The role of the record and the paradox of the original: implications for the re-construction of historic buildings affected by earthquakes in Chile

Earthquakes have progressively destroyed the Chilean built heritage over the years, not only due to the initial devastation they produce, but also as a result of the applied reconstruction approaches that follow. The design of reconstruction projects has usually aimed to re-establish the previous built form of historic buildings; generating new ‘heritage’ constructions that try to imitate only the appearance of previous ones rather than understanding that heritage, in the case studied, includes a sustainable mode of construction. This issue occurs in places where previous records are sometimes non-existent, which poses the question of authenticity. Considering the regularity of earthquakes in Chile, the role of accurate recording technologies, such as 3D laser scanning, becomes relevant. Their implications for new and existing architectures in the re-construction process include being a virtual database for demolition, retrofitting, intervention or replica. This paper examines the survey of the church of San Lorenzo de Tarapaca obtained in January 2013, and discusses how this, in conjunction with previous records, might impact on what is considered heritage and the design of future reconstructions.