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Abstract
During the last twenty five years [1957-1982], despite laudable negotiation and investment
efforts of various governments, Easter Island, nowadays presents a sort of economical,
social and physical decadence. This, plus the slight clarity of its destiny, has lead the author
of this essay to raise his voice in respect to the unavoidable responsibility of facing the islands
problem with a new outlook, being in consequent with its diverse natural resources, which
will promote a new step in its cultural evolution, twice millenary. The suggested outlook to
be adopted needs to understand Easter Island in complexity. For this reason, the author
brings out the existence of seven individual aspects or worlds in the island, which will have
to be valued in particular, as well as jointly, establishing its parts and relationships, clearly
functioning for desired development objectives. A long term, with clear long and short
term actions Multi-Sector Directing Plan would be the instrument to allow the guidance of
actions towards the fulfillment of objectives, obtaining a higher public and private income-
yield capacity with less destruction of natural resources and with the maximum number of
development beauty and joy elements. Nevertheless, the proposed pattern requires for its
effective execution, the attendance of an agile, imaginative and generous administration.
Preface
“It is time to return to earth and deal with life in all its fertility, organic diversity and
creativity, rather than take refuge in the world decreased from post-historical man.”
LEWIS MUMFORD
The City in History, 1961.
Deeply motivated by the noble values of Easter Island, we wrote this essay on the possible
future development in 1982.
The focus given to this work goes far beyond a purely academic, or regional approach,
intending to express some new ideas and directions that could be useful to the authorities
of the National Government in order to achieve in the future to incorporate this wonderful
island toour contemporary lifewithout losing any of its valuablehistorical andarchaeological
contribution.
This work does not bind the authorities of the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism at the
University of Chile or any of its Departments.
We have published this work inspired by the theme of the VI Biennale of Architecture in
Santiago, 1987: “Architecture and future: to probe into the future in order to build the
present”, with hopes that it can help motivate our youth.
Juan Parrochia Beguin
Santiago - Chile, July 1987.