Dr. Luca Donner

Luca Donner holds a Ph.D. in Architecture from Lusiada University of Lisbon and an M.Arch. from IUAV University of Venice. He is a licensed architect by the Italian National Board of Architects with over 25 years of experience in practice. Since 2007, he has been teaching Architecture, Urbanism, and Interior Design in several academic institutions at graduate as well as undergraduate level. He has been a full-time faculty member at Canadian University Dubai, while he previously held academic positions in Italy at the Universities of Ferrara, Padova, Udine, and Brescia as well. He is currently Associate Professor at American University in the Emirates (Dubai).

He is author of research papers and architecture critique essays in which he investigates the potential of new ways of living and working that go beyond conventions and make possible to improve the overall users’ quality of life by applying an inclusive and multi-disciplinary design methodology. His strategy is based on considering cultural and sociological aspects together with energy- and environment-related issues by reinterpreting vernacular paradigms with a contemporary design approach, within the architecture discourse, between East and West.

In this regard, his Ph.D. thesis New Hybrid Housing Scenarios has been also oriented towards the relationship between multi-cultural living and remote working from home. It investigated how this mutual influence can make effective changes in our daily social interaction by defining an alternative urban form due to its implementation within the digital realm. In his Ph.D. dissertation Dubai has been the field of application of the research outcomes, even though the proposed theoretical framework is wider and potentially applicable to other multicultural urban settings.

As keynote or invited speaker, he has lectured at IUAV University of Venice, University of Florence, University of Porto, and other academic institutions as well as in several international congresses and symposia: XXV International Union of Architects World Congress – Durban 2014, Blue in Architecture 2009 – International Symposium Water, Climate Change and Architecture at IUAV, as well as World Architecture Congress 2007 and 2009 where he presented the outcomes of his works along with other international architects such as Zaha Hadid, Rafael Viñoly, Will Alsop, and Neil Denari.

He is co-Founder and Principal of Donner Sorcinelli Architecture (DoSo) since 2002, an award-winning architecture office, involved in developing sustainable and affordable design in all its variants and focused on experimentation and research in the fields of Architecture, Urbanism, Landscape, Interior, and Product Design. His practice-based research within DoSo has led to new hybrid and culture-related housing typologies as well as alternative architectural and urban paradigms. They have been developed through various projects in South Korea, USA, Canada, Italy, Finland, UAE, and Saudi Arabia by contributing to frame his theoretical investigations.

His designs have been awarded in various international competitions:

• “Social Housing District – Capoluogo Area, Piazzola sul Brenta (Italy),” 1st prize
• “Social Housing District – Presina Area, Piazzola sul Brenta (Italy),” 1st prize
• International Competition “Design Beyond East and West” – Seoul, 1st prize
• “International Design Competition for Modern Saudi Houses, Affordability and Sustainability” – Riyadh, 1st prize
• Urban Renovation of S. Elena historical centre, Silea (Italy), 1st prize
• Masterplan of Sansovino Area in Montebelluna (Italy), 3rd prize
• Urban and Landscape Design of Cavallino (Italy), 3rd prize
• School Campus in Carbonera (Italy), 3rd prize
• International Competition “Your Absolute” for a residential tower in Mississauga (Canada), Honorary Mention
• International Competition “Daejeon Urban Renaissance” for a Masterplan in Daejeon (South Korea), Honorable Mention
• Monitoring and Educational Center of a large-scale offshore wind farm in Maldo-ri island, Excellence Award (South Korea)

Luca’s designs have been extensively published in international architecture magazines and books as well as exhibited at Architecture Biennale of Venice, Young Italian Architects Biennial, Architecture Center Houston, The Architecture Foundation London, Van Alen Institute of New York, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebaek, Museum of Architecture Moscow, Daegu Architectural Culture Biennale, 24th UIA Tokyo Congress, and “100 Architects of the Year 2017” in Seoul.

He served as jury member of the Exhibition Design Competition of the Korean Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, Architizer A+Awards 2025 as well as board member in public institutions related to Architecture and Urban Planning. He is member of scientific committees and former correspondent of ARQA Magazine from Middle East.

Luca has been awarded with first prize at “Cityscape Architectural Review Award 2006,” “SAIE Selection Awards 2009,” and “20+10+X World Architecture Community Award 2012.” He has received an Honorable Mention at Modern Atlanta Prize 2011, an Acknowledgement Prize at Holcim Awards 2005 for Sustainable Constructions (MENA region) as well as he has been nominated by Korean Institute of Architects among “100 Architects of the Year 2022.”