Dr. Luca Donner is an Associate Professor and Program Director of the Master of Architecture at American University in the Emirates. Previously, he held academic positions at various Universities in UAE as well as in Italy at the Universities of Ferrara, Padova, Udine and Brescia.

Dr. Donner holds a PhD in Architecture from Lusiada University of Lisbon and a Master of Architecture from IUAV University of Venice. He is a licenced Architect in Italy by the Order of Architects (OAPPCTV). Dr. Donner has over 25 years of experience in the practice and he is Co-founder of Donner Sorcinelli Architecture.

In addition, he is author of research articles and architectural criticism in which he investigates the potential of new ways of living and working. Informed by an inclusive and multidisciplinary design methodology, his approach to architecture is based on a careful consideration of culture and society, along with considerations of sustainability and environmental issues.

This design philosophy has also led Dr. Donner to win multiple times in international architecture competitions, including: Social Housing at Piazzola sul Brenta (Italy), 1st prize; Social Housing at Presina (Italy), 1st prize; International Competition “Design Beyond East and West”- Seoul, 1st prize; “International Design Competition for Modern Saudi Houses, Affordability and Sustainability”– Riyadh, 1st prize; Urban Renovation of S. Elena Historical Centre, Silea (Italy), 1st prize; Masterplan of Sansovino Area in Montebelluna (Italy), 3rd prize; Urban and Landscape Design of Cavallino-Treporti (Italy), 3rd prize; School Campus in Carbonera (Italy), 3rd prize; International Competition “Your Absolute” for a residential tower in Mississauga (Canada), Honorary Mention; International Competition “Daejeon Urban Renaissance” for a Masterplan in Daejeon (South Korea), Honorable Mention; Monitoring and Educational Center of a large-scale offshore wind farm in Maldo-ri Island (South Korea), Excellence Award.

Dr. Donner’s designs have been extensively published in international architecture magazines and books as well as exhibited at the Architecture Biennale of Venice; the Daegu Architectural Culture Biennale, the Young Italian Architects Biennial; the Architecture Center, Houston; the Architecture Foundation London; the Van Alen Institute of New York; the Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in Humlebaek; the Museum of Architecture in Moscow and the 24th UIA Tokyo Congress.

As keynote speaker, Dr. Donner has lectured at various international academic institutions and symposia. Furthermore, he has served multiple times as jury member in architecture competitions including the Exhibition Design Competition of the Korean Pavilion at Expo 2020, held in Dubai.

For his design achievements, Dr. Donner has received first prize in the Cityscape Architectural Review Award, the SAIE Selection Award, and the 20+10+X World Architecture Community Award. Furthermore, he has been recipient of an Honourable Mention in the Modern Atlanta Prize and an Acknowledgement Prize at the Holcim Awards for Sustainable Construction (MENA Region). In 2022, Dr. Donner was selected by the Korean Institute of Architects as one of the 100 Architects of the Year.