Elemental Chile: A 'Do Tank' for Urban Projects in Contexts of Scarce Resources

Recently awarded the Venice Biennale 2008 ‘Silver Lion for Most Promising Young Architect’, Elemental is a Chilean initiative creating innovative solutions for subsidized housing. The program’s urban projects aim to improve social housing for poverty stricken families. Elemental organized an international architecture competition which resulted in seven constructed projects throughout Chile as hybrids between house and building, pushing the limits of expansion and density. Built in central areas, these houses are half-constructed, offering inhabitants the infrastructure to extend the house to personal needs. This is a fascinating study of the successes and failures of the ‘Elemental Houses’. ELEMENTAL is a Do Tank affiliated with the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and COPEC, implementing urban projects for social interests.