Quinta Monroy was a celebrated social housing project in Chile completed in the early 21st century. The project was executed by Elemental architecture firm and its media-savvy director Alejandro Aravena, and gained attention from the architectural community. The project merged Modernist and self-build ideologies, where contractors mass-produced "half-houses" and residents completed them with their own productive capacity. The settlement started as an ad hoc arrangement in 2003, with low density and self-built houses made from recycled materials. Over time, the density increased, leading to cramped and poorly ventilated housing with walkways between rooms. The project faced issues of overcrowding, unsightliness, and safety risks, but maintained open spaces for social interaction. Elemental used these spaces as a cue for their urban design strategy.

Vertical and horizontal circulation