Carmelo Zappulla

Carmelo Zappulla is a founder-owner of External Reference Architects, an architectural office known for its innovative and speculative approach to design. Carmelo has been involved with the company since 2007 and was recognized as one of the best young Italian architects in 2011. Carmelo believes in sustainable development and the integration of architecture, innovative strategy, and business improvement.

In 2019, Zappulla became the Chief Creative Officer at Presentedby. Carmelo is also a faculty member of the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia since 2013 and the Director of the Master in experiential interior design at LCI Barcelona since 2017.

From 2009 to 2015, Zappulla served as the Director of the Master of Interior Design at the Istituto Europeo di Design. Carmelo has also worked as a speaker at KAUST in 2011 and as an architect at Foreign Office Architects from 2007 to 2008.

Additionally, Zappulla has taught at ELISAVA in 2008 and worked as an architect at RCR arquitectes, Pinearq, and Nio architecten from 2000 to 2006.

Carmelo Zappulla has an extensive education history in the field of architecture. Carmelo began their academic journey at the Università degli Studi di Palermo, where they studied architecture and planning from 1997 to 2004. Carmelo achieved an impressive result of 110/110 laude and received an honorable mention for their degree.

Zappulla then pursued further studies at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. From 2004 to 2009, they obtained a DEA degree, specializing in new instruments of architecture. Following this, they continued their education at the same institution, earning their Ph.D. (HONS) with a European Doctorate Mention in architecture design from 2009 to 2014.

These education experiences reflect Zappulla's commitment to advancing their knowledge and expertise in architecture.