Rapa Nui is an island of contrasts. This is particularly true with regard to the quality of the urban environment, when compared to the breathtaking beauty of the rural landscapes and Moai archeological sites. The city of Hanga Roa is the islands only urbanized area and is home to the vast majority of the island’s population of residents, as well as tourists. Lacking effective urban design regulation and community consensus to implement clear design guidelines, urban development happens piecemeal, with the level of architectural character and quality of construction left almost entirely to the discretion of the property owner. While the resident population shows signs of a resurgence of awareness and pride in the use of traditional building materials and architectural styles, there has yet to be any concrete manifestation of policies and/or programs for supporting these interests. The result is isolated pockets of well designed high quality buildings that reflect a local character, interspersed with eclectic buildings and yards that seriously detract from the overall quality of the urban environment. After completing an initial evaluation of the underlying obstacles to implementing a clear long-term sustainable vision for creating a quality urban environment, the Eco-Polis working group will suggest a series of integrated policies and prioritized pilot projects that can be implemented to help change the current course of urban development. These same policies will be integrated with a series of environmental and social programs that work together to address the multifaceted nature of the challenges the island is facing.
Gregory Delaune, ASLA, AICP
Direction Committee & Contract Professor, Eco-Polis Master
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