Nasrine Seraji

C001687

Iran / Architectural Design

Professor Nasrine Seraji, AA dipl FRIBA Atelier Seraji
Architectes et Associes (ASAA) founder and principal
The University of Hong Kong-Professor and Head of the Department of Architecture


After studying at the Architectural Association and practising in London, Seraji moved to Paris in 1989 to establish her studio where architecture is treated as both a cultural debate and a critical practice. Since then, she has pursued a path constantly enriched by her simultaneous engagement in architectural practice, teaching, and research. She has lectured and exhibited her work widely in Europe and North America, as well as China and South East Asia.

Between 1993 and 2001, Seraji taught at Columbia University in New York, at the Architectural Association in London, and Princeton University. Seraji was Professor and Chair of the Department of Architecture at Cornell University from 2001 to 2005.

In 2006, she returned to the Academy of Fine Arts in Vienna where she held the position of Professor of Ecology, Sustainability and Conservation, as well as Head of the Institute for Art and Architecture through to 2012. She was appointed Dean of the Ecole Nationale Superieure d'Architecture Paris-Malaquais between 2006 and 2016.

She was centennial visiting professor at the University of Hong Kong in 2014 and 2015. She is currently Professor and Head of the Department of Architecture.

Architect of the award-winning Temporary American Centre in Paris, Seraji has completed several notable buildings and projects, including apartment buildings in Vienna, student housing in Paris and an extension to the School of Architecture in Lille, the latter were both nominated for the Mies Van der Rohe Prize. She continues to participate in competitions of varying types and complexities, ranging from urban design master plans and institutional buildings to small houses and installations.

Current projects in progress include a building complex in Paris for the Paris Transportation Authority comprised of 212 housing units and a bus depot, a kindergarten and nursery and some commercial space; competitions for student housing and affordable housing as well as large-scale urban plans in the French cities of le Rheu, and Pau. A recent housing project brought the prestigious prize of Mention de l'Equerre d'Argent to her practice in 2014.

Seraji first received the medal for Chevalier des Arts et des Letters from the Minister of Culture in France in 2006 for her role as an architect contributing to excellence in art and humanities. In 2008, she was awarded the medal of Chevalier dans l'Ordre National du 'Write by Presidential decree. In the same year she was awarded the Medaille d'Argent by the French Academy of Architecture for her contribution to academic endeavors in architecture. In July 2011, she received the medal for Chevalier de l'Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur.

In May 2016 she was promoted to the rank of Officier de l'Ordre Nationale du Write and subsequently in April 2017 she was promoted to the rank of Officier de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.