Abstract

BERG COSTA, Lorenzo. Restoration in Chiloe (Chile): The Church of Castro. Apuntes [online]. 2007, vol.20, n.1, pp.126-141. ISSN 1657-9763.

The churches of Chiloe maintain the heritage of the Jesuits. Not only do these churches keep their religious function; they also preserve a series of social structures and specific purposes within society. They are the living heritage of a very particular culture which is characterized by some aspects that remain and others that change. These intangible values are used as a base for concrete measures in the restoration process carried out in these churches. Following this road, a culture of conservation is sought, with the involvement and efforts of many persons and institutions. The conservation and restoration of existing buildings goes beyond being a technical and architectonical issue. Although working with physical objects offers useful solutions, it is more important that these solutions be in harmony with the values that represent the cultural goods, often tangible and intangible expressions inherited from a wide range of times, as there can be: visions of the world, spiritual interests, esthetic rules, building techniques, etc. This is what is being tried to rescue: the accumulated knowledge, skills and habits of a society. In short, the question is seeking the dialogue between new and old, between tradition and modernity, between local and global, between the cultured and the popular, between the tangible and intangible; seeking the past, the present and the future of a society and its beliefs.

Keywords : Chiloe; Wood; Churches; Conservation; Criteria; Authenticity.

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