First architecture biennials in Chile: hidden agenda in the face of Pinochet's urban policies, 1976-1985

Abstract

Conceived by the College of Architects of Chile to stimulate local production and dialogue between architects and society, the first Chilean Architecture Biennial took place in 1977, just four years after Pinochet's coup. Held uninterruptedly since then, the review of its initial period generally highlighted the aspect of openness to international debate that these exhibitions allowed for local architectural and urban culture. It is intended to demonstrate that the first Chilean Biennials were also a place to defend the professional performance of architects in general and, particularly, regarding urban issues. In context of military intervention and dismantling of urban and regional planning institutions established since Frei's government (1965-1970), the biennials provided a place in which it was possible to debate urbanism, social housing and defense of the architect's position in relation to these. To this end, we will first seek to situate the first five Chilean biennials (1977-1985) as a piece of resistance amid the crossroads between the weakening of urban and regional planning institutions, the oscillation of urban policies and the depreciation of regulatory professional bodies. Next, it will be demonstrated how issues pertinent to urban planning practiced by architects, urban heritage and social housing were present in these biennials.