Guillermo Fernández-Abascal

Guillermo Fernández-Abascal is a Spanish architect and Academic Fellow in Architectural Practice at the University of Sydney's School of Architecture, Design and Planning. Based in both Sydney, Australia, and Santander, Spain, he is the founding partner of the architectural practice GFA2. His work destabilizes the dichotomy between research and built architecture through diverse outputs including diagrams, exhibitions, prototypes, housing, and public buildings across the globe.

• University of Sydney, School of Architecture, Design and Planning
• Founding Partner, GFA2
• Registered Architect in Spain (COAM, Colegio Oficial de Arquitectos de Madrid)

Fernández-Abascal's research focuses on Contemporary Architecture, Australian Architecture, and the Indo-Pacific Region. His work questions the distinction between researching and designing buildings, emphasizing architectural representation as an integral part of the architectural project itself. He has contributed significantly to architectural discourse through publications that explore post-digital representation, rejecting photorealistic rendering in favor of more ambiguous and conceptually rich architectural documents.

His recent publications reveal a strong focus on architectural representation, with works examining Spanish architectural practices, Australian architecture, and the relationship between bureaucracy and built form. The publications demonstrate an interest in how architectural representation functions as both technical documentation and cultural commentary, often exploring the tension between academic rigor and popular accessibility in architectural communication.

• Finalista XVI BEAU 2023 Investigación y difusión

Fernández-Abascal teaches Induction Studio (MARC500) and several design studios in both undergraduate and postgraduate programs at the University of Sydney. His teaching approach likely reflects his practice-based research methodology, encouraging students to explore the relationship between conceptual design and built outcomes. While specific grant information isn't provided in the available materials, his extensive publication record suggests successful research funding support.

As founding partner of GFA2, Fernández-Abascal leads a practice that bridges academic research and professional architectural work, with projects spanning from the Enaire Foundation building in Santander to the Murrin Bridge Preschool and Community Hub in NSW. His practice serves as both a research laboratory and a vehicle for implementing architectural ideas in the built environment.