About CPE

Overview

The Centre Production of Space (CPE) was founded in April 2019 as part of the scientific research plan of the then Facultad de Arquitectura, Diseño y Construcción at Universidad de Las Américas, led by its dean María Adelina Gatica. It takes its name from Henri Lefebvre's theory of the production of space (1974), according to which society produces space and space is socially produced, through interdependent relations between spatial practices, representations of space, and socio-spatial experiences.

That interconnection feeds a disciplinary practice that reflects critically on society while also working on the ground with communities, public policy, and the private sector — with the friction of the real. The CPE was born as a scientific complement (articles and research funds) to the Núcleo Lenguaje y Creación, which focused more on creative processes at the disciplinary edges. Since 2022 the CPE has been formally constituted as a Research Nucleus, retaining the CPE name, recognised nationally and internationally as a space of scientific production of public relevance on socio-spatial matters.

Vision

In a context where public policy and public opinion are frequently influenced by economic and political interests, the CPE is committed to maintaining strict intellectual independence, building a firewall against the private and partisan sector. The centre emphasises adherence to the scientific method, using validated methodologies and developing new analytical techniques grounded in theorisations coherent with its research objectives. We seek to produce disruptive findings: that requires taking methodological risks, though never ethical ones.

In line with the vision of the Spatial Academy, the CPE positions itself as a space of critical reflection and knowledge production that challenges traditional paradigms and seeks unprecedented solutions to the contemporary challenges of urbanisation, social inequality, and spatial dynamics.

Mission

To advance the understanding of socio-spatial phenomena through the rigorous use of the scientific method and a research ethics that ensures intellectual independence and objectivity. The CPE promotes research in socio-ecology, design, socio-spatial analysis, architectural ethnography, and applied technologies, with a critical and methodologically robust approach, to produce useful knowledge that allows us to reimagine and remake urban spaces and practices, contributing to the common good and to the sustainable and equitable development of our cities and societies.

Lines of research

The CPE's lines of research are organised around Lefebvre's triad of the production of space:

• Perceived social space (the practical): the physical and tangible space of everyday activities and material practices — infrastructure, architectural design, construction, and material technologies, directly observable in the built environment.
• Conceived social space (the represented): the abstract and conceptual representations of space produced by economists, lawyers, geographers, sociologists, planners, and architects — laws, plans, regulations, statistics, and maps that conceptualise how space should be and how it should be occupied.
• Lived social space (the experienced): how people experience and give meaning to space in their everyday lives — social practices, symbolisms, and cultural meanings, gathered through ecological, sociological, and anthropological techniques.

General objective

To consolidate the Centre Production of Space Research Nucleus as a reference in scientific and critical research on socio-spatial phenomena, promoting academic excellence, methodological innovation, and ethical commitment, in order to contribute to the sustainable and equitable development of our cities and societies.

Strategic objectives

1. Foster excellence in scientific researchPublish high-quality research in prestigious international journals.
2. Develop new methodologies and analytical techniquesEstablish the CPE as a leader in methodological innovation in socio-spatial studies.
3. Ensure intellectual and ethical independenceMaintain a high ethical standard and independence across all research activities.
4. Strengthen the nucleus's infrastructure and resourcesImprove the resources available for research.
5. Expand the network of academic and scientific collaborationsEstablish strategic alliances with institutions that share the CPE's ethical outlook.
6. Increase the visibility and dissemination of resultsIncrease the CPE's presence in the scientific community and in prestigious media.
7. Positively impact public policy and societyContribute to the formulation of informed, evidence-based public policy.
8. Promote the training and capacity-building of researchersDevelop the team's capacities and skills, supporting doctoral and postdoctoral training.
9. Foster interdisciplinary and critical researchAddress socio-spatial problems from multiple perspectives and critical approaches.
10. Improve the nucleus's management and organisationOptimise the CPE's organisational structure and administrative processes.

CPE in figures (2019–2024)

Intellectual independence and ethics

Private research funding in Chile frequently comes from groups with particular interests in the results, which can compromise the independence and objectivity of studies. For this reason, the CPE avoids private funding that could condition the direction or results of its research, engaging with different stakeholder groups from a position of total autonomy. Ethics is the pillar of our research work: it is precisely that integrity that allows us to freely explore new ideas, theories, and approaches capable of transforming our disciplines and society.

Public impact

The CPE has contributed to the formulation of evidence-based public policy: participation in National Congress sessions on the social integration law and water rights regulation; presentation before the Constitutional Convention on the right to the city and housing financialisation; advisory work for the National Council for Territorial Development and the legal office of the MINVU; participation in the National Dialogue for Housing and the City (basis of the Housing Emergency Plan); and advisory work for the Santiago Metropolitan Regional Government on urban and territorial improvement.

Collaboration networks

• Instituto de Economía Aplicada Regional, Universidad Católica del Norte — Martín Arias-Loyola.
• Escuela de Arquitectura, Universidad San Sebastián — Carlos Aguirre-Nuñez y Ricardo Greene.
• CEDEUS y Nexo Muva, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile — Felipe Encinas.
• Politecnico di Torino y University College London — Camillo Boano.
• Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Barcelona — Carlos Marmolejo-Duarte.
• Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid — Enrique Espinosa.
• Escuela de Arquitectura, Universidad de Alicante — Enrique Nieto.
• Consejo Nacional de Desarrollo Territorial y Centro de Estudios del MINVU.

Team

• Director: Dr. José Francisco Vergara-Perucich.
• Deputy Director: José Abásolo-Llaría.
• Associate researchers: Carlos Aguirre-Nuñez, Francisca Cancino-Contreras, Juan Correa-Parra.
• Research assistants: Felipe Ulloa-León, Josefina Ulloa.
• Collaborators: Ricardo Greene, Leslie Landaeta-Díaz, Martín Arias-Loyola, Camillo Boano, Felipe Encinas, among others.

Contact

Direction: Dr. José Francisco Vergara-Perucich · jvergara@udla.cl
Instagram: @cpe.udla
Facultad de Arquitectura, Animación, Diseño y Construcción, Universidad de Las Américas, Providencia, Santiago, Chile.