How Chile works and lives: a closer look with our reseller Contatto

Stretching from desert heat to glacial cold, Chile is a country of contrasts — and somehow it all feels surprisingly close and human. In Santiago, you can leave a meeting in a glass tower, be in the hills within 30 minutes, and still find time for a late dinner with colleagues. This mix of intensity and warmth is exactly where Silen fits in: together with our reseller Contatto, we’re bringing quiet, acoustic pods into the heart of Chile’s modern offices.

To understand this world a little better, we sat down with Manuel, Contatto’s Designer, and Variña, their Supply Chain Specialist, to talk about business, culture and the everyday rhythm of life in Chile.

A changing business landscape

Santiago moves quickly. Workdays start early, deadlines are taken seriously, and traditional business culture still shapes much of the city. Hierarchy matters, processes are formal, and even younger teams tend to keep a clear sense of structure. But as Manuel and Variña explained, this is slowly shifting. Younger companies are pushing for more collaborative ways of working, more open communication and, in many cases, more relaxed office environments.

You can see the change in the spaces themselves. Open-plan layouts and coworking-style offices are becoming the norm, replacing older, closed-off setups. “Here in our office, everyone sits together. We can talk, share ideas and stay connected,” Variña told us.

The city follows the same pattern of contrasts. The eastern districts, like Vitacura and Las Condes, form the corporate core, while areas such as Providencia come alive in the evenings with cafés, bars and cultural life. And just beyond the traffic and tower blocks, nature is always close. In half an hour, you can swap a meeting room for a hiking trail.

Contatto: creating better workplaces in Chile

Contatto’s story began in 1994 with something simple: chair components. Today, they help shape Chile’s modern offices through complete workspace solutions, from furniture to acoustic elements and office pods. Their 50-person team works between their Santiago showroom and Maipú production facilities, supporting architects and companies across Chile’s most active sectors.

Because Santiago is constantly developing, much of their work happens through architecture and interior design studios involved in new office buildings, commercial projects and corporate fit-outs. Finance and banking remain especially strong, as these environments rely heavily on privacy and focused work, making reliable acoustic solutions essential. As companies shift toward open layouts, many first try quick fixes, then return in search of a solution that truly works. That is usually the moment Silen pods enter the picture.

Despite the formality of Chilean business culture, Contatto’s atmosphere is friendly and open. Teams often lunch together, share stories and keep the office lively. Recently, several colleagues came back from a Dua Lipa concert, and her music briefly became the soundtrack of the showroom.

How our partnership with Contatto began

We began working with Contatto in 2023, when they discovered our pods at a trade fair through a shared partner. The fit was immediate. Companies in Chile were already looking for ways to improve focus and privacy in increasingly open offices, and Silen offered a solution that delivered what others often promised but didn’t achieve.

“Many companies look after cheaper options first,” Variña told us, “but they realise quickly when something doesn’t support real concentration. That’s when they start looking for products that truly work.”

While most pods are delivered to clients in Santiago, Contatto has also sent them to offices in Chile’s far north, from corporate sites to mining-related projects. The country’s geography is long and challenging, yet demand reaches well beyond the capital. For Contatto, Silen pods have become a reliable tool for creating calm, functional spaces across very different environments.

A guide to experiencing Chile

Santiago has plenty to offer first-time visitors. Cerro San Cristóbal is one of the city’s most famous viewpoints, easy to reach by cable car or funicular. La Vega Central, the bustling local market, is the best way to taste Chilean food in its purest form. And the neighbourhoods of Lastarria and Barrio Italia offer colourful murals, cafés, independent shops, and a creative, bohemian energy.

Nightlife is part of the city’s identity too — bars and discos sit within walking distance of each other, especially around Providencia. As Variña put it with a smile: “You can start in a bar, and if you want, you can dance all night.”

For food, Chilean classics are a must:

• Empanadas with their distinctive Chilean filling

• Pastel de choclo, a comforting corn pie with meat and egg

• Cazuela, a hearty soup of potatoes, corn, and slow-cooked meat

• And in summer, mote con huesillo, a sweet, refreshing drink you’ll find everywhere

Beyond the capital, the country opens up dramatically. The north is home to the Atacama Desert — salt flats, stargazing, and lunar landscapes. In the centre-west, Valparaíso attracts visitors with its hills and street art. Further south lie Chiloé’s mythical islands and Valdivia’s breweries, while Patagonia remains one of the most breathtaking regions on earth.

Chile is friendly and generally easy to explore, especially if you stick to the well-known regions and follow normal big-city precautions in Santiago. English is widely understood, and locals are known for welcoming travellers with warmth. Spring and summer — which in Chile run from October to March — are the best times to visit. The weather is mild, and the country fills with festivals and outdoor life.