Dra. María José Araya
Assistant Professor, Researcher in Elisava Research
Maria is an architect and PhD in architecture, an academic, and a researcher at Elisava, Faculty of Design and Engineering of Barcelona, UVic-UCC. Her research focuses on the psychological, cognitive, and biological bases of the architectural experience, with the aim of contributing to the integral well-being of human beings by codifying their relationship with the built environment. She works using approaches such as evidence-based design, ergonomics, and the principles of neuroarchitecture. She has developed several research projects, both public and private, participated in international conferences, and published relevant scientific articles.
Currently, she is a researcher in the Decoding Well-Being line at Elisava Research, where she uses qualitative and quantitative methodologies to generate new knowledge. In addition, as an architect partner of Qualia Estudio, she is dedicated to transferring this knowledge to bridge the gap between science and project, innovating in the processes and patterns of architectural design focused on human well-being.
María holds a PhD Cum Laude in Architecture from the International University of Catalonia + Elisava (2021), a Master in Design from the Politecnico di Milano (2012), an Architect from the University of Santiago de Chile (2006), and an Ergonomist from the same institution. She has a long academic experience in Chilean universities, mainly at the University of Santiago de Chile and the University Diego Portales, and since 2006 she has worked as an architect in charge of maLeon, Architecture, Design, and Research, collaborating with several studios in Chile, Italy, and Spain.
Currently, she is a researcher in the Decoding Well-Being line at Elisava Research, where she uses qualitative and quantitative methodologies to generate new knowledge. In addition, as an architect partner of Qualia Estudio, she is dedicated to transferring this knowledge to bridge the gap between science and project, innovating in the processes and patterns of architectural design focused on human well-being.
María holds a PhD Cum Laude in Architecture from the International University of Catalonia + Elisava (2021), a Master in Design from the Politecnico di Milano (2012), an Architect from the University of Santiago de Chile (2006), and an Ergonomist from the same institution. She has a long academic experience in Chilean universities, mainly at the University of Santiago de Chile and the University Diego Portales, and since 2006 she has worked as an architect in charge of maLeon, Architecture, Design, and Research, collaborating with several studios in Chile, Italy, and Spain.