Graduated in Architecture in 2018, Leonardo Zanatta started career in Brazilian architectural scene after winning five trophies at the Saint-Gobain Sustainable Architecture Award, including the “Innovation Highlight”—a prize traditionally awarded to professionals with long-standing careers, such as Paulo Mendes da Rocha, who was also a recipient that year. This made Leonardo the youngest professional ever to receive the distinction.
With a body of work centered on experimentation, sustainability, and material research, Leonardo was also recognized by the municipality of Abu Dhabi in the international “Cool Abu Dhabi Challenge”, selected among 1,700 offices worldwide. His proposal provided a technical solution to mitigate urban heat islands affecting cities across the Middle East. At the age of 27, this achievement earned him a spot on Forbes Brasil’s list as the most promising professional in the country under 30.
In 2023, after leading the concept department at Ohtake Studio, Leonardo founded his own practice. Within just two years, the office was included in the “Casa Vogue 50”, a prestigious list published by Casa Vogue, Brazil’s leading architecture magazine, featuring the 50 most influential professionals shaping contemporary Brazilian architecture.
Now evolving beyond Leonardo’s personal identity, the studio has established itself as a collective practice with a distinguished portfolio—ranging from 150-meter-high towers on the southern coast of Brazil to furniture and lighting pieces—operating across scales, from urban planning to the design of objects.
