Sergio Alemparte


Sergio Alemparte Aldunate was a Chilean architect, co-founder of the Alemparte & Barreda Architects office, together with Ernesto Barreda Fabres.

Early life

He was the son of Miguel Alemparte Ureta and Inés Aldunate Errázuriz. During his childhood he lived with his maternal grandfather Carlos Aldunate Solar, who was Minister of Foreign Affairs and Senator, married to Pelagia Errázuriz Echaurren, sister and daughter of Chilean presidents Federico Errázuriz Zañartu and Federico Errázuriz Echaurren. He was the great-grandson of José Antonio Alemparte, Intendant of Concepción in 1835.
His mother worked at El Diario Ilustrado, a Conservative Party newspaper, while also engaging in strong social and community work. From an early age he was influenced by his relative Josué Smith Solar, a prominent Chilean architect. He studied architecture at the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, graduating in 1951.

Marriages and children

In 1951 he married María Gabriela Rojas Palma, with whom he had four children: José Gabriel, Juan Sebastián, Sergio and Francisco. In 1971 he married Ileana Goytisolo Radulescu.

Career

In 1953 he co-founded Alemparte & Barreda Architects with Chilean painter and architect Ernesto Barreda Fabres.
Alemparte became one of the Chilean architects with the largest built surface in the country. Initially focused on single-family housing, later he specialized in large projects that often incorporated works of art. He notably invited Chilean sculptor Federico Assler to return from Madrid to Chile, where Assler developed pieces for buildings such as the Forum in Santiago.
Over six decades, Alemparte & Barreda participated in numerous landmark works of contemporary Chilean architecture, such as the Torre Santa María, Hyatt Santiago, Sheraton San Cristóbal Towers, Ritz Carlton Santiago, Clínica Santa María, Clínica Las Condes, the Naval Hospital and Costanera Center, in association with César Pelli.
He also worked on projects in the United States, Japan and several Latin American countries. The firm was later renamed Alemparte Barreda Wedeles Besançon y Asociados.
He died in Santiago on 22 May 2021, at the age of 93.

Selected works

  • Hotel Sheraton San Cristóbal Towers, 1971
  • Torre Santa María, 1980
  • Hotel Crowne Plaza, 1981
  • Hotel Park Plaza, 1988
  • Hotel Marbella Resort, Zapallar, 1991
  • Hyatt Regency Santiago, 1992
  • Edificio Birmann 24, 1999
  • Clínica Santa María: remodeling and expansion
  • Ritz Carlton Santiago, 2002
  • Hotel Sheraton Miramar, Viña del Mar, 2005
  • Hotel Intercontinental, 2011
  • Clínica Universidad de Los Andes, 2014
  • Renovation and new Teletón building, 2017