Mario Pérez de Arce

Mario Pérez de Arce Lavín (1917–2010) was a Chilean architect known for his influence on modern architecture and urban planning in Chile. In 1989, he was awarded the Chilean National Architecture Prize in recognition of his professional career and impact on urbanism in the country.
Pérez de Arce was born in 1917 in Chile. From 1947 to 1995, he served as a professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile (PUC), where he also held the positions of Director of the School of Architecture in 1954 and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Design, and Fine Arts from 1973 to 1975. In 1993, PUC awarded him the title of Professor Emeritus in recognition of his contributions to education and the development of architecture in Chile.
Pérez de Arce's architectural work was aligned with the principles of the modern movement, influenced by architects like Le Corbusier. His work emphasized the relationship between architectural space and the urban context, integrating functional design with the aesthetic elements of his time. Among his most notable works are the Colegio Verbo Divino in Santiago (1947), the Arturo Prat Naval School in Valparaíso (1957), and the indoor pool at Estadio Español in Santiago (1987).
His collaboration with the Chilean Navy was also significant, including his design for the Arturo Prat Naval School, a project documented and preserved in the Chilean Navy's Historical Archive, which maintains detailed records of his architectural contributions.
One of his most iconic projects was the Mapocho River Integrated Parks System, presented in 2010 at the PUC's Lo Contador campus. This project proposed the recovery of the Mapocho River's banks through the creation of a 32-kilometer public space. Developed in collaboration with PUC, the project aimed to integrate the river into Santiago's urban life and improve public access to green areas. Following the presentation, Pérez de Arce donated his archive of plans to the Sergio Larraín García Moreno Information and Documentation Center at PUC.
Pérez de Arce founded the firm Mario Pérez de Arce Arquitectos, from where he developed several of his iconic projects. The firm has been recognized for its commitment to the principles of modern architecture and the integration of urban spaces, and it continues to work on rehabilitation and urban design projects in Chile.
In 1993, upon receiving the title of Professor Emeritus, Pérez de Arce shared his reflections on "common sense" in architecture, describing it as a fundamental principle of his professional practice. In his speech, Pérez de Arce highlighted the importance of creating architecture that responded both to functional needs and aesthetic and social values. These ideas reflected his alignment with the values of the modern movement and his commitment to the social impact of architecture.
Mario Pérez de Arce Lavín passed away on August 13, 2010. His contribution to Chilean architecture has been the subject of academic studies, such as Mario Pérez de Arce Lavín: la permanencia de la arquitectura moderna en Chile by León Rodríguez Valdés, and the book Confesiones de tres arquitectos: vida y obra, a joint work examining the careers of Pérez de Arce and other influential Chilean architects, including Fernando Castillo Velasco and Héctor Valdés Phillips.
His work has also been recognized internationally, with the Museum of Modern Art in New York (MoMA) including works by Pérez de Arce in its collection.