PhD Architect. Associate Lecturer
xabier.barrutieta@ehu.eus
Academic background
Award-winning architect, recipient of the Final Degree Award from the Higher School of Architecture of the University of the Basque Country (EHU, 2003). He has undertaken international academic placements, including the Erasmus programme at the Universität Stuttgart (Germany) and the Master’s in Territorial Design at Università della Svizzera italiana in Mendrisio (Switzerland).
After completing his doctoral courses, in 2006 he obtained the Diploma of Advanced Studies, presenting a research dissertation on climate, sustainability, and industrialised construction, accompanied by a web application. This work was awarded at the Arquia Awards by the Caja de Arquitectos, in the category of Very Young Spanish Architects.
In 2025, he defended his doctoral thesis, entitled “Positive Energy Buildings: Energy Self-Sufficiency and Photovoltaic Solar Integration”, which was awarded the distinction of Outstanding cum laude.
Research experience
He has worked as a research associate on the national project Active Ventilated Façades and is member of the CAVIAR research group. He has participated in various research projects related to Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (NZEB).
His design-oriented research has been recognised with numerous awards, including first prize in the international Europan 10 competition for the Teruel Fusión project, the Egurtek Basque Quality Award for the use of timber, and recognition in the Lamp Lighting Awards for the comprehensive renovation and rehabilitation of the Church of Santa María la Real in Soraluze.
He has published several articles in Q1 scientific journals on advanced design of energy-efficient and energy-generating buildings. His research focuses on the conscious dialogue between eco-technologies and architectural design, explored across different scales.
Teaching experience
He has served as an honorary lecturer of the Projects III course at the Higher Technical School of Architecture at EHU. Currently, he teaches trilingually in the Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture, covering subjects such as Construction, Industrialised Construction, and Innovation Management.
In addition, he has participated as a lecturer in master’s programmes and specialised courses across various European countries, and has been invited as a speaker on sustainability by the architectural associations of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore.
Professional experience
With over 15 years of professional experience, he has carried out projects and collaborations with numerous architecture firms, as well as with public and private organisations.
He has worked at the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa in the field of spatial planning,served as R&D Manager in urban planning at AH Asociados in Pamplona, and held the position of Director of Urban Design and Landscape at the Fundación Metrópoli in Madrid, where he collaborated on successful projects with international offices such as Foster + Partners and Arup. From his own practice in Donostia-San Sebastián, he develops distinctive projects in the fields of architecture, urbanism, and eco-technologies. His work has been recognised at the Build Architecture Awards – Basque Country, where he was named Architect of the Year 2016 and his office awarded Most Innovative Architecture Office 2018.
