Alejandro Valdivieso

Alejandro Valdivieso (Madrid, 1981) is a Spanish architect whose work is based on a consistent theoretical insight of practice through the production of design, on the one hand, and scholarship on the other—bridging a wide array of topics; from design theories to the History of modern architecture (specifically, the intersections between building, pedagogy, politics and media in postmodern European and American architecture culture), or the urban history of the city of Madrid.

He develops his research through different formats and mediums: as an active practicing architect (principal and founder of the award-winning Madrid-based office VALDIVIESOARQUITECTOS); as writer and editor for several platforms (Co-Editor-in-Chief of Arquitectura COAM magazine); and as an educator, currently an Assistant Professor of Architectural History and Theory and a member of the Research Program ‘Teoría y Crítica del Proyecto y de la Arquitectura Moderna y Contemporánea’ at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (ETSAM UPM).

Valdivieso studied Architecture in Spain and in the United States. He holds a Ph.D. in Architecture from ETSAM UPM, a Master in Design Studies —History and Philosophy of Design— as a Fulbright Scholar from Harvard University Graduate School of Design (2016), and a Professional Degree in Architecture (BArch and MArch) from Universidad de Alcalá (2008). From 2010 to 2011 he was Subject specialist and Cultore della Materia at the Facoltà di Architettura di Alghero (Università degli Studi di Sassari).

In its various formats, Valdivieso’s work has been presented, shared and published in Spain and internationally. Exploring the connections between History, Culture and building technology, recent built projects focus, for example, on low-carbon construction technology, domesticity, or critical conservation (adaptive reuse). Lately, he has coedited the book Viviendas para el Patronato de Casas Militares / Dwellings for the Military Housing Trust. Fernando Higueras, Antonio Miró, Madrid 1966-1974 (ACTAR Publishers, Fundación COAM, 2024).