Guilherme Lassance

Years active

1992

Genres

architecture, urbanism, architectural theory

Biography

Guilherme Lassance is a distinguished Brazilian architect and academic, renowned for his significant contributions to urbanism and architectural theory. He holds a doctorate in Architecture from the University of Nantes and has been a Full Professor at the Faculty of Architecture and Urbanism of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (FAU-UFRJ) since 1992. His academic career has also seen him serve as a visiting professor at prestigious institutions such as Columbia University in New York and the Architectural Association School of Architecture in London.

Lassance's research and teaching focus on alternative approaches to contemporary urbanism, with a particular emphasis on the peripheral urbanization of the Global South. He directs the research group UrCA (Urbanism, Criticism and Architecture) and has been instrumental in shaping discussions around urban territory and architecture as socio-environmental actions. His work often delves into the critical analysis of modern urban planning and proposes new strategies for inclusive and resilient urban development, as seen in his co-authored book "Post-compact city: drawing out design strategies from Brasilia."

His prolific output includes co-editing the series "Readings in Theory of Architecture" and authoring/co-authoring several influential books, such as "Metropolitan Rio: guide for an architecture" and "In-Formal: urban infrastructure revisited." In 2024, he became part of Plano Coletivo, a collective tasked with curating the Brazilian Pavilion at the 19th Venice Architecture Biennale in 2025. Lassance's dedication to advancing architectural discourse and practice solidifies his position as a key figure in Brazilian academia and urban studies.