Mercado de Abasto Tirso de Molina, Food market in Recoleta, Chile

The Mercado de Abasto Tirso de Molina is a market hall on the northern bank of the Mapocho River, in Recoleta, Santiago. Its roof rests on a grid of tall pillars, with 6 x 6 m inverted-pyramid modules topped by translucent panels that light the interior. Stalls are arranged on two levels under this free-plan structure, which matches the height and materials of the neighbouring Pérgola Santa María and Pérgola San Francisco.

The market grew out of street trading around the tram terminus of the Empresa del Ferrocarril Urbano de Santiago, whose lines ended in this sector. In the mid-1970s the Recoleta municipality gathered the artisans, bridge and Mapocho vendors into one market of five aisles under a provisional metal structure, which customers called Vega Chica or Mapocho. After a 1998 COREMA ruling tied to the Costanera Norte motorway, the Iglesis Prat Arquitectos building replaced it.

Many stalls are run by families from Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, and other countries, who brought their own products and dishes with them. Walking through the aisles, you find spices, ingredients, and prepared foods that are hard to come across elsewhere in Santiago.

The market sits right next to a metro station, making it easy to reach from different parts of Santiago. Inside, the stalls spread across two floors, so getting around is straightforward, though the space can be busy during peak hours.

The roof is made of transparent panels resting on tall steel columns, which lets daylight fill both floors without the need for artificial lighting during the day. This makes the space noticeably brighter than most covered markets of a similar size.