Alessandro Cugola is an Italian architect. He has studied in Milan, Berlin, Copenhagen and Brussels. His practice explores performative spaces, both independently and through the multidisciplinary collective Every Island, which he co-founded in 2020. Looking at spaces as infrastructures and the performative nature and impact of any design, he has defined a practice at the intersection of art, architecture and performance at various and different scales.
Through his work with Every Island, he investigates space as a tool to facilitate transitions of roles, stages and meanings, interrogating through its use the patterns and dynamics inherited and sedimented in our cities and language. The collective's works have been presented at various institutions, including the Venice Biennale, BOZAR in Brussels, Mudam in Luxembourg and Santarcangelo dei Teatri in Santarcangelo di Romagna.
Alessandro Cugolas' practice is currently based in Maastricht, where he is resident at the Jan Van Eyck Academy, and in Brussels, where Every Island is established.
Please inquire at info@alessandrocugola.com to request a complete portfolio.
Independent Work
I’d rather be eaten, Villa Filanda Antonini (IT), 2023
Caro, A thing of Softness, exhibitionwith Joseph Rigo, at Superattico, Milan (IT), 2022
Rimani if you can, Scenography for performance by Caterina Danzico and Moses Ward at ‘The Place Theater’, London (UK), 2022
Domestic Desires, Curatorial Project Proposal for the German Pavilion at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia, (DE, IT) with Daryan Knoblauch, 2022
Three Interrupted Trials, Installation at Am Ende des Tages, Düsseldorf (DE), 2021
Der Magen Europas II, exhibition design and production with works
by Jurgen Ots and Christoph Westermeier, curated by Harris Giannouras, at Rotonde58, Brussels (BE), 2021
Work with Every Island
A Comparative Dialogue Act, Luxembourg Pavilion at the 60th Venice Art Biennale, with Andrea Mancini, curated by Joel Valabrega (MUDAM), 2024
The day I come to you, it will all come crumbling down, entrance Pavilion, with Flore Fockedey for Horst Art, Architecture & Music 2024, Vilvoorde
The seed that holds your armor is watertight, Sculpture for Horst Art, Architecture & Music 2024, Vilvoorde
Scaffolded Skies, rooftop installation at BOZAR, Brussels, 2023
Shifting Territories, in collaboration with Bebe Books, traveling installation at Netwerk Aalst and Marais Wiels;
Landscapes where we met, flag for 019, Cas-co, Leuven;
The Body is the Building is the Body, Installation and performance at Cas-Co, Leuven;
Mudam After Party, Scenography for the rave at Museum Night, MUDAM, 2022
Off Temple, installation at Santarcangelo Theaters Festival, Santarcangelo di Romagna (IT), and Nightshift, Oostende, with Bebe Books;
The Smallest gay* bar in the world, installation at Kunstencentrum VIERNULVIER, Gent, with Bebe Books;
‘Welcome: (a) ceremony’, installation and performance, at Stam Europa Brussels (BE), 2021
Education
2019 Master in Architecture, Sint Lukas Brussels (BE);
2018 Exchange Programme, KADK, Copenhagen (DK);
2015 Bachelor Building architecture, Politecnico di Milano, Milan (IT);
2014-2015 Exchange Programme, Universität der Künste, Berlin (DE);
Honors, Mentions
Inndepandance Residency, Furka (CH), curated by Johanna Roth
and Universum Carrousel Journey, 2024 ETH s-Studio Jan de Vylder
Jan van Eyck Academy: Selected as a fellow for a 11 Months Residency, 2025
Emerging Talent Grant: Awarded the “Beurs opkomend talent” by the Flemish Government for promising artistic talent, 2022
RIBA Silver Medal (2019): “Eternal Holiday” graduation project by
Alessandro Cugola shortlisted for the RIBA Silver Medal, 2019
Curatorial Work and Publications
Reversing the Immanence of Architecture as Identity Shaping’ essay part of ‘Claiming presence- Contemporary cultural tools for identity making’, edited by Federico Rudari for Reuters, 2025
Unlearning Brussels’ , curatorial project for Brussels 2021 Architecture week, with Dieter Leyssen, Roxane le Grelle and Chloe Nachtegael;
Alessandro Cugola is an Italian architect. He has studied in Milan, Berlin, Copenhagen and Brussels. His practice explores performative spaces, both independently and through the multidisciplinary collective Every Island, which he co-founded in 2020. Looking at spaces as infrastructures and the performative nature and impact of any design, he has defined a practice at the intersection of art, architecture and performance at various and different scales.
Through his work with Every Island, he investigates space as a tool to facilitate transitions of roles, stages and meanings, interrogating through its use the patterns and dynamics inherited and sedimented in our cities and language. The collective's works have been presented at various institutions, including the Venice Biennale, BOZAR in Brussels, Mudam in Luxembourg and Santarcangelo dei Teatri in Santarcangelo di Romagna.
Alessandro Cugolas' practice is currently based in Maastricht, where he is resident at the Jan Van Eyck Academy, and in Brussels, where Every Island is established.
Please inquire at info@alessandrocugola.com to request a complete portfolio.
Independent Work
I’d rather be eaten, Villa Filanda Antonini (IT), 2023
Caro, A thing of Softness, exhibitionwith Joseph Rigo, at Superattico, Milan (IT), 2022
Rimani if you can, Scenography for performance by Caterina Danzico and Moses Ward at ‘The Place Theater’, London (UK), 2022
Domestic Desires, Curatorial Project Proposal for the German Pavilion at the 18th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia, (DE, IT) with Daryan Knoblauch, 2022
Three Interrupted Trials, Installation at Am Ende des Tages, Düsseldorf (DE), 2021
Der Magen Europas II, exhibition design and production with works
by Jurgen Ots and Christoph Westermeier, curated by Harris Giannouras, at Rotonde58, Brussels (BE), 2021
Work with Every Island
A Comparative Dialogue Act, Luxembourg Pavilion at the 60th Venice Art Biennale, with Andrea Mancini, curated by Joel Valabrega (MUDAM), 2024
The day I come to you, it will all come crumbling down, entrance Pavilion, with Flore Fockedey for Horst Art, Architecture & Music 2024, Vilvoorde
The seed that holds your armor is watertight, Sculpture for Horst Art, Architecture & Music 2024, Vilvoorde
Scaffolded Skies, rooftop installation at BOZAR, Brussels, 2023
Shifting Territories, in collaboration with Bebe Books, traveling installation at Netwerk Aalst and Marais Wiels;
Landscapes where we met, flag for 019, Cas-co, Leuven;
The Body is the Building is the Body, Installation and performance at Cas-Co, Leuven;
Mudam After Party, Scenography for the rave at Museum Night, MUDAM, 2022
Off Temple, installation at Santarcangelo Theaters Festival, Santarcangelo di Romagna (IT), and Nightshift, Oostende, with Bebe Books;
The Smallest gay* bar in the world, installation at Kunstencentrum VIERNULVIER, Gent, with Bebe Books;
‘Welcome: (a) ceremony’, installation and performance, at Stam Europa Brussels (BE), 2021
Education
2019 Master in Architecture, Sint Lukas Brussels (BE);
2018 Exchange Programme, KADK, Copenhagen (DK);
2015 Bachelor Building architecture, Politecnico di Milano, Milan (IT);
2014-2015 Exchange Programme, Universität der Künste, Berlin (DE);
Honors, Mentions
Inndepandance Residency, Furka (CH), curated by Johanna Roth
and Universum Carrousel Journey, 2024 ETH s-Studio Jan de Vylder
Jan van Eyck Academy: Selected as a fellow for a 11 Months Residency, 2025
Emerging Talent Grant: Awarded the “Beurs opkomend talent” by the Flemish Government for promising artistic talent, 2022
RIBA Silver Medal (2019): “Eternal Holiday” graduation project by
Alessandro Cugola shortlisted for the RIBA Silver Medal, 2019
Curatorial Work and Publications
Reversing the Immanence of Architecture as Identity Shaping’ essay part of ‘Claiming presence- Contemporary cultural tools for identity making’, edited by Federico Rudari for Reuters, 2025
Unlearning Brussels’ , curatorial project for Brussels 2021 Architecture week, with Dieter Leyssen, Roxane le Grelle and Chloe Nachtegael;