then head of the Baháʼí Faith, decided that a continental House of Worship for South America would be built in Chile.[1] In 2001, the Universal House of Justice said efforts should begin to construct the "Mother Temple of South America."[2] Then, in late 2002, the National Spiritual Assembly of the Baháʼís of Chile announced a competition for the design of the temple, to be built southeast of Santiago.[2] The chosen design was by Siamak Hariri of Hariri Pontarini Architects in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[3]

Fabrication of components began in 2007.[4] The construction phase started in November 2010,[5] construction of the cast glass cladding commenced in October 2014,[6] and construction was completed in October 2016.[7] The temple was dedicated on October 13, 2016[8] and doors opened to the public on October 19, 2016.[1]

All Baháʼí Houses of Worship are circular and nine-sided.[9] Accordingly, the Santiago temple is ringed by nine entrances, nine pathways, and nine fountains, and the structure is composed of nine arching "sails."[1] These have also been described as nine "petals" and the temple's shape as "floral"; the "petals" are separated by glass which allows light to illuminate the temple's interior.[10] The exterior of the "petals" is made from cast glass while the interior is made from Portuguese marble.[11] The sides of the temple are held up on the inside by a steel and aluminum superstructure.[1] The temple can seat 600 people[12] and it is 30 metres high and 30 metres in diameter.[10]

The Baháʼí Faith teaches that a House of Worship should be a space for people of all religions to gather, reflect, and worship.[13] Anyone may enter the temple irrespective of religious background, sex, or other distinctions, as is the case with all Baháʼí Houses of Worship.[13] The sacred writings of the Baháʼí Faith as well as other religions can be read and/or chanted inside.[13] Musical renditions of readings and prayers can be sung by choirs, but no musical instruments can be played inside.[13] There is no set pattern for worship services, and ritualistic ceremonies are not permitted.[13] Despite these functions, most Baháʼí gatherings in the world are held in private homes, local Baháʼí centres, or rented facilities.[14] The Santiago Baháʼí House of Worship serves as the continental House of Worship for South America and it was the last continental House of Worship to be completed.[15]

According to the Baháʼí World News Service, the Santiago House of Worship had received over 40,000 visitors by December 6, 2016.[16] On November 6, 2019, the same organization reported that over 1.4 million people had visited the temple.[17]

• International Architecture Award from the Chicago Athenaeum, 2017[18]
• Innovation in Architecture Award from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, 2017[12]
• Innovation Award (category: Stellar Design) from the American Institute of Architects, 2017[19]
• American Architecture Prize (category: Architectural Design / Cultural Architecture), 2017[11]
• Design Excellence Award from the Ontario Association of Architects, 2018[20]
• Award for "Best in Americas, Civil Buildings" from World Architecture News, 2018[15][21]
• Structural Award from the Institution of Structural Engineers, 2019[22]
• International Prize from the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada, 2019[23]

• Lotus Temple
• Chicago Baháʼí House of Worship
• Sydney Baháʼí Temple
• Baháʼí teachings
• Prayer in the Baháʼí Faith
• Baháʼí Faith in South America
• Tourism in Chile
• Religion in Chile

• Official website
• Photo gallery provided by the Baháʼí Media Bank
• Photo gallery provided by Hariri Pontarini Architects