AOA will contribute to recovery of coastal area affected by earthquake

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As part of the project "Ruta de las Caletas" ("The Fishing Bays Route"), financed by the Luksic group through their affiliate Antofagasta Minerals, the Association of Architect Offices in Chile (AOA) is actively participating in this tourism initiative that aims at strengthening the economic development of several towns damaged by the earthquake of February last.

The project has a total cost of Ch$2,200 million and the AOA's work will focus on the towns of Boyeruca, Duao, Loanco, Pelluhue and Curanipe, where work will be done in road building, signage and adapting the areas for tourism – with coastal walkways, restaurants, hotels and inns, among others – which should be in operation at the beginning of 2011.

"The objective of this route is to develop the tourism assets of the area in order to leverage the economic activities beyond the craft fishing capacity," explained David Rodríguez, past president of the AOA.

"For this purpose, we have met with officials of Sernatur, the Port Works Authority, and representatives of the hotels in the area, to plan this route jointly and even integrate it into the circuits already existing in regions VI and VII", added the architect.

The route will have an extension of 160 kilometers, where the architects will incorporate materials such as wood and steel, in order to emphasize the zone's landscape beauty.

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Some 60 offices of the AOA have initiated reconstruction plans for free in different regions of the country that were affected by the earthquake. These include building houses, schools, outpatient clinics, public buildings and, in general, several areas in which the local authorities have requested help.

Apart from the project developed with Antofagasta Minerals, the Association is working with the Municipality of Lo Barnechea in the reconstruction of Isla Juan Fernández, an initiative that has shown significant progress. They are also working with businessman Lázaro Calderón who, at the request of the Fundación Teletón, summoned the AOA to participate in the project of modular schools that are already being brought from the United States.