the most incredible places across five continents. It is not an easy task to interview him. Born in Venezuela, Mario Santana began his academic career at Universidad Central de Venezuela, where he earned a degree in ar- chitecture. His deep interest in the past led him to Europe, where he earned a master’s degree in Conservation of Historic Cities and Build- ings and a doctorate in engineering from the prestigious KU Leuven in Belgium. In addition, his academic excellence has earned him an honorary doctorate from the University of Liège. Currently, he divides his time between international research and teaching as a professor at Carleton University in Canada, where he leads projects at the renowned Carleton Immersive Media Studio (CIMS). His specialty focuses on the application of three-dimensional (3D) technologies, photogrammetry, laser scanning, and digital methodologies for the precise documentation of historic structures. Over the years, he has actively collaborated with prestigious institu- tions such as the Getty Conservation Institute and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre, contributing to the preservation of key historic sites in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. AOA R Tell us about the circumstances in your country when you were studying architecture. Mario R At that time, Venezuela was in a state of transition because Chávez’s coup d’état had already taken place, followed by social unrest and a second coup. When I finished my architecture degree, I wanted to pursue a master’s degree abroad. I initially went to Belgium for 2 years and ended up staying for 20 years. The master’s program was excellent. It had been founded by the person who founded the International Coun- cil on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS). That led to my PhD, and then I started teaching and landed a job at UNESCO in Paris. So, I would spend four days working at UNESCO in Paris and one day teaching in Leuven. AOA R Would it be fair to say that ICOMOS is the organization that con- ducts the research that is then submitted to UNESCO? Mario R There are three organizations: ICOMOS, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and the International Centre for the Study of the Preservation and Restoration of Cultural Property (ICCROM). ICO- MOS is responsible for evaluating nominations that are cultural or mixed. AOA R When did you join ICOMOS? Mario R When I was in Belgium, I met a Canadian named Robin Letelier. He was an architect who, like me, specialized in conservation and sur- veying techniques. He invited me to join the heritage documentation committee at CIPA, which is a technical committee of ICOMOS, and also to teach at the University of Pennsylvania. There I met another Canadian guy who told me, “There’s a university called Carleton. They’re starting an undergraduate program in heritage conservation and sustainability. Would you like to come give a talk?” And I noticed they were looking for someone full-time. This is how I ended up in Canada 14 years ago. AOA R Is that your home base right now: Carleton? Mario R Yes, I am a professor there, but I also had a very long career with ICOMOS. I served as chair of the CIPA Documentation Committee, and then I was excited to become a member of the ICOMOS Executive Council. So, I took the plunge and became vice president and, later, secretary-general, a position I left in 2023. While I was a member of the Executive Council, I also served on the World Heritage Nomination Evaluation Panel, which was very interesting. AOA R In which countries have you studied? Mario R While I was in Belgium, I met a German professor named Michael Jansen, who was a UNESCO advisor in Pakistan but had just started a project in the Sultanate of Salalah in southern Oman in 1997. That’s where
international interview
Mario Santana By: Yves Besançon, Pablo Altikes, Javiera Benavides Edited by: Bárbara Vicuña Photos: Mario Santana’s personal collection
“States Must Recognize That Their Heritage Is Important”
Architect Mario Santana is one of the leading figures in digital docu- mentation and the preservation of built heritage. With a career marked by the convergence of history and cutting-edge technology, he has dedicated his career to documenting and safeguarding historic monu- ments around the world. During his most recent visit to Chile, he spoke with AOA magazine about his Venezuelan roots, his career in Europe, the United States, and Canada, and his latest tour of Valparaíso, among many other topics. You don’t have to hear him speak to tell that he is Latino. The warmth with which he speaks, his constant smile, and the way he gestures all point to someone who was undoubtedly born and raised in a tropical country. “We wanted to do the interview at this café, which has an exquisite Venezuelan dessert that we think you might like,” says Pablo Altikes just as a young waitress places a plate with a sort of caramel or condensed milk flan in the center of the table. “Venezuelan quesillo!” says architect Mario Santana. “It’s delicious,” he adds. For us as the AOA team, it is a privilege to interview him in person. Given his role as former Secretary-General of the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS), former President of the International Scientific Committee on Architectural Photogrammetry (CIPA), and his teaching role at Carleton University in Canada, he spends much of the year traveling the world, conducting research, teaching, and exploring
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