The Temporary American Centre in Paris, completed in 1991, established Nasrine Seraji as a distinctive voice in contemporary urban architecture. Born in Tehran in 1957, she has maintained a career that spans multiple continents, balancing the rigors of professional practice with a dedicated pursuit of architectural research and pedagogy at global institutions.
Professional Trajectory and Paris Studio
After completing studies at the Architectural Association in London, Seraji moved to Paris in 1989 to open her own studio. She frames architecture as a dynamic cultural debate rather than a static discipline. Her portfolio includes diverse projects such as the 2003 student housing in Paris and the 2006 extension to the Lille School of Architecture, with the latter receiving a Mies Van der Rohe Prize nomination. In 2017, she oversaw the completion of Big Heavy Beautiful, a complex for the Paris Transportation Authority featuring over 200 housing units.
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Seraji has held significant teaching roles across the world. She taught at Columbia University and Princeton University before serving as Chair of the Department of Architecture at Cornell University from 2001 to 2005. Her academic leadership includes directing an architecture school at the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna and serving as Dean of the École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture Paris-Malaquais. Currently, she holds professorships at University College Dublin and Wenzhou-Kean University.
Distinctions and Professional Service
The French government has recognized Seraji’s contributions to arts and architecture on several occasions. She received the Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres in 2006 and the Chevalier de l'Ordre National du Merite in 2008. By 2016, she was promoted to Officier de l'Ordre national du Mérite and, in 2017, became an Officier des Arts et des Lettres. She was also elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2018.
Fast facts
- Born: 1957, Tehran, Iran
- Citizenship: Iran
- Current Position: Professor, University College Dublin
- Notable project: Big Heavy Beautiful, Paris
- Royal Institute of British Architects: Elected Fellow 2018
- French Honours: Officier de l'Ordre national du Mérite
Questions readers ask
Where has Nasrine Seraji taught architecture?
She has held academic positions at Columbia University, Princeton University, Cornell University, the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna, the University of Hong Kong, and University College Dublin.
What is the status of her architectural practice?
Nasrine Seraji continues to practice, having established her studio in Paris in 1989. Her work includes residential, institutional, and urban planning projects across Europe and Asia.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour
- Knight of the National Order of Merit
