Inside Residencia: The unique hotel for astronomers in Chile's extreme Atacama Desert
By
Richard Fisher
Summary
This article profiles the Residencia, a unique hotel and living facility for astronomers located in Chile's Atacama Desert, one of the most extreme environments on Earth. Designed to blend into the arid landscape from the outside, the interior is a lush green oasis with tropical plants and humid air — a stark contrast to the surrounding desert. The facility serves as a home for scientists working at the nearby European Southern Observatory (ESO) telescopes. The article explores the architectural design, the psychological and physical challenges of living in such isolation, and how the building provides a vital sanctuary for researchers who spend long nights studying the stars.
Source
bbc.comInside Residencia: The unique hotel for astronomers in Chile's extreme Atacama Desertbbc.comKey quotes
· 3 pulledEs fácil pasar por alto el edificio conocido como Residencia en Chile. Diseñado para integrarse en el desierto de Atacama, su entrada se encuentra tras una pesada puerta sin señalización.
Pero, al entrar en la Residencia, uno se adentra en un oasis verde. Lo primero que se siente es el aire húmedo sobre la piel, generado por árboles y plantas tropicales que crecen en la tierra del atrio.
El James Bond encarnado por Daniel Craig se enfrentó aquí a un villano siniestro. Pero la futurista Residencia de Chile es en realidad un hogar para astrónomos.
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