Inside the Studio: How Architects Shape Tomorrow

Step inside the creative world of contemporary architecture in this special edition of the Meet the Director Series: Inside the Studio: How Architects Shape Tomorrow. This live online conversation brings together two renowned voices in architectural practice and education—PhD. Arch. Marcela Aragüez and PhD. Arch. Fernando García Pino—for an in-depth exploration of how future architects are formed.

Speaker

PhD. Arch. Marcela Aragüez

Marcela Aragüez is Assistant Professor of Architecture and Director of the Master in Architecture at IE University in Madrid. She received her PhD in Architectural History & Theory at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, where she also received a Master of Science in Spatial Design (UCL Turner Prize for best dissertation). Marcela’s research focus lies in the production of adaptable architecture, with an emphasis on cross-cultural post war practices.

She has recently coordinated the joint research project ‘The Culture of Water’ in collaboration with the Kyoto Institute of Technology in Japan and the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences in Switzerland. She is a licensed architect with professional experience in Spain and Switzerland. Her work has been exhibited at the Haute École D'art et de Design in Geneva (HEAD) and the École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL).

Marcela has lectured widely in the UK, Switzerland, Japan, France and Spain and her work has been acknowledged by grants and awards from institutions such as the Japan Foundation, Sasakawa Foundation, Canon Foundation and the Society of Architectural Historians of Great Britain. She has published in international journals such as Roadsides and Architectural Research Quarterly, and is a General Editor of Architectural Histories.

Speaker

PhD. Arch. Fernando García Pino

Fernando García Pino since 2004, he has been an associate professor in the Department of Architectural Projects at the ETSAM (Madrid School of Architecture), where he teaches in both undergraduate and master's programs. Since 2025, he has also held the position of Assistant Professor. Since 2009, he has also been an associate professor at the IE School of Architecture and Design, where he currently supervises the Master's Thesis in Architecture and coordinates the Design Innovation Platform. He has also taught courses on design and methodology at various national and international institutions and has participated as a guest lecturer on juries, review committees, and workshops, with over a decade of experience in academic and professional criticism.

As a researcher, he has published in prestigious journals and publications, such as Domus, Arquitectura Viva, El Croquis, Lotus, A+T, A+U, RITA, and Fundación COAM, among others, earning him widespread recognition both nationally and internationally.

Professionally, he is a founding partner of redo-me® since 2011, a company specializing in industrial and furniture design. Since 2000, he has also co-directed Paredes Pino Arquitectos in Madrid and was a co-founder of CMYK Arquitectos (1997-2000). Previously, he collaborated with Juan Navarro Baldeweg (1997-2009) as lead designer and site manager. Before that, he collaborated with Mansilla + Tuñón Arquitectos (1994-1997).

About the Session

Across an hour of inspiring dialogue, the speakers will share how today’s architectural challenges—from sustainable design to technological integration and the evolution of professional practice—shape the studios, curricula, and methodologies that train tomorrow’s architects. Attendees will gain firsthand insight into how academic environments foster innovation, critical thinking, and the practical skills required for a new generation of professionals.

Whether you’re considering a future in architecture, preparing for the Master habilitante, or simply curious about how design education responds to global transformation, this session offers a unique window into the dynamics behind architectural training today.

Moderator

The conversation will be moderated by M. Arch. Saul Nuñez Ibarra, Senior Manager of Global Recruitment at IE University.