ABSTRACT
The introduction situates the argument and scope of the book from the premise that the physical conservation of built heritage implies constant intervention, with earthquakes posing a significant challenge to that endeavour. Reconstruction processes that follow damage and destruction due to earthquakes are usually unquestioned at the level of housing, impacting the conservation of heritage settlements built with sustainable, sometimes also vernacular, building techniques. In Chile, a country with regular high-magnitude earthquakes, the continuous update of regulations has led to a safer behaviour of buildings in earthquakes, especially in urban areas. However, historical buildings have been significantly affected, mainly because of their age, lack of maintenance, regulatory frameworks specific to heritage, accumulated damage, and overall neglect. The pressure for quick reconstruction has led to a superficial understanding of heritage by offering solutions that “look like” the previous houses but without using actual records and without considering other important aspects of their historical value, such as building techniques and human occupation. Chile's context is presented as a case study of constant change, challenging the idea of reconstruction “as before” through the use of digital recording technologies. This chapter presents the structure of the book, covers the key strategies and concepts used throughout, explores the potential role of accurate records in what is considered heritage and its reconstruction, and helps in understanding the capacity of such technologies to be a virtual database for memory, preservation, demolition, intervention, or replica. It also introduces the concept of re-construction, understood as a continuous practice of documentation, analysis, and intervention of historical buildings.
