smael Medina Manzano is a Spanish architect and researcher, based in both New York City and Madrid. He graduated with honors from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (ETSAM) in 2019, earning recognition in 2020 as the second-best Architecture graduate in Spain by the Spanish Society of Academic Excellence (SEDEA).
As an independent architect and designer, Ismael collaborates with multidisciplinary teams across various scales, a key aspect of his methodological approach. He works both on his own projects and in partnership with international architectural studios, integrating diverse expertise to tackle complex urban and architectural challenges. Ismael is currently pursuing a Ph.D. in Advanced Architecture at ETSAM, with research focusing on the intersection of urban technology and global governance within domestic spaces, using a transcalar approach to examine how global systems impact local, domestic environments.
Ismael has gained valuable experience working with the Office for Political Innovation/Andrés Jaque studio, alongside his personal projects. He holds a Master’s degree in Theory and Criticism of Advanced Architectural Design (MPAA) from ETSAM and has been a fellow at the MIT Media Lab’s Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism (LCAU), where he explored interdisciplinary urban and architectural issues.
His work, both academic and professional, has earned multiple awards and has been featured in prominent exhibitions and publications, including the Venice Biennale of Architecture, AD Spain, AD Italy, ArchDaily, Abitare, and Dwell. His Final Master’s Project, "PROT/MAD[VN+CL+NNN]_XX.X: An Urban-Logistic Experiment for the Center of Madrid," has received several accolades for its innovative approach.
Ismael's projects, such as Unplanned Domestic Prototype: PROT/USRBL/SE08 , focus on sustainability, local materials, and adaptable living spaces, addressing contemporary urban challenges while merging architectural theory with practical solutions.
