Emilio Tuñón Facts for Kids

Emilio Tuñón in 2015.

The Auditorium in León, Spain.

Emilio Tuñón Álvarez is a well-known Spanish architect. He was born on January 1, 1959, in Madrid, Spain. Emilio Tuñón is famous for designing many important buildings. In 2014, his architecture firm, Mansilla + Tuñón Architects, received a special award called the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts (Spain) from the Spanish government. This award celebrates people who have done great things in the arts.

Becoming an Architect
Starting His Own Firm
Teaching Architecture
Famous Buildings Designed
Awards and Recognition
Images for kids
See also

Becoming an Architect

Emilio Tuñón studied architecture at the ETSAM School of Architecture. He graduated in 1981. Later, in 1998, he earned his PhD. Early in his career, he worked for the Spanish government in departments related to culture and public works. For about ten years, until 1992, he worked with another famous Spanish architect, Rafael Moneo. This experience helped him learn a lot about designing buildings.

Starting His Own Firm

In 1992, Emilio Tuñón decided to start his own architecture firm. He teamed up with his friend and fellow architect, Luis Moreno Mansilla. They named their company Mansilla + Tuñón Architects. Together, they designed many unique and modern buildings across Spain and beyond. Their work is known for being creative and fitting well into its surroundings.

Teaching Architecture

Besides designing buildings, Emilio Tuñón also teaches architecture. He is a professor at the ETSAM School of Architecture, where he once studied. He has also been a visiting professor at many famous universities around the world. These include Harvard University in the United States and other schools in Switzerland, Germany, and Spain. He enjoys sharing his knowledge with new generations of architects.

Famous Buildings Designed

Mansilla + Tuñón Architects have created many impressive buildings. Here are some of their notable projects:

The Pedro Barrié de la Maza Foundation in Vigo (finished in 2005).
The Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Castilla y León (MUSAC) in León (finished in 2004). This is a modern art museum known for its colorful facade.
The Auditorium of León (finished in 2003). This building is a concert hall and cultural center.
The Madrid Regional Documentary Centre (finished in 2002).
The Fine Arts Museum of Castellón (finished in 2000).
An Indoor Swimming-Pool in San Fernando de Henares (finished in 1998).
The Archeological and Fine Arts Provincial Museum of Zamora (finished in 1996).
The Royal Collections Museum in Madrid. This large museum was completed after Luis Moreno Mansilla passed away.

Awards and Recognition

Emilio Tuñón and his firm have received many important awards for their architectural designs. These awards show how much their work is valued in the world of architecture.

Spanish Architecture Award (2003)
Mies van der Rohe Award for European Architecture for the MUSAC museum (2007)
Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts (Medalla de Oro al mérito en las Bellas Artes) (2014)
Francqui Chair from the Francqui Foundation (2014)
Spanish Architecture Award (2017)