Check out the article published in Sublime Magazine, the first international sustainable lifestyle magazine:
The Singular, Puerto Bories, Patagonia
Housed in a converted cold-storage plant built by the British in 1915, this 57-room hotel is a unique addition to the Patagonian hotel scene. For nearly seven decades it was a hive of industry, where millions of sheep were processed, frozen and exported to Europe. But after a plunge in the value of wool and meat, the factory ground to a halt and the building was rescued from demolition by the great-grandchild of one of the factory’s original employees, John MacLean Fraser.
In 1996 it was declared a National Historic Landmark of Chile, and in November 2011, after ten years of careful renovation and restoration, the former Bories Cold Storage plant became The Singular hotel.
In a building such as this, preservation of the architectural and cultural heritage is a priority, so local architect Pedro Kovacic and Chilean interior design company Enrique Concha & Co had the original idea of leaving the machinery rooms intact and building the hotel around them.
The result is a juxtaposition of the old industrial structure with a modern wing of guestrooms, a large spa overlooking the grey
waters of the Last Hope Sound and a dining room with replica 1900s furniture.
Walkways connect the various rooms, and as you pass heavy steel machinery made in Derby, Birmingham or London, you feel as if you are walking through Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory.
The conversion from factory to hotel was carried out with minimum impact on the environment, which resulted in The Singular being awarded the LEED environmental certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) by the US Green Building Council in recognition of its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint through innovative, alternative energy.
Throughout the building, great efforts have been made to ensure efficiency and restraint in the use of construction materials. Tests
were carried out on the area’s weather conditions, water reserves and ecosystems to ensure maximum thermal efficiency with least
impact. The result is minimal energy consumption for heating, cooling and lighting, as well as efficient use of energy and water.
In the hotel’s grounds are two private 38,000-acre reserves dedicated to the conservation of natural species of flora and fauna.
Situated in the heart of the Patagonian fjords, half an hour from the border with Argentina and a few hours from Torres del Paine National Park, The Singular is a great starting point for exploring Patagonia. Excursions include boat trips to see glaciers, horse-riding outings and a trip to a cave inhabited 10,000 years ago by giant sloths.
Categories: Press, The Singular Hotels, The Singular Patagonia, Tour Operators
