Manuel Collado Arpia is PhD architect, founder of the Madrid based architectural offices: Manholo 2017, Mi5 architects 1999-2015 and its virtual sister Mi5VR 2014-2015. He founded in 2017 the Manholo design firm to combine his project experience with his continuous holistic research on alternative forms of energy that improve our integration into the spaces we inhabit. Unit Master at the Architectural Association in London 2011-2018, teaching regularly at the UAH Public School of Architecture in Madrid and also recently at the Master Program of Digital Arts and Experience Design at the IED (Madrid). He has won and built several competitions like:
• Annual Architectural Design Award and Annual Outstanding Designer Award of the 8th. 2010 Modern Decoration International Media Prize. Schenzen China.
• Nominated for the 2013 Mies Van Rohe Award Europe
• First Prize: Competition “80 social housing in San FranciscoJavier II” Madrid 1999.
• First Prize exaequo: Competition “Planning and developement Calpe´s seafront”. Calpe 1999.
• First Prize: Competition “Planning and developement of the Playa del Inglés seafront”. Gran Canaria.
• Nominated for the 2013 Mies Van Rohe Award Europe
• First Prize: Competition “80 social housing in San FranciscoJavier II” Madrid 1999.
• First Prize exaequo: Competition “Planning and developement Calpe´s seafront”. Calpe 1999.
• First Prize: Competition “Planning and developement of the Playa del Inglés seafront”. Gran Canaria.
His work has been published in a wide range of media such as Dezeen, ArchDaily, Icon, Domus, Arquitectura Viva, Bauwelt, Mark, El País, etc. Since 2003 he has taught at various public and private institutions, including Architectural Polytechnic Universities as UAH Madrid, UA Alicante, UCJC Madrid, the AA Summer School. He has also participated in several juries, lectures and exhibitions such as the Venice Biennale, RIBA London, Architectural Association, IVAM Valencia and GD-NYU, Korean Institute of Architects, IAAC Barcelona etc; and he has been selected recently for the Off Biennale in Venice, as one of the global practices offering new alternatives to a self referential architecture. He obtained his PhD at ETSAM Madrid in 2013 with a thesis “From the Psychedelia to the Curtains of XXI Century”. Since 2000 deeply engaged with diverse holistic practices, like Aikido as an instructor, Katsuguen Undo, Zinheng Qigong and meditation.
