Contemporary Evolution of Italian Architecture
UPA Italia by Paolo Lettieri Architects brings Italian architectural culture to projects of scale and complexity across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. The practice operates from Milan and Abu Dhabi — not as a network of franchises, but as a single studio with a coherent design vision applied consistently across geographies.
Founded by Paolo Lettieri, the firm works across architecture, urbanism, and interior design, with a portfolio that ranges from cultural auditoriums and university campuses to private residences and healthcare facilities.
Design driven by necessity, resolved through craft
Every project begins with constraints — site, programme, climate, budget — and ends with architecture that makes those constraints invisible. The studio's methodology integrates design rigour with precise technical execution, managing each phase from concept through construction with direct involvement at every stage.
The portfolio includes large-scale projects in demanding contexts: a multi-purpose auditorium engineered for variable acoustic performance, a LEED Gold–certified university campus in Iraq, a waterfront leisure complex in Abu Dhabi. Complexity is not avoided — it is the starting point.
Interior architecture as an extension of the building,
not an afterthought
The studio applies the same design standards to interior environments as to the architectural shell. Spatial planning, material selection, lighting strategy, and custom detailing are developed as an integrated system — not assembled from catalogues.
Where appropriate, the practice collaborates with selected Italian manufacturers and specialist artisans, bringing craft-based production into technically demanding project environments.
Featured projects
Auditorium of VGIK
Moscow | Russian Federation
UPA Italia by Paolo Lettieri Architects was commissioned to design a multi-purpose auditorium engineered for dual acoustic performance as a cinema and a concert hall. The hall integrates an automated system of revolving acoustic panels, digitally controlled by sensors and dedicated software to alter the room's reverberation metrics based on the event type. The geometric, organic ceiling structure is mathematically optimized to ensure precise acoustic refraction and sound distribution throughout the space.
Ladies Club
Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates
Designed to integrate with its waterfront lagoon context, this master plan utilizes a fluid, organic layout inspired by floral geometries to organize its extensive programmatic requirements. The complex spans multiple specialized facilities, including an outdoor swimming pool, solarium, dining venues, a kindergarten, fitness centers, and a music school. The architectural framework balances curvilinear structural forms with high-specification natural materials to ensure durability and aesthetic cohesion.
Villa
Abu Dhabi | United Arab Emirates
This contemporary, minimalist residential villa is engineered to optimize privacy and security while maximizing coastal views. The architectural volume establishes structural balance on a rectangular plot, utilizing solid, truncated cone geometries on the street-facing elevation for privacy, contrasted with expansive glazing and continuous deep balconies on the sea-facing facade. Distributed over three levels, the layout prioritizes large-span residential spaces, integrated amenities, and dedicated wellness zones.
Global reach - An established international practice
UPA Italia coordinates a network of engineering consultants, local professionals, and specialist contractors to deliver projects across jurisdictions with differing regulatory, climatic, and cultural frameworks. The studio has completed work in Italy, the UAE, Iraq, Jordan, Switzerland, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia.
Services cover the full project cycle — architectural design, structural coordination, site supervision, and project management — with a single point of responsibility throughout.
Awards and selected publications
UPA’s international portfolio has been recognized with industry accolades, including the Arabian Property Awards, the IDA Design Awards, and selections as finalists for the LEAF Awards. The firm's built work across Europe, the Middle East, and Asia is regularly documented in peer-reviewed architectural journals, monograph books, and specialized design media.
Working on something complex?
The practice takes on projects where the brief is demanding, the context is unfamiliar, or the programme requires more than a standard solution. Use the form below to outline your project requirements and arrange an initial consultation.