Deborah Lopez Lobato

Deborah Lopez Lobato is an Associate Professor (Teaching) at The Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London. She serves as Co-Director of the Public Programme and Year 3 Coordinator for the Architecture MSci program. Her academic career includes previous roles as Lecturer (Teaching), Teaching Fellow, and Graduate Design Tutor at UCL, as well as Adjunct Professor at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok and Design Tutor at the University of Tokyo.

Her educational background includes:

• Master's of Engineering in Architecture from the University of Tokyo (2014-2016)
• Master in Architecture from Universidad Europea de Madrid (2005-2012)
• Fine Arts degree from Universidad Europea de Madrid (2005-2011)
• Licensed Architect from Universidad Europea de Madrid (since 2012)

Professor Lopez Lobato's research explores the intersection of architecture with gaming, climate adaptation, and material innovation. Her work focuses on sustainable design approaches, particularly through the innovative use of unconventional materials like human hair, and the development of community-focused architectural solutions for climate crisis response. She investigates how gamification can transform architectural design processes and public engagement with the built environment, creating interactive installations that address environmental challenges while fostering community participation. Her research methodology combines theoretical exploration with practical implementation through public installations that engage communities directly with architectural concepts.

Her recent publications demonstrate a clear trajectory toward integrating digital technologies with ecological concerns, particularly through gaming mechanics applied to architectural design. The research shows increasing focus on material innovation, especially with waste materials like human hair, and community-driven design solutions for climate adaptation. Her work bridges theoretical exploration with practical implementation, often through public installations that engage communities directly with architectural concepts.

Her notable achievements include:

• Selected - Bienal Iberoamericana de Diseño - Everywhere and Nowhere (2022)
• Finalist for Arquia Proxima Awards 2022
• EMERGENT ARCHITECT COAM AWARDS 2020
• Selected to Participate at the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2021
• Selected to Participate at the Spanish Pavilion for the Venice Biennale 2021

Professor Lopez Lobato actively mentors students through various design units and thesis projects at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has coordinated the Year 3 Architecture MSci program and serves as Admissions Tutor for the Cinematic and Video Game Programme. Her teaching emphasizes research through design methodologies, particularly exploring the relationship between physical and digital spaces. She co-founded Pareid Architecture SL, which serves as both a professional practice and research platform for her innovative design approaches.

Through Pareid Architecture SL, which she co-founded in 2018, Lopez Lobato leads a collaborative team that bridges academic research with professional practice. The studio has developed several notable installations including "Hairarium" and "Hairy Ecologies" that explore material innovation, and "On Loop" which transformed a mining village in Spain through community-focused design. Her work frequently appears in international exhibitions and biennales, demonstrating the global impact of her research.