Draft:Carmelo Zappulla
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Submission declined on 7 April 2026 by Namita Tudu (talk).
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Submission declined on 30 March 2026 by Pythoncoder (talk). This draft appears to contain text generated by a large language model (such as ChatGPT). You cannot use LLMs to generate article content.
Declined by Pythoncoder 4 months ago.LLM-generated pages with certain obvious signs of being machine generated may be deleted without notice. Instead, only summarize in your own words a range of independent, reliable, published sources that discuss the subject. See the advice page on large language models for more information. | |
Carmelo Zappulla | |
|---|---|
 Carmelo Zappulla | |
| Born | 20 July 1978 Syracuse, Italy |
| Education | Polytechnic University of Catalonia; University of Palermo |
| Occupations | Architect, designer, and educator |
| Notable work | W Barcelona Hotel suites; WOW Concept Store (Madrid); Spain Pavilion – Expo 2020; CAAA Restaurant (Lucerne); Vela Stairs and Viewpoint (Barcelona) |
| Practice | External Reference |
Carmelo Zappulla is an Italian architect, designer and educator based in Barcelona, Spain. His work spans architecture, interior design, experiential design, digital fabrication, and experimental materials. His research and development projects include 3D-printed structures designed to purify air and absorb carbon dioxide.[1]
Early life and education
[edit]Zappulla was born in 1978 in Syracuse, Italy. He studied architecture at the University of Palermo and later completed a PhD in Architectural Projects at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia in Barcelona.[2][3]
Career
[edit]Zappulla is the founder and director of External Reference, a multidisciplinary architecture and design studio in Barcelona.[4]
In 2026, External Reference, led by Zappulla, designed suites at the W Barcelona Hotel, a project that AD España described as reinterpreting Barcelona's architectural heritage through organic forms and 3D-printed elements.[5] The project received a Gold Winner award at the London Design Awards.[6]
Carmelo Zappulla has designed a series of tree and plant sculptures using Pure Tech 3D technology that absorb carbon dioxide and airborne pollutants.[7][8][9][10][11]
Zappulla and his team at External Reference designed a 3D-printed artificial forest called Forest of Intelligence for the Spain Pavilion at Expo 2020 in Dubai.[12] The pavilion received the Bronze Award for exhibition design.[13]
His work with External Reference has also used digital fabrication and emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence, in hospitality and retail environments. These include the CAAA restaurant in Lucerne, Switzerland, and the La Manso store in Barcelona.[14][15]
WOW Concept in Madrid is another example of digital fabrication and experiential design in retail space led by External Reference, where Zappulla designed a series of immersive and dynamic micro-architectures across the building's floors.[16] The project spans eight floors, combining 3D-printed sculptures, interactive displays, and experiential retail.[17]
Other projects include Vela Stairs and Viewpoint, a waterfront viewpoint near the W Barcelona Hotel.[18][19]
Academic activities
[edit]Alongside his professional career, Zappulla works in architectural education and design research. He teaches architectural design at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia and serves as director of the Official Master's Degree in Experiential Interior Design at LCI Barcelona.[20][21]
Zappulla has authored and co-authored academic papers about architecture, digital fabrication, mathematical patterns in architectural design, ecological landscape, wetlands, phytodepuration, and urbanism.[22]
He has also participated as a speaker in international architecture and design programmes, including the Venice Biennale of Architecture.[23]
Awards and recognition
[edit]Zappulla's work has been recognised by programmes including Europan, The Society of British and International Interior Design, and IN/ARCH.[24][25][26] He has also served on the juries of The World Architecture Festival and FRAME Awards.[27][28]
References
[edit]- ↑ Leonelli, Laura (24 July 2025). "Así triunfa un estudio de arquitectura en tiempos de urgencia y espectáculo". AD España (in Spanish). Condé Nast. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Dr. Carmelo Zappulla". Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Alumni 2014". Departamento de Proyectos Arquitectónicos, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "External Reference: visiones fluorescentes al encuentro de la arquitectura y el diseño". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 1 March 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Qué ver en Barcelona: una guía 'insider' para no perderte ninguna novedad en la Capital Mundial de la Arquitectura". AD España (in Spanish). Condé Nast. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ "W Barcelona Suites". London Design Awards. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ "Un árbol artificial de Navidad que absorbe y fija CO2". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 16 December 2020. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Madrid Design Festival 2023 programme". Wallpaper*. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "3D-printed plant sculptures by External Reference and LaMáquina are air purifiers". Designboom. 27 June 2023. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ "Pure Plants". Barcelona Design Week. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ Leonelli, Laura (24 July 2025). "Así triunfa un estudio de arquitectura en tiempos de urgencia y espectáculo". AD España (in Spanish). Condé Nast. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Spanish Pavilion, Expo Dubai 2020". Arquitectura Viva. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ "BIE Day Ceremony of Prizes and Awards at Expo 2020 Dubai". Bureau International des Expositions. 30 March 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ "This Lucerne dining room was an AI experiment". The Spaces. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "External Reference uses 3D printing to create organic displays for La Manso store". Dezeen. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "La tienda que aspira a revolucionar la forma en la que compramos ocupa el edificio más antiguo de la Gran Vía madrileña". El País (in Spanish). 12 March 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "For Gen-Z Customers, a Retail Experience Designed Like Theater". Metropolis. 3 November 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Barcelona abre un mirador sobre el mar que une la playa y la nueva bocana". La Vanguardia (in Spanish). 30 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "El Port de Barcelona estrena un acceso directo y un mirador entre la playa de Sant Sebastià y la plaza Rosa dels Vents". Port de Barcelona (in Spanish). 30 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Dr. Carmelo Zappulla". Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Carmelo Zappulla". LCI Barcelona. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Dr. Carmelo Zappulla". Google Scholar. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "GENS Public Programme: La casa che amo. Virtual and imaginal declinations of the domestic universe". La Biennale di Venezia. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "Rail Town". Europan Europe. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "External Reference: Creating an Immersive Retail Experience, Harmonising Technology and Water". Society of British & International Interior Design. 4 December 2024. Retrieved 4 June 2026.
- ↑ "Terza edizione Premio Bar/Ristoranti/Hotel d'Autore 2017". IN/ARCH (in Italian). Retrieved 12 June 2026.
- ↑ "Carmelo Zappulla". World Architecture Festival. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
- ↑ "These 20 creatives will decide the next FRAME Awards winner: get to know them". FRAME. Retrieved 2 June 2026.
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