The 2015 AA Visiting School to Santiago invastigated the archaeology of technology contained within a series of Soviet astronomical equipment and buildings held in Chile’s National Astronomical Observatory. Produced by Soviet engineer Yuri Streletsky early in the 1960’s, the AA Visiting School critically approached the GIPpy telescope and dome (Grand Passage Instrument) that was built in the renowned LOMO factory within the workshops of the Pulkovo Observatory in Saint Petersburg, and which fell into ruination after the soviet astronomical mission’s departure following the 1973 coup d’etat. 

The workshop was organised by the team awarded with the Silver Lion in the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale 2014, Pedro Alonso and Hugo Palmarola.