Marcelo Alejandro Araya Aravena

Marcelo Alejandro Araya Aravena is an Associate Professor and Industrial Designer at the School of Architecture and Design, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Chile. He holds a Doctorate from Rey Juan Carlos University and has been actively involved in architectural education and research since the early 2000s. Born on November 11, 1971, Professor Araya has developed a distinctive approach to architectural practice through his extensive "Crossings" program, which explores territorial and cultural connections across Latin America.

His educational background includes a Doctorate from Rey Juan Carlos University in Spain, building upon his foundational studies in Chile. Professor Araya's academic journey has been closely tied to the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, where he has progressed from being a student to a faculty member.

Professor Araya's research interests focus on exhibition design, interactive spaces, urban design (particularly of Valparaíso), vernacular architecture, heritage conservation, topology in design, and water systems in urban environments. His work often bridges theoretical exploration with practical application, emphasizing the relationship between people, spaces, and cultural contexts. A distinctive aspect of his research methodology is the "Crossing" approach, which involves extensive fieldwork and spatial exploration across diverse territories.

His scientific contributions demonstrate a consistent focus on the intersection of architecture, urbanism, and cultural studies, with particular attention to Chilean contexts and Latin American territories. Professor Araya's work shows evolution from early studies of Valparaíso's urban fabric toward broader explorations of territorial connections across South America.

Professor Araya has supervised numerous undergraduate thesis projects, guiding students in areas including sustainable materials, exhibition design, and urban interventions. His teaching portfolio includes workshops on Multiscalar Topology, Resistant Forms of Design, and Exhibition Spaces, reflecting his specialized expertise in spatial design and architectural topology.

Among his notable research projects are:

• Actor-Reactor Device as a material unit for physical interaction in exhibition spaces (2017)
• Human displacement and multi-territoriality: from a border zone to a cross-border site at the mouth of the Aconcagua River (2020)
• Comprehensive Survey of Vernacular Steps, Footprints and Paths in the City of Valparaíso (2010)
• Typological reconsolidation of obsolete heritage peripheries: The case of Cerro Monjas, Valparaíso (2020)
• Rethinking the Design and Application of Polymeric Moldings for the Reconstruction of Neoclassical Ornament in Buildings with Heritage Value (2008)
• A sub-Antarctic territory of ecological-cultural innovation: Conceptual and architectural proposal for the Jetarkte Ethnic, Scientific and Tourist Complex (2018)

Professor Araya leads the "Travesías" (Crossings) program, an ongoing research initiative that has conducted over 30 expeditions since 1992, exploring diverse territories across Latin America. This program represents a distinctive methodology for architectural research and education, combining fieldwork, documentation, and spatial analysis.