Juan José Castellón is an Architect (ETSA Barcelona, 2003), a Master in Emergent Technologies & Design (Architectural Association London, 2011), and a Doctor of Sciences from the Swiss Institute of Technology (ETH Zurich, 2018). 

 

Castellón's research focuses on innovative material processes and structural systems in architecture. Through his current work at the University of Miami  (USA) and his collaborative practice, xmade, in Basel (Switzerland) and Barcelona (Spain), he explores the experimental design and materialization of ecological urban infrastructures and building envelopes. 

 

His research output includes structural and material prototypes, installations, and peer-reviewed articles and publications, receiving international awards such as the “Crossroads Prize 2021” by the Seoul Biennale of Architecture, the “Forge Award 2024” (finalist) by the American Institute of Steel Construction, and the “ECC Award 20205” (shortlisted) by the European Cultural Center.

 

As co-founder and co-director of xmade Switzerland, he has been part of the design and development of projects by xmade in collaboration with renowned international practices. Some of these projects, have been broadly published and acknowledged with international awards such as the "Korean Architecture Excellence Award 2019", the "Fritz-Höger-Award 2020", the “Prix Versailles 2025” and the “Holcim Foundation Award 2025.” 

 

As an independent architect, Castellón has collaborated with international firms such as FOA (London), Abalos & Herreros (Madrid), SHoP Architects (New York), and Herzog & de Meuron (Basel). Before joining the University of Miami, he taught at the Rice University School of Architecture, the ETH Zurich and the Barcelona Institute of Architecture (BIArch).