Igor Peraza Curiel was born in Caracas, Venezuela. He graduated with a BSc in Architecture from the Universidad Central de Venezuela and received a scholarship to do his Master of Architecture at Hokkaido University in Sapporo in 1984. He subsequently obtained his Ph.D. in 1989 at the University of Kumamoto, Kyushu, Japan, where he designed the Church Kusabacho Kyokay. After graduating, he worked for five years at the Atelier of Arata Isozaki, collaborating on projects such as Concert Hall in Kyoto and various competitions such as expanding the Museum of Contemporary Art in Stuttgart, among others.

In 1993 he moved to Spain to lead the project Domus (Museum of Mankind) in La Coruña. He collaborated with the Spanish architect Cesar Portela on the rehabilitation of a block from the Malecon in Havana. He also initiates its projects, such as the Contest La Coruna Fair and Houses in Somosaguas, Madrid, Spain.

In 2000 he moved to Barcelona to work with Miralles Tagliabue EMBT as Director of the Santa Caterina Market project. After constructing the Market, he designed several Barcelona projects, such as the Improvement Plan for the street Pallars at 22 @ Barcelona. He participated in the Zona Rental contest in Caracas and designed the exhibition Carlos Raul Villanueva at FAD Barcelona’s headquarters.

While working in Barcelona, he additionally conducted academic activities. He was a Guest Professor for the Master’s course “Project” at the School of Architecture at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia (UPC). He also directed the ephemeral architecture course in the interior Master of European Institute of Design (IED).

In 2009, Miralles Tagliabue EMBT commissioned him to supervise the Spain Pavilion work at World Expo Shanghai 2010. Igor Peraza was the director of the EMBT office in Shanghai where developed the New Campus of Fudan University project in Shanghai, a skyscraper in the Houhai District Center in Shenzhen, the Museum for the Chinese painter Zhang Daqian in Neijiang in Sichuan, among other Chinese projects. After China, he had lived and worked in Lebanon and the United Arabic Emirates. Dr. Igor Peraza is a Professor of Architecture Practice at the American University of Sharjah, UAE, co-founded si_architecture with headquarters in Dubai (in partnership with Prof. Steffen Lehmann). As Founding Principles and thought leaders of the practice, Igor provide the firm’s overall vision and project leadership.

His 30-years long distinguished career as a practicing architect has always included a strong interest in education. He is an active educator in architecture, and his field of teaching includes an architectural and urban design studio and technical detailing and materials.

Over the last 30 years, he was invited as a Design Critic to studios and gave lectures at universities worldwide. As an ambassador of sustainable design principles, Igor enjoys working in different cultural contexts to experience various cities and cultures.

List of selected projects:

1987-1988 CHURCH KUSABACHO KYOKAY, KUMAMOTO, JAPAN Prof. Kijima Yasafumi Developing Design. Construction Drawing. Site supervicion.

1991-1995 CONCERT HALL, KYOTO, JAPAN Arata Isozaki Competition, (First Prize) Developing Design. Construction Drawing.

1991-1995 DOMUS (Interactive Museum), CORUNA, SPAIN Arata Isozaki & Associates Schematic Design. Developing Design. Construction Drawing. Site supervision.

1995 SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA UNIVERSITY PARK, SPAIN Arata Isozaki & Cesar Portela Schematic Design. Developing Design. Construction Drawing.

1998 EXHIBITION CENTER, A CORUNA, SPAIN Luis Collarte Competition (First Prize) Developing Design. Construction Drawing.

1998 BLOCK No 14 OF MALECON, HABANA, CUBA Cesar Portela Schematic Design

1998-1999 RESTAURANT GALLEGO, OITA, JAPAN Cesar Portela Developing Design. Construction Drawing. Site supervisión.

2000 MUSEUM OF HUMAN EVOLUTION, BURGOS, SPAIN Arata Isozaki & Associates Competition

1998-2005 RECONSTRUCTION OF SANTA CATERINA MARKET, BCN, SPAIN Miralles Tagliabue EMBT Construction Drawing. Site supervision.

2005-2007 22@ DISTRICT, BCN, SPAIN Igor Peraza Schematic Design. Developing Design.

2007 ART CENTER AT ZONA RENTAL PLAZA VENEZUELA, CARACAS Igor Peraza. Competition. (Finalist)

2007 NENEN , CORIAN 40X40, Igor Peraza. Developing Design.

2008 REHABILITATION OF PERE IV, BCN, SPAIN Igor Peraza Developing Design. Construction Drawing. Site supervision.

2008 ORIGAMI, COMPETITION FOR CITIZEN INITIATIVES PAVILION, EXPO ZARAGOZA, ZARAGOZA, SPAIN.  Igor Peraza INQ. Developing Design.

2008-2009 CARLOS RAUL VILLANUEVA EXHIBITION, BCN, SPAIN Igor Peraza. Developing Design. Construction Drawing. Site supervision.

2008-2010 SPANISH PAVILION EXPO 2010, SHANGHAI, CHINA Miralles Tagliabue EMBT Competition (First Prize) Proyecto basico. Proyecto Ejecutivo. Direccion de obra.

2010-2011 INTERNACIONAL HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITION, XIAN, CHINA Miralles Tagliabue EMBT Competition (First Prize) Proyecto basico. Proyecto Ejecutivo. Direccion de obra.

2010 COMIC AND ANIMATION MUSEUM, HANGZHOU, CHINA Miralles Tagliabue EMBT Competition (finalist)

2010 – under construction ZHANG DA QIAN MUSEUM, NEIJIANG, CHINA Miralles Tagliabue EMBT Developing Design. Construction Drawing.

2010 HOUHAI CENTER TOWER, SHENZEN, CHINA Miralles Tagliabue EMBT Competition (First Prize) Developing Design. Construction Drawing.

2011 – in progress FUDAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, SHANGHAI, CHINA Miralles Tagliabue EMBT Competition (First Prize) Developing Design. Construction Drawing.

Bio-Sketch

Dr. Igor Peraza Curiel
Professor of Practice, Architecture
American University of Sharjah, PO Box 26666, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
+971 50 535 8852
icuriel@aus.edu

Professional Preparation

Central University of Venezuela Caracas, Venezuela, Architecture Bachelor 1983
Hokkaido University, Japan, M.Arch 1987
Kumamoto University Kumamoto, Japan, Architecture Doctor 1990

Appointments

Academic appointments
College of Architecture, Arts and Design CAAD. American University of Sharjah, AUS
Professor of Practice, 2017-today
Sharjah, UAE.

RCR IX International Workshop Architecture and Landscape
RCR Dream and Nature Workshop (La Vila)
Instructor, 2016-2018
Olot, Spain.

College of Architecture, Arts and Design CAAD. American University of Sharjah, AUS
Assistant Professor, 2015-2017
Sharjah, UAE.

Department of Architectural and Interior Design. Lebanese American University, LAU
Visiting Assistant Professor, 2013-2015
Beirut, Lebanon.

Architectural Design Studio. Tongji University Architecture & Urban Planning
Visiting Professor, 2013
Shanghai, China.

Masters of Interior Design: Ephemeral Architecture Design Studio. European Institute of Design, EID
Lecturer, 2013
Barcelona, Spain

Professional appointments

si_architecture with headquarters in Dubai (co-founded in partnership with Prof. Steffen Lehmann)
Director 20202

Miralles Tagliabue EMBT
Director, 2000-2013
Shanghai, China. Barcelona, Spain
-Spanish Pavilion at Shanghai (1st Prize) Expo 2010
-Fudan University Campus, Shanghai Competition (1st Prize) 2011
-Houhai Centre Tower, Shenzhen (1st Prize) 2010
-Zhang Da Qian Museum, Neijian 2010
-Comic & Animation Museum Hangzhou 2010 (finalist) 2010
-International Horticultural Exhibition, Xian (1st Prize) 2010
-Santa Caterina Market, Barcelona 2005

Cesar Portela & Associate Galicia, Spain
Architect, 1996-1999
Coruna, Spain

Artata Isozaki Atelier, Japan
Architect 1990-1995
Tokyo, Japan

Publications and/or Peer-Reviewed Activity

Peraza, Igor (Ed.). (July 24-26, 2019) Structure and Architecture: Bridging the Gap and Crossing Borders Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Structures and Architecture. ICSA 2019. Lisbon, Portugal. https://doi.org/10.1201/9781315229126

Peraza, Igor. (May,2018). Dubai Creek Maritime Museum, Comprehensive Architecture Studio, Spring 2017 A Tectonic Study. In Arquitectonics and Josep Muntanola (Eds.), 16th International Conference Arquitectonics Network Mind and Society (pp. 15-17). ISBN-13 978-84-09-02652-4. https://www.academia.edu/37070762/

Peraza Igor, Curator and Designer. Barcelona: Place, Culture and Architecture Fall Semester Abroad Program 2018. CAAD Main Gallery, American University of Sharjah. 2018. April, 2019
Peraza Igor, Curator and Designer. Beginnings, Middle and End. Enrci Miralles Foundation, Barcelona, Spain. November 2018-April 2019
Peraza Igor, Curator and Designer. Beginnings, Middle and End. CAAD Main Gallery, AUS Sharjah. 2018. April, 2018
Peraza Igor, Curator and Designer. Barcelona: Place, Culture and Architecture Fall Semester Abroad Program 2017. CAAD Main Gallery, American University of Sharjah. 2018. April, 2018
Peraza Igor, Mc clean Arturo, Curator and Designer. Beginnings, Middle and End. University of Nottingham, Department of Architecture and Built Environment, EEC STUDIO. 2018. Mar, 2018

Synergistic Activities

• Organized summer workshop as international link for architectural students (RCR La Vila Workshop, Olot, Spain) 2018
• Organized Fall Semester Abroad Program in Barcelona, Spain 2017 and 2018
• Organized Summer Study Abroad Program in Japan 2017
• Member of the International Structure and Architecture Association and Member of Architecture Association of Catalunya COAC since 2000
• As a Professor of Practice, I connect the students with the best international practices for their internships abroad

Links:

Personal website: http://igorperaza.com/
American University of Sharjah, UAE https://www.aus.edu/faculty/dr-igor-peraza
si_architecture + urban design https://si-architecture.com/index.html