- Design Practices
About me
Dr. Izis Salvador Pinto is an Architect, Urban Planner, Engineer, and Academic with over 20 years of international experience in architecture, construction, façade engineering, and higher education. She is the founder of Architecture Innovation Studio,her own architectural practice, as well as The International Association of Architecture and Façades (IAAF), an organisation dedicated to advancing excellence in architecture and façade innovation worldwide. She is also the founder of the UK Future Built Environment Initiative, which publishes The UK Future Built Environment Report, an annual research publication examining the forces shaping architecture, construction, and the wider built environment towards 2035–2040.
She holds degrees in Architecture, Urban Planning, Engineering, and Music, and earned a PhD from the University of Westminster for her research on movable and deployable structures using ETFE cushions. Her multidisciplinary expertise bridges architectural design, engineering, research, education, and innovation, with a particular focus on the future of the built environment.
She has worked on major international projects as an architect and façade engineer with renowned firms including Zaha Hadid Architects, Buro Happold, Calatrava, Louis Vuitton Architecture, and SOM. Recognised for her excellence in design execution and attention to detail, she specialises in complex geometries, sustainable urban planning, and façades, with experience across all RIBA stages from concept to delivery.
As an activist in multidisciplinary research, Izis brings together academics, practitioners, and researchers from different fields, as well as stakeholders and communities, to advance the adoption of innovative materials and technologies while advocating for the design of accessible, safe, and socially inclusive urban environments.
External Activities
- RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) Council Member.
- Member of the RIBA and ARB (Architects Registration Board).
- Founder of Architecture Innovation Studio.
- Founder of the International Association of Architecture and Façades (IAAF).
- Full time practitioner of Architecture, Façade Engineering, and Urbanism.
- Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2012.
- RIBA Part 3 Examiner at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, RIBA, UCL, Kingston University, and LSBU.
- Professional Studies Advisor of RIBA Part 3 at the University of Cambridge.
- Doctoral Director of Studies, Supervisor, Examiner, and Chair of Examining at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David.
- Reviewer for the Scopus Q2 journal ‘Annals of Emerging Technologies in Computing’.
- Editor of the ‘International Journal of Innovative Technology and Interdisciplinary Sciences’ (IJITIS).
- Committee Member of the 1st International Conference on Industrial and Systems Engineering (ICISE) 2026 in Tirana, Albania.
- Technical Committee Member of the International Conference on Green Building and Sustainable Civil Engineering (GBSCE), Sydney, Australia 6 - 9 of December 2026.
Teaching
Izis is a dedicated educator and researcher. She taught Urban Planning and Design at the University of Westminster and currently lectures and examines RIBA Part 3 at the University of Westminster, University of Cambridge, Architectural Association, RIBA, and UCL. She is also Director of Studies and Supervisor for doctoral students. A speaker at international conferences including Harvard’s International Conference for Academic Disciplines, she publishes widely in impact journals. Her work is driven by determination, grounded in innovation, and shaped by a deep creativity that bridges design, technology, and education.
Research
Izis welcomes PhD applications from students who have interests in architectural design, architectural practice, architectural engineering, urban planning, digital design and fabrication, architectural and urban history and theory, and artificial intelligence.
Research Students
She is currently supervising the following students at the UWTSD:
Jiayi Xu, 'Improving user experience (UX) and advancing immersive design principles through advanced Virtual Reality (VR) game design based on Unreal Engine 5.5' (FT, 2023, ongoing).
Shuangjiao Cai, 'Heritage conservation and tourism development in historic districts: Three Case studies from China, Constructing an evaluation framework for collaborative development' (FT, 2023, ongoing).
Jieying Liang, 'Relational Aesthetics in Urban and Rural Renewal: Enhancing the Creative Enterprise Zones and Villages' Social Interaction and Economic Vitality in China’ (FT, 2023, ongoing).
Yi Yang, 'Design and Development of Home Office Desks for Enhancing Mental Well-Being and Work Efficiency in Compact Workspaces' (FT, 2023, ongoing, DoS).
Guobin Su ‘Reimagining the Past: Visual Patterns and Cultural Memory in Chinese Core Suffix Aesthetics’ (FT, 2023, ongoing, DoS).
Yue Yin, 'How can the influence and importance of key cultural characteristics on existing art forms, be used to inform and enhance the perceived artistic value of Artificial Intelligence painting?' (FT, 2024, ongoing, DoS).
Xiuyuan Chen, 'The Coexistence of AI and Artistic Creation: Exploring the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Artist Creation and Chinese Higher Art Education' (FT, 2024, ongoing).
Ruojin Yan 'How can the potential for intergenerational interaction in public spaces be activated through design within the context of Dong ethnic traditional culture, to promote intergenerational dialogue and reduce the sense of isolation among the elderly?' (FT, 2025, ongoing, DoS).
Sujana Acharya 'Relevance of AI-enhanced learning in developing countries. The case of postgraduate students at Pokhara University in Nepal' (FT DBA, 2025, ongoing, DoS).
Publications
For details of all my research outputs, visit my WestminsterResearch profile.