Carmelo Zappulla is a PhD architect and founding partner of Barcelona based External Reference Architects. He argues that the use of patterns can connect architectural theory with practice, by representing, at the same time, the most relevant strains of research in contemporary design.

He studied architecture at the Università degli Studi di Palermo, graduating with Honors and special mention, and holds a PhD (European Mention) with Honors from Universidad Politécnica de Catalunya, Barcelona.

After working in Rotterdam and in London, he moved to Barcelona where he started collaborating with RCR Arquitectes and Foreign Office Architects. Together with Nacho Toribio, Zappulla runs External Reference Architects, awarded by New Italian Blood the Best Young Italian Architect Prize in 2011. The firm is active in design and research in the fields of sensorial spaces, interior design, architecture, and landscape design.

He is currently a Faculty member at IAAC (Instituto de Arquitectura Avanzada de Catalunya) and teacher at IED (Istituto Europeo di Design), where he is also the coordinator of the Master’s Degree program in Interior Design. He collaborates with different architectural schools and institutions, including WSA (The Welsh School of Architecture) and the Department of Architecture in Cardiff University, Wales, Uk.

His work has been exhibited at the Biennale in Venice, during the 12th International Architecture Exhibition, at MAXXI, Rome, at Eme3, Barcelona, Europan 8, Oslo.

His publications include articles and projects published in Future, Il Sole 24 ore, Blueprint, Materia, Frame, Dezeen, Domus, in the books Architect’s notebook and Architectural process 2014 by Damdi Publishing co, among others.