The Chilean sustainable architecture project AYMI Modular Habitat, led by architect and professor at the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment Cristián Fuenzalida, has been selected as a finalist for the prestigious 2026 Green Product Award in the Architecture category. Developed at the University of Santiago, Chile (Usach), the innovative system stood out among more than 1,000 entries from 45 countries.
“AYMI Modular Habitat is a foldable modular architectural system designed to create lightweight, transportable, and reusable infrastructure. The system employs a sustainable construction approach based on prefabrication, reversible assembly, and spatial reconfiguration, allowing it to be adapted to various educational, cultural, and community uses,” stated Professor Fuenzalida.
The journey began with the project's submission to the international sustainable design competition. After a rigorous initial evaluation, the Chilean prototype secured its spot as a finalist in the Architecture category. The final winners will be officially announced this May during the awards ceremony in Berlin, Germany.
The project originated from an industrial patent developed entirely within Usach. This international recognition directly strengthens AYMI_LAB, a research and development (R&D) initiative dedicated to pioneering lightweight and sustainable infrastructure solutions. Furthermore, the nomination opens up new avenues for global collaboration and dialogue with international organizations addressing contemporary challenges in the built environment and green urban planning.
“For our faculty, this international nomination is an opportunity to showcase the university's academic research and technological development on a global stage. These platforms position sustainable architecture as a critical discipline capable of providing innovative solutions to pressing social, territorial, and environmental challenges,” said the researcher.
AYMI Modular Habitat is part of a long-term research framework focused on prefabrication and adaptable infrastructure. To expand this work, the Usach scholar will pursue a Ph.D. in Built Environment and Territory at the Metropolitan Technological University (UTEM), further bridging academic research, teaching, and applied prototype development for the construction industry.