Chile singular. Apuntes de viaje

C H I L O É A R C H I P E L A G O It feels almost impossible to write a preface that ties together this collection of drawings from many journeys through the magical archipelago of Chiloé. Over the years, I’ve crossed paths and sailed between the islands, guided by the towers of the old churches. Alone, under torrential rain, or hand in hand with my wife, in the company of my students or my children, always protected by the umbrella that my professor Hernán Montecinos unfolded when we first crossed the Chacao Channel in 1976 and still shields me from the rain. The Chiloé Archipelago is a universe of islands inhabitated on its edges, forming a unique and surprising reality deeply rooted in its geography and landscape, and giving identity to its architecture. Singular settlements where one always enjoys the cordiality of its people and the unique cuisine inspired by the bounties of the sea. A century ago, this was a world built from the sea and wood. The sea was the means to reach everywhere, and wood was used to build everything needed for living, transportation, cooking, and entertainment. Today , it preserves its richness rooted in landscape and architecture, offering a unique spectacle that surprises me every time I return. Navigating the inland sea, crossing the heart of the main island, or facing the waves of the Pacific Ocean coast, Chiloé offers lessons on how to understand and occupy its territory. Buildings with large roofs and sloping eaves that descend along their walls adorn their structures with wooden shingles. Houses with compact layouts to harness interior heat and elevated from the ground to drain rainwater. Lookouts and glassed galleries seek the best views of the sea or the countryside. Continuous facades create unified yet ever-changing and unique streetscapes in the craftsmanship of wood. Architecture of the south, with a distinctive imprint developed over centuries of carpentry tradition enriched by shipbuilding and abundant forests. Here are the drawings from the latest pilgrimages through this group of islands where people greet each other along the roads, rain falls like a torrent, and there is always a wood-burning stove to dry shoes and stop to add color to everything drawn and discovered. TENAÚ N , 2005 - 2006 . 170