Ronald Rael

Ronald Rael is Professor of Architecture and holds the Eva Li Memorial Chair in Architecture at the University of California Berkeley. He is affiliated with the Department of Architecture in the College of Environmental Design and also serves as a member of the art faculty in the Department of Art Practice. Rael has previously held leadership positions including Department Chair, Director of the Masters of Architecture, and Director of the Masters of Advanced Architectural Design programs.

Rael earned his Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University, where he received the William Kinne Memorial Fellowship, and his Bachelor of Environmental Design from the University of Colorado, Boulder.

Professor Rael's research connects indigenous and traditional material practices to contemporary technologies and issues. He is recognized as a design activist, author, and thought leader in the fields of additive manufacturing, borderwall studies, and earthen architecture. His work spans creative practice, academic research, and social engagement, with a focus on how architecture can address contemporary social and political challenges through innovative material applications and design interventions.

Rael directs the printFARM Laboratory (print Facility for Architecture, Research and Materials) and is co-founder of Emerging Objects, a 3D printing MAKE-tank specializing in innovations for architecture. His publications have established him as a leading voice in contemporary architectural discourse, particularly regarding sustainable building practices and the political dimensions of architectural design.

• Bakar Fellow
• Hellman Fellow
• Beazley Award for Design of the Year (2021) from the London Design Museum
• Emerging Voice by The Architectural League of New York (2014)
• Digital Practice Award of Excellence by ACADIA (2016)

Rael's creative practice, Rael San Fratello (with architect Virginia San Fratello), has gained international recognition for its innovative approach to architectural design that addresses social and political issues. His work has been featured in documentaries by The Museum of Modern Art, KQED, The New Yorker, and the Cooper Hewitt Smithsonian Design Museum. His designs and objects are included in the permanent collections of major institutions worldwide, demonstrating the cultural significance of his contributions to architectural practice.

As co-founder of Emerging Objects and the wood technology company FORUST, Rael bridges academic research with practical applications in architectural design and manufacturing. His work demonstrates how traditional materials and techniques can be reimagined through contemporary technologies to address pressing social, environmental, and political issues while maintaining aesthetic and functional excellence.