Umberto Napolitano
Umberto Napolitano
Local Architecture Network Paris
Umberto Napolitano (Naples, 1975) studied architecture at the Università Federico II in Naples and then at the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-La Villette. Founder of LAN (Local Architecture Network) with Benoit Jallon in 2002, he also conducts a theoretical work through research projects, exhibitions and conferences all around the world. Umberto was professor at the Columbia University GSAPP of New York (USA), at the AA (Architecture Association) School of Architecture in London (UK) and at the TU Vienna (AU). He is a member of the French Academy of Architecture since 2016 and was appointed Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2018.
LAN was created by Benoit Jallon and Umberto Napolitano in 2002, with the idea of exploring architecture as a material at the intersection of several disciplines. This attitude, which has now become a methodology, allows the agency to explore new territories in search of a vision involving social, urban, ecological and functional issues.
The firm’s projects reflect this spirit of openness and cover a wide range of scales and programs: theatres (Maillon Theatre – Strasbourg), prisons (Minimum Security Prison – Nanterre), offices (Euravenir Tower – Lille) and housing (Neue Hamburger Terrassen – Hamburg). In addition to architectural and urban design, the office is actively involved in the disciplinary debate and develops a significant theoretical production through exhibitions (Venice Biennale in 2016, Haussmann – model city at the Pavillon de l’Arsenal in 2017), publications (Traces in 2012, Napoli Super Modern in 2020) and conferences. Teaching and transmission are also part of the transversal and transdisciplinary vision. Umberto Napolitano has been a professor at numerous universities and the two partners of the agency were named Chevaliers de l’ordre des Arts et des Lettres in 2018.
Guest professor at TU Vienna from 2020-2022
