Chile’s Memory and Human Rights Museum is a big, green box that sits suspended above a sunken courtyard. Its crisp lines contrast sharply with the other public buildings in the Quinta Normal district, two metro stations west of downtown Santiago.

It’s a neighbourhood dominated by old churches, schools and an imposing national history museum. Dating back to the 19th century, these older buildings are decorated with tall steeples, bold columns and ornate cornices. Although they bear the scars of earthquakes past and graffiti present, they stand tall and resolute, refusing to betray their proud beginnings. They are grand buildings, built for grand purposes: glorifying God, marvelling at his creation and educating his creatures. Read the rest of this entry »