Debating the paradigm: architecture and society
Doctor in architecture from the University of Seville.
Born in Rome, I moved to Seville, in 2001. There in 2010, I established: Ctrl+Z Arquitectura, in which I develop and apply an urban and social vision of architecture, that focuses on people and local realities.
My research focuses on the relationship between proposed architectural processes and existing social and bottom-up processes in a given area in order to improve it.
I have actively developed activities in the roles of teacher, tutor and facilitator in an academic environment, with more than 800 teaching hours, as well as in other formats such as summer schools, technical training and conferences, with more than 900 hours. I have carried out these activities in English, Spanish, Italian and Portuguese, and I am able to assume the role of either leading teacher or collaborator, preparing the syllabus or join the ones prepared by others, always preferring a collaborative approach.
I have established recurrent collaborations with US (Seville), UMA (Malaga) and ESAP (Porto) among others. At the same time I develop specific activities of teaching and dissemination with non academic entities. I’ve participated in activities addressed to audience form primary schools to postgrad level.
In 2016, I was included in the official exhibition of the Italian Pavilion at the XV Biennale di Architettura di Venezia; in 2017 in the I Biennale d'Architecture de Lyon; and in 2021, I formed part of the central installation of the Spanish Pavilion at the XVII Biennale di Architettura di Venezia.
In 2017, my professional career was recognised with the Curry Stone Design Prize.
In 2025, I’ve been lecturing at Architectural and in 2026 at the Engeneering faculties both of the Universidad de Sevilla, I carried out a transfer activity at the Van Abbe Museum (Eindhoven, The Netherlands), and my professional activity has been awarded in the VI COAS Architecture & Society Awards.
CV: https://tinyurl.com/GSCV2606
We are immersed in 'The Society of the Spectacle', where the entire world is focused on the production of disposable content. The value of an initiative is now judged more by its potential to go viral than by its substance and long-term results.
Even a part of supposedly socially engaged architecture has become nothing more than void means of producing clickbaits, losing all its fundamental meaning and connection to the concept of dwelling. It's no wonder that society has distanced itself from it. The consequences are clear: the urban environment is becoming increasingly hostile, lacking spaces for genuine connection and relationships between generations and social classes. This contributes to misunderstandings and fear of the 'other'.
By selling architecture to universal trends that ignore the sociocultural narratives surrounding each specific intervention, we are losing our ability to live together. But is it really possible to design while ignoring these narratives? Experience has taught me that this is impossible, and that time will expose those who claim otherwise.
For the LINA programme, I would like to invite anyone who is interested to collaborate with me in creating, experimenting with and debating a new toolbox of approaches, dynamics and schemes that can be used to reconnect planning and construction with the concept of dwelling. The aim is to work on a general framework that can be adapted to the variety of European contexts.
This could take the form of lectures, workshops, writing, curating, research, hands-on direct action, or any other format that fosters debate and the development of such a toolbox.
I will contribute to the discussion by sharing my research and experience of supporting initiatives in different countries. These demonstrate the economic and socio-cultural effectiveness of proposals that promote coexistence and cooperation, resulting in long-lasting initiatives and more inclusive and sustainable environments.