AZPML Principals
Alejandro Zaera-Polo is an architect and co-founder of London/New York based Alejandro Zaera-Polo and Maider Llaguno Architecture (AZPML). He graduated from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid with Honors and obtained an MARCH2 degree from Harvard GSD with Distinction. He worked at OMA in Rotterdam prior to establishing first FOA in 1993, and Alejandro Zaera-Polo architecture in 2011, the vehicles where he has developed a successful international professional practice since.
In parallel to his professional activities, Alejandro Zaera-Polo has developed a substantial role within academia. He was the dean of the school of architecture at Princeton University and was the former Dean of the Berlage Institute in Rotterdam. He was a Visiting Professor at Princeton University and the inaugural Norman R. Foster Visiting Professor at Yale. He has published extensively as a theorist in El Croquis, Quaderns, A+U, Arch+, Volume, Log and many other international magazines and is a member of the London School of Economics Urban Age project. He has recently published Sniper’s Log, a compilation of his most relevant writings.
Maider Llaguno, becomes Alejandro Zaera-Polo’s partner in 2013 after having worked for Foreign Office Architects in London since 2006 where she was involved in several projects such as the Trinity office complex in the city of London and the Ravensbourne college of design and communication as well as in various design competitions. She graduated from ETSASS/ ETSAB with honors in 2006 and from GSAPP Columbia University with distinction (excellence in design) in 2009. She has taught at different universities in USA and Europe, Barnard college and GSAPP Columbia University in New York, the Structural design department at the architecture school at the ETH Zurich, and together with Alejandro Zaera-Polo at Yale School of Architecture and Berlage Institute in Rotterdam. She has finished the doctorate coursework at the Institute of Technology in Architecture ETH Zurich, and she is currently developing her thesis on urban physics, focusing on the role of architectural form and materiality in the microclimate of the street canyon, research that is being developed between the Environmental Engineering department at Princeton University and the architecture school ETH Zurich.
Ivaylo Vladimirov Nachev, becomes a partner in 2019 after having worked for AZPML (Alejandro Zaera-Polo and Maider Llaguno Architecture) London office since 2015 where he was involved with the Palazzo del Cinema di Locarno, Birmingham New Street Station and numerous international design competition projects including the winning entries for Kirchberg Social Housing in Luxembourg, Ex-Torretta bridge in Switzerland, the Shenzhen Bay Super Headquarters Green Axis Landscape design in China and the Korean Museum of Urbanism and Architecture in Sejong, South Korea. He graduated from the Polytechnic of Milan receiving a master (M.Arch II) degree with Honours and a double degree based on merit, following the 9th Cycle of the multidisciplinary program ASP School (Alta Scuola Politecnica), Polytechnic of Milan and Turin, Italy. Since 2011, prior to joining AZPML, he has collaborated with FG SA Studio (Milan) working on a wide range of Civic and Cultural projects. In 2014, Ivaylo joined RIMOND (Milan) to collaborate on the construction management and BIM modelling of the UAE Pavilion for EXPO 2015 designed by Foster + Partners. At the same time his interest in sustainability and smart technologies led him to collaborate with Inspiring Software (Bussero-Milan) on multidisciplinary projects involved with sustainability, data collection, innovation and smart technologies for Architecture and Urban Analysis.
AZPML Profile
AZPML (Alejandro Zaera-Polo and Maider Llaguno Architecture) is an international practice, based in London, Barcelona, Zurich and Princeton. AZPML (Alejandro Zaera Polo Architecture) was born in 2011 as a legacy practice of FOA after its demerger, and follows former FOA’s partner Alejandro Zaera-Polo. In 2013 Maider Llaguno former FOA architect, partnered Alejandro Zaera-Polo architecture. As part of that legacy, AZPML architecture has a commitment to innovation in architecture and urban design, combining technical innovation with design excellence.
Alejandro Zaera Polo’s award-winning projects include the Yokohama International Cruise Terminal in Japan, noted for its use of dramatic form, innovative materials, and fascination with the interplay of architecture, landscape, and nature, credited by the Design Museum as a design sensation alive with bustling urbanity and seaside tranquillity. Other projects include a new building for Ravensbourne in Greenwich, the John Lewis Department Store, Cineplex and Footbridges in Leicester, Carabanchel Social Housing in Madrid, Meydan Retail Complex and Multiplex in Istanbul, the Spanish Pavilion at the 2005 International Expo in Aichi, a large coastal park with outdoor auditoriums in Barcelona, a Municipal Theatre and Auditorium in Torrevieja, La Rioja Technology Transfer Centre in Logrono and the Dulnyouk Publishing Headquarters in Paju, South Korea.
AZPML’s current projects in the UK include Birmingham New Street Station in Birmingham and Trinity EC3 office complex in the City of London. In Spain, AZPML is involved in a new Hospital in Lleida, a Biotechnology centre in Barcelona, the redevelopment of the Santander Waterfront, including the design of a new ferry terminal and the yacht club which will host the World Cup in 2010, the Gurrutxaga Winery in Lekeitio and the Cerezales Foundation. AZPML is also involved in the development of two high-rise residential towers in Busan, Korea and the Locarno cinema film festival headquarters in Switzerland.
The work of Alejandro Zaera-Polo has been widely published and exhibited, and represented Britain at the 8th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2002; he has received the Enric Miralles Prize for Architecture, five RIBA Awards, the 2004 Venice Architecture Biennale Award, and the Charles Jencks Award for Architecture.
List of clients included:
Austro Control Zentrale Wien, Vienna, Austria
Antonino and Cinia Cerezales Fundation; Leon, Spain
Barbican Centre; London, UK
Barcelona City Council; Spain
Belgo Group PLC; London, UK
Beetham Organization Ltd; Liverpool, UK
Bo01; Malmö, Sweden
British Broadcasting Corporation; London, UK
British Council; London, UK
British Land; London, UK
Campus de la Justicia; Madrid, Spain
Capitaland; Kuala Lampur, Malaysia
Dulnyouk Publishing Company; Seoul, Korea
El Vendegueral; Spain
Empresa Municipal de la Vivienda y Suelo; Madrid, Spain
Euskotren S.A.; Bilbao, Spain
Eyebeam Corporation; New York, USA
FSB / Any Corporation; Dusseldorf, Germany
La Rioja Regional Government; Spain
Grand Toulouse; Toulouse, France
Groningen Gemeente; Groningen, The Netherlands
Grupo Masaveu; Spain
Haarlemmermeer City Council; Haarlem, The Netherlands
Hammerson plc; UK
Habitat Spain; Barcelona, Spain
3 [Hutchison 3G]; London, UK
Icade; France
Infrastructures 2004; City of Barcelona, Spain
ING Real Estate; France
Iranian Ministry of Culture; Teheran, Iran
Land Securities Group PLC; UK
Louis Vuitton; Paris, France
Lower Manhattan Development Corporation; NY, USA
Locarno City Council; Locarno, Switzerland
Lubasa Inmobiliaria; Spain
Maggies Cancer Care Centre; UK
Mahler4 Consortium; Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Metro Group AG; Germany
Myeong Dong Cathedral; Seoul, Korea
MOCA Cleveland; Ohio, USA
Network Rail; London, UK
Novartis International; Basel, Switzerland
Olympic Delivery Authority; London, UK
Park Downsview CLC + Canada Lands; Toronto, Canada
Pasaia Port Authority, Pasaia, Spain
Peabody Trust; London, UK
Port & Harbour Bureau; City of Yokohama, Japan
Port & Harbour Bureau; Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain
Porto Antico di Genova; Genoa, Italy
Pusan High Speed Railways; Pusan, Korea
Ravensbourne College of Art & Design; UK
Reyal SA; Madrid, Spain
Real Federacion Espanola de Vela, Spain
Rodenas Jara Proyectos y Obras; Spain
SAEM Val de Seine Amenagement; Paris, France
Sir Robert McAlpine Ltd; UK
Schipper-Bosch BV; Amersfoort; The Netherlands
Selfridges&Co; London; UK
Solomon Group; Korea
South Bank Corporation; London, UK
Southwark County Council; London, UK
Spanish Society of International Exhibitions; Spain
PalaCinema S.A.; Locarno, Switzerland
Thomas Goode; London
Torrevieja City Council; Spain
Villajoyosa City Council; Spain