The text examines challenges faced by the National Astronomical Observatory of Chile, including dust accumulation, infrastructure defects, and installation delays. It explores the architectural significance of observatories globally, emphasizing functionality over style and highlighting the fusion of scientific ideals with local practices. The observatory’s relocations reveal the intricate labor involved in construction and adaptation, often overshadowed by astronomers’ narratives. In this chapter, three locations where the National Astronomical Observatory of Chile was established are analyzed: from the center of Santiago, passing through the western sector, to the south of the city. Using archival materials and accounts from key figures, the chapter examines how the conditions of the city of Santiago, as well as the development of astronomical science itself, rendered the use of certain instruments impractical or hindered sky observations. Attention is given to the role of builders and architects in the dynamics of astronomy, aspects often overlooked when studying the discipline and its advancements in Chile.