Francesco Proto

Dr Francesco Proto is a Senior Lecturer in Architecture at Oxford Brookes University’s School of Architecture. He holds dual architectural registration in the UK (ARB, RIBA) and Italy (Ordine degli Architetti). His career spans international architectural competitions with Dominique Perrault Architects, including high-profile projects like the London 2012 Aquatics Centre and St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre. Proto bridges practice and academia, emphasizing critical theory’s role in architecture education. He leads research on psychoanalysis, philosophy, and post-humanism in architecture, co-founding the Institute for the Psychoanalytic Study of Architecture (IPSA) and the transdisciplinary 'Singular Strategies' research group.

Education includes a Summa Cum Laude degree from Sapienza University of Rome, an MA in Architecture and Critical Theory, and a PhD in Architecture and Visual Culture from the University of Nottingham. His scholarly work integrates art, music, and design, showcased in exhibitions at the Venice Architecture Biennale and Hong Kong International Arts Fair. Proto’s publications span journals like *The Journal of Architecture* and *Architecture and Culture*, with books including *Baudrillard for Architects* and *Mass Identity Architecture*.

Research focuses on post-WWII architectural debates, Baudrillard’s urban theories, and Lacanian psychoanalysis in design. He collaborates globally with institutions like Columbia University and the University of Paris IX. Teaching spans history/theory modules and design studios, advocating for critical synthesis of arts/humanities and technological sciences. Proto currently supervises PhD candidates and develops research proposals on topics ranging from avant-garde collage to post-human urbanism.