Engineer, Urban Innovator, and Co-Founder of Elemental
Andrés Iacobelli del Río (b. 1969, Recoleta, Chile) is a Chilean civil and industrial engineer, public policy expert, and social entrepreneur known for his pioneering work in urban development and housing innovation. He holds degrees in civil industrial engineering and transportation engineering from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, and a Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, where he was awarded the Raymond Vernon Prize for academic excellence. In 2001, while at Harvard, Iacobelli co-founded Elemental—a “do tank” focused on socially impactful architecture and urban design—with architect Alejandro Aravena. The firm is internationally recognized for its innovative approach to affordable housing, particularly the concept of “incremental housing,” which allows residents to expand their homes over time. Their seminal project, Quinta Monroy in Iquique, Chile, provided a model for participatory design in low-income communities.
