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The author
JUAN PARROCHIA BEGUIN is an architect, graduated from the University of Chile (1953), and
Urbanist, graduated from St Lucas University College, Belgium (1955). He participated in programs
of the Ministry of Reconstruction and Urbanism of France (1953-1954). He perfected himself in
USA (1963); France, Germany, and Italy (1968); Mexico and Canada (1969). He was Professor of
Transportation, Metropolitan Planning, Regional Planning and Thesis Workshop in the Faculty of
Arquitecture and Urbanism (F.A.U) at University of Chile for four decades. As an official of M.O.P.T
(Ministry of Public Works and Transport) of Chile, he participated in development plans of Santiago,
Valparaiso, Concepción and Valdivia, as well as in the Desert Defense Plan, in the Infrastructure
of Major Copper Mine and the National Irrigation Plan. He directed several proposals on national
roads: in the Austral Region, the Chilean Plateau, Los Lagos Region, in the coastal roads of the
North and South, and international proposals of the Marginal Highway of the Jungle, from Arica
to Venezuela, and Tropical Highway from Antofagasta to Santos. Expert in Urban Development of
United Nations. Advisor to the Municipality of Quito, Ecuador on Transport and Green Areas (UN
Missions Centennial Quito, 1989-93). He held various public office positions: First Director of an
Inter-communal Plan of Santiago, since its adoption (1960). Director of Planning and Urbanism
of the M.O.P (Ministry of Public Works), and author and director of the Metro projects and the
Fundamental Network of Urban Road of Santiago. In 1970 was head of the Economic Mission for
the Construction of Metro de Santiago. First Director of Planning and Budget of Public Works and
Transport of the National Planning Office. First Director of National Urban Roads. First Director
General of Metro, Urban Road and National Urban Transport Study. First Director General of Metro
de Santiago, until its opening in 1975. He is the author of several books and numerous articles
and papers, among the first you can find “Santiago in the third quarter of the twentieth century:
Metropolitan Transportation in Chile, embodiments of Metro and Urban Roads “ (1980). He has
received numerous awards for his professional work, including: 1970 “Officer of the Order of May
for Merit” Award from the Argentine Government for the work of International Road segment Los
Andes-International Border; Medals: Metro of Sao Paulo (1974) and Metro of Paris (1975), for his
work in Santiago of Chile Metro. In 1996 he was awarded the NATIONAL PRIZE OF URBANISM
(Chile, in the year of its establishment).