Spatial Practices of Indigenous Peoples: Challenging the Cultural Adequacy of Social Housing in Chile

This research delves into the emerging field of housing for Indigenous peoples in Chile, examining the unique forms of Indigenous urban habitats that have been developed. The text investigates the processes of collective participation, the transformation of public spaces though spatial practices, which express cosmovisions and ways of living. By analyzing the gaps between projected designs and inhabited spaces, as well as the interplay between housing transformations, family networks, and economic activities, the text sheds light on the challenges and opportunities of culturally relevant housing. It also highlights the need for alternative regulations and the importance of addressing historical marginalization. This critical exploration contributes to the development of reparation policies and paves the way for diverse housing approaches that align with Indigenous inhabitants’ ways of life, diverging from the dominant Euro-American legacy.