Estudio Lamela is a Spanish architecture practice founded by Antonio Lamela and currently led by his son Carlos Lamela. It has established a strong international presence with offices in Madrid, Warsaw, Mexico City, and Doha. Throughout its history, the firm has completed over 1,600 projects in 32 countries, encompassing a wide range of programs and scales, from transportation infrastructure to sports facilities, corporate buildings, and complex urban developments. Its practice has been characterized by a constant adaptation to diverse cultural contexts, as well as by the integration of technical and environmental criteria into the design process.
During its early years, particularly in the early 1960s, the firm expanded its operations to southern Spain and the archipelagos, participating in the tourism development of these regions. During this period, some of the most representative buildings of contemporary Spanish architecture were designed and built. Among them, the Torres Colón office complex stands out. Located in Madrid's Plaza de Colón, it was conceived as two parallel towers elevated by an innovative suspended structural system, which made it a technical and formal benchmark within the architectural landscape of the time.
The arrival of Carlos Lamela to the firm in 1984 marked the beginning of a new phase of expansion and diversification. Under his leadership, large-scale and complex projects were undertaken, along with a growing internationalization of the practice. Among the most notable projects of this period was the expansion of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium for Real Madrid C.F., which consolidated the firm's specialization in sports architecture and large-scale infrastructure associated with mass events.
During the 1990s, Estudio Lamela gained recognition in various international competitions, winning first prizes for highly significant projects. Among their notable projects is Terminal T4 at Madrid-Barajas Airport, developed in collaboration with Richard Rogers Partnership, Initec, and TPS. It is considered one of Europe's most significant airport infrastructures due to its scale, functionality, and spatial quality. Similarly, the Telefónica Communications City project demonstrated its ability to handle large-scale corporate complexes, integrating criteria of efficiency, flexibility, and institutional representation.
Overall, Estudio Lamela's track record demonstrates a sustained practice capable of combining technical innovation, international reach, and a constant attention to the transformations of the contemporary urban landscape.
