In the second half of the twentieth century, driven by the mass adoption of the automobile and exponential population growth, cities around the world expanded at an accelerated pace. Santiago, Chile, was no exception, characterized by an extensive and fragmented urban sprawl that has led to a heavy reliance on cars, environmental degradation, and the loss of agricultural land. Without planning and policies aimed at sustainable urban development, the result is a more polluted and less green city—an alarming scenario considering the climate crisis we face.
In response to this global phenomenon, the concept of New Urbanism has emerged as a contemporary approach to addressing the challenges of the modern city. This model is built on a series of principles: cities must be compact, diverse, accessible, and, above all, sustainable to foster a better quality of life. While cities like Amsterdam and Seoul have successfully adopted this model, Santiago seems to lag several steps behind. Consequently, architecture must drive projects that align with New Urbanism, prioritizing sustainability and well-being as a way of life. Within this context, MUT (Mercado Urbano Tobalaba) by Territoria was conceived—an innovative and unprecedented project that links architecture, nature, and the user to foster a more sustainable city.
An Urban Campus
.jpg?1645479623 "Sustainability as a Way of Life: MUT, the New Urban Market in Santiago, Chile")
