Carla Sofia Leitao

Born in 1975 in Lisbon/Portugal.

She graduated from the Architecture School of Lisbon and obtained a MS in Advanced Architectural Design from Columbia University.

Carla Leitao is a professor at Cornell University (NY) and has taught and co-taught architecture studios in Columbia University (NYC), Cornell University (NY), University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia), PRATT Institute (Brooklyn).

She was co-founder of a|Um Studio in NYC (2003) and of Umasideia (1999) in Lisbon, Portugal.

Selected projects: “Mood Houses” (built 2004) in Birre, Portugal; “Lagar House”(built 2003) in Cimbres, Portugal; “House for Tarkovsky” (1st Prize, 2002); “Visibility” (National Award – UIA competition 2003, Lisbon); “Spaced” (colaboration on short film by Catarina Simoes – 2005).

Articles in print and internet and several co-editions including “City Fragment, Beijing, 2003.
Grants: Fundação Luso-Americana (Lisbon, 2000), Honor Award for Excellence in Design (GSAPP, 2002), Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize (GSAPP, 2002); Academy Schloss Solitude artist in residence (2004).

a|Um STUDIO’s current work includes residential projects and new media installations in Europe and the US; the recent interactive cinema installation “SUTURE” at SCIArc and TELIC galleries in Los Angeles; a proposal to the MAK Schindler Foundation Vertical Garden Competition (invited); script, concept and design work for ORNAMENT, an online massively multiplayer game/film/graphic novel; and urban design and architecture competitions such as Turku/Finland, UIA Celebration of Cities (National Award) and Museum for Nam June Paik.

Research grant of the Fundação Luso-Americana (Lisbon, 2000), Honor Award for Excellence in Design (Columbia University, 2000), Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize (Columbia University, 2002)