Arquitectura Subalterna is a collective based in Madrid and founded by Victor Cano Ciborro, José Javier Cullen, José de Andrés and Ana Sabugo that seeks to provoke, activate and reflect on the space needs and aesthetic forms required by the bodies that inhabit the space. Their work focuses on the narratives of subaltern groups that are not identified with any specific buildings or city lifestyles. Their line of enquiry has been recognised at international events such as Oslo Architecture Triennale 2016, Venice Biennale 2016 & 2018, Future Architecture 2017, XX Chile Biennial 2017 or XIV Spanish Biennial 2018.
︎ BIOGRAPHIES
Víctor Cano Ciborro
CEO & RESEARCH PROJECTS DIRECTOR
Architect and Master in Advanced Architectural Projects by ETSAM in Madrid where he is currently a PhD candidate. From 2012 to 2016 he was Postgraduate Teaching Assistant at ETSAM and in 2015 was Principal Tutor at the Architectural Association –AA- Summer School (Unit 6) in London. In 2016 and 2017 he has been Visiting Lecturer in Chile -Universidad Católica, Universidad Central, Universidad Santiago de Chile and Universidad de Valparaíso-.
His final project thesis has been awarded at the XII Spanish Biennial, and his Master Thesis won the Special Prize at the XII National Competition Archimedes 2013 for young researchers. His line of enquiry has been published in diverse global media, among them ‘ARQ 87’, ‘Dichotomy 19’, ‘MONU 27’ or ‘LOBBY 5: The Bartlett School of Architecture Magazine’. His research has been recognized at the Future Architecture Platform 2017, Spanish Pavilions in Venice Biennale 2016 (Unfinished) and 2018 (Becoming), XX Chile Biennial 2017, or Oslo Architecture Triennial 2016 among other. Victor has also worked at the ‘Gazapo & Lapayese’, ‘z4z4’ office, where he managed the project of ‘Tobogan House’, and at the ‘Andrés Jaque/Office for Political Innovation’.
Currently, he is co-founder and editor of ‘Displacements: an x’scape Journal’, CEO / Research Project Director of ‘Arquitectura Subalterna’ and Teaching & Research Fellowship at CEPT University in Ahmedabad –India-.
José Javier Cullen
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & RESEARCHER
Architect (2018) from Technical School of Architecture of Madrid (ETSAM), Creative Director, Architectural Photographer and co-founder of Arquitectura Subalterna.
Prior to Arquitectura Subalterna, he worked as project architect assistant at different offices in Madrid, has been working as graphic designer since 2009, and was member of Jesús Ulargui Architectural Projects Unit at ETSAM-Madrid (’grupo4’).
His work has been recognised in important international exhibitions such us Venice Architecture Biennale 2016 & 2018, XX Architecture and Urbanism Chile Biennale or Future Architecture 2017 and has been published in diverse international magazines like ’Archdaily’, ‘Divisare’ or ‘Arquitectura Viva’.
Currently he is based in Tenerife where he combines his work as Project Director at Egea Architects and Project Architect & Creative Director of Arquitectura Subalterna.
José de Andrés
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & RESEARCHER
Architect (2015) and Master of Advanced Architectural Design (2018) from the School of Architecture of Madrid (ETSAM), where he is currently a Ph.D. candidate.
During his graduate studies, he taught within Soriano Unit of Undergraduate Architectural Design studio.
His final degree project, ‘Learning from Las Colmenas’ started a debate about declined modern suburbs and how to activate them. It was presented at AA Summer School 2015 (Unit 6: Rafael Beneytez + Victor Cano).
He has obtained some prizes in international competitions, among them EUROPAN13 and ‘PIENSASOL’. While studying his undergraduate course, Jose was awarded a grant to be a tutor together with Atxu Amann in her class.
His work has been exhibited in some international platforms such as Venice Biennale or Oslo Architecture Triennial.
Prior to Arquitectura Subalterna, he worked for various firms in Madrid and London.
Ana Sabugo
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & RESEARCHER
Architect (2015) and Master of Advanced Architectural Design (2018) from the School of Architecture of Madrid (ETSAM), where she is currently a Ph.D. candidate. Since 2017, she works as Assistant Teacher within Iñaki Ábalos Architectural Design studio. She is also a lecturer at the Master of Architectural Communication (UPM-UCM).
She has obtained several prizes in competitions, such as a special mention in EUROPAN13 and EUROPAN14 and the third prize in ‘PIENSASOL’. Her final Project, ‘Todo sobre mi patio’ formed part of a series of conferences at AA Summer School 2015 (Unit 6: Rafael Beneytez + Victor Cano).
During her undergraduate years, she was a member of Atxu Amann’s teaching group. Her architectural work has been presented in numerous international exhibitions, including Venice Biennale and Oslo Architecture Triennial.
After having completed her Degree and worked both in Madrid and London, she combines her work at Arquitectura Subalterna and freelance architecture activities.
︎ OUR EXTERNAL COLLABORATORS
Associate Researchers
MANSI SHAH
Adjunct Assistant Professor (CEPT University. Ahmedabad. India)
ISABEL STORY
Cultural historian, MPhil Russian Studies (Cambridge University) PhD Soviet influence on Cuban Culture (The University of Nottingham)
FANI KOSTOUROU
Architect (NTUA), MAS (ETH Zurich) & PhD Candidate (Bartlett)
DANIEL OVIEDO SILVA
Historian, MA Contemporary History (UCM) & PhD Candidate (The University of Nottingham)
Architectural Competition Associates
ALEJANDRO BURGUEÑO DÍAZ
Architect (ETSAM)
SOFÍA LENS BELL
Architect (ETSAM)
ALICIA PEÑA GÓMEZ
Architect (ETSAM)
ROCÍO ROMERO RIVAS
Architect (ETSAG) & Architecture Photographer (IMAGEN SUBLIMINAL)
Contributors
PABLO ANDRÉS HERNÁNDEZ GONZÁLEZ-BARREDA
Bachelor in Law, LLM, PhD & Assistant Professor (ICADE)
RUBÉN RUEDA LASTRES
Engineer (UPM) and MaS (ETSIAE) residing in Toulouse (France)