About

I’m Virginia Durán, a licensed Architect and Urban Planner from Madrid, Spain. I studied at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, and Università degli Studi Roma Tre in Rome and I currently live in London.

Over the past decade, I’ve explored architecture in more than forty countries and created over fifty architectural guides and maps, which I share freely on my blog. I’m also the author of a published architecture guide to London, and I’m currently working on the next book in the series, focused on New York. My work is driven by a passion for understanding how the built environment shapes our societies and how thoughtful design can improve the way we live.

Alongside my writing and research, I consult with cities and organisations on architecture and urban development, helping them rethink how we design for people and place. On weekends, I lead private architectural tours, sharing the stories behind some of the world’s most remarkable buildings and urban spaces.

My mission is to map the world’s architecture and promote a more responsible, informed approach to building the cities of the future — grounded in what we can learn from the past.

144 thoughts on “About”

  2. Hola Virgina,

    Te escribimos de una empresa inmobiliaria de alto standing en Madrid.

    Hemos visto una foto tuya que nos gustaría utilizar en nuestro perfil en Facebook para un post promocionado. No sabemos si la foto es tuya propia o si te la ha cedido su autor.

    ¿Podrías ponerte en contacto conmigo porfavor? para poder así comentarte de qué foto se trata..

    eduardo.noya@engelvoelkers.com

    Un saludo y gracias,

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hello there,
      Thanks so much for your kind words. The good thing is that you can always return to London and experience these sites 😀
      I go from time to time to London because my sister lives there, I’m lucky 😉

      Like

      Reply

  7. Hola Virginia, te sigo desde hace mucho tiempo, quisiera conocerte personalmente y conversar sobre lo que esta haciendo. No encuentro tu correo, no se si estas en Madrid ahora mismo, yo estoy en Madrid. Os sigo por instagram, mi usuario es velascoche, sígueme por allí para escribirte por mensaje directo e intercambiar nuestros datos de contacto.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. Pingback: 3 DAYS 3 QUOTES CHALLENGE – DAY 3 | 4 Year Old Adult

  10. I stumbled upon your blog recently, and am extremely glad that I did! It is really good to read all your blogs on the cities of the world. You bring in a very different perspective – I am going to use your guides to take a deeper look at the cities which I plan to visit in the future. Thank you for your inspiration and keep up the stellar job!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply

    • Hello! Thanks so much for your kind words, they made my day 🙂
      I love traveling and getting to know diverse cultures, that’s why I make these guides, to better understand the locals in their context of each city. If you find any mistakes or outdated information please let me know. Any cities you’re planning to visit soon?

      Like

      Reply

  11. Pingback: Virginia Duran’s amazing blog site – Sonali K Gaikwad

  12. Pingback: 10 Sites To Take The Best Skyline Pictures in Bangkok | Virginia Duran Blog

  13. Virginiaa im a student from Thailand I love your blog and Im on travelling solo backpack in Europe and i did all of Your place in Lisbon and it’s reallyyy cooll Thx q so much for such this perfect website and gorgeous … Colour design everythingg 🙂
    Ps . I would like to write my own blog but I dont know how to start .. If You have any recommendation or any website can i write my blog for beginner😅😆😆
    Thank you to you Virginiaa You are my Idol
    Mint

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hello friend! How did you like Lisbon? Are you still backpacking around Europe? Thanks for your encouraging words, they made my day 🙂

      Start with WordPress, so easy and free. Choose a topic you love and just start blogging 😀

      Lots of love, Virginia

      Like

      Reply

  14. Yesss now im still backpack in europe and i did in Madrid also follow your route hahah you are such a cool
    Girlll everrr Virginiaa I loveee youu ☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️☺️ I wish if we can meet somewhere around the world and if you come to bangkok, Thailand please let me know i will b glad to show you aroynd too

    Like

    Reply

  15. Pingback: 10 Sites To Take The Best Skyline Pictures in Dubai | Virginia Duran Blog

  17. Hello Virginia! My name is Etienne and I am a graphic designer based in Vancouver BC Canada. I would like to ask you a question re: one of the images you have used on your “10 sites to take the best skyline pictures in San Francisco” post. I have tried to find an email address but was not able to. Would it be possible to reach out when you can? Many thanks and have a great day! E.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hi Doug, it sounds very cool. Definitely next time I am in the Bat Area I’d give you a ring. Thank you.

      ps. hope you like the PDF Architectour sample

      Like

      Reply

    • Thanks for your kind words Marcin! I love doing these maps and sharing my favorite spots with the world is the least I could do to give more exposure to the good architecture there is in the world.

      Let me know how you find Boston and New York 😉

      Like

      Reply

  22. Ok. Sure I would.

    Doing maps is very important. Especially in Japan, where the buildings are very hard to find and identify. I plan to do few mines after my visit to Japan. I think people should share, and let the other experience the architecture in person. It is really a pity if you were there and just missed a great building next block or behind the corner… I hope you know what I mean.

    Since last one and half year I have travelled quite a lot, and – as being interested in architecture – I did a lot of photographs. If you are interested visit my photo-bog on https://fabrzezicki.wordpress.com/

    Like

    Reply

  23. Being quite experienced urban explorer I totally agree with you about the virtual maps (as you see, I used yours a lot), but do not agree with the idea of printed paper guide. I just think it is obsolete. I have used those printed guides a lot. They usually end up quite heavy and unwieldy. After walking 10-12 miles a day a weight is something that becomes really the issue. Maybe some people would benefit from this form of a guide/sketchbook, but I would always prefer to use the phone. It’s lighter and tells you your current position. Anyway, good luck with you project.

    I really like your sketches.

    Like

    Reply

  26. hola desde Toulouse(Tolosa), Francia! glad to have come across your blog, tons of inspiration and good luck in all your present(and future!) endeavours… con amistad y hasta lproxima, guapa! 🙂

    Like

    Reply

  27. Hi Virginia! Happy to have found your blog! I like your blog and your style. În altă ordine de idei, sunteți un minunat peregrin prin lume cu pasiunea călătoriilor dar și o misiune certă (de cartografiere și percepții noi, inovatoare), îmi place. Un salut cald și toate cele bune !

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  28. Pingback: 23 Spots You Shouldn’t Miss in Zürich If You Love Architecture | Virginia Duran

  29. Hola Virginia ! te acabo de descubrir- Quisiera saber si hay una versión de tu blog en Español, ya que si bien yo hablo Inglés, quisiera recomendarlo a personas que no lo hablan. Saludos desde Córdoba, Argentina

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hola Liliana, un gusto saludarte. Desgraciadamente escribo todo en inglés pero es verdad que es muy visual y a veces no hace falta entender todo. Te mando un abrazo desde Londres 🙂

      Like

      Reply

  30. Pingback: 23 Spots You Shouldn’t Miss in Amsterdam If You Love Architecture | Virginia Duran

  31. Pingback: 23 Spots You Shouldn’t Miss in Barcelona If You Love Architecture | Virginia Duran

  33. Pingback: 10 of The Prettiest Places in Zürich | Virginia Duran

  34. Hello there,
    I am a Thai architect. I have just read your article “Bangkok City Guide: 23 Places to See in Thailand’s Capital” on website ArchDaily; which I found some information wrong. I presume that you may have been confused with other projects or got it wrong from your source.

    The project, Tree House Bangkok, was not designed by Duangrit Bunnag. The architects of this project are Mr.Nuntapong Yindeekhun and Mr.Bunphot Wasukree, who are my school friends. It will be nice for you to doublecheck my info with the local magazine Baan Lae Suan or with the original owner.

    I hope you will find my comment here and fix the credit of the project.

    Sincerely,

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Hi,
      Thank you kindly for letting me know about a mistake. I’ll correct it tonight and will let ArchDaily know too so they can fix it on their website as well. Thanks for taking the time to read the article and send me this feedback. Please if you find any other mistakes, let me know.

      Best, Virginia

      Like

      Reply

        • I fixed this information on my article and notified ArchDaily too. Since they’re a big digital medium, you should expect the problem to be fixed within a couple of days. Again, many thanks for letting me know 🙂

          Like

  35. Pingback: 10 of The Prettiest Places in Lisbon | Virginia Duran

  36. Pingback: 10 of The Prettiest Places in Basel | Virginia Duran

  37. Pingback: 12 Colorful Buildings Brightening Up London | Virginia Duran

  38. Pingback: 11 Libraries Which You Would Love to Study In | Virginia Duran

  39. Pingback: Author’s Recognition Award – The Travelling Diary of a Dippy-Dotty Girl

  41. Pingback: The 12 Most Iconic Buildings in Zurich | Virginia Duran

  42. I am glad I see your website recommended by a tour member of our group which specialized in modern architecture in Copenhagen.
    If I am correct you used to have a site a few years ago and because of you my husband and I went to Hadid’s MAXX.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      • We loved Hadid’s MAXXI. People used to say to me, when visit Rome, why look for modern architecture… ha ha. There is also Richard Meier ‘s Ara Pacis Museum that is 100% worth a visit too.

        Liked by 1 person

        Reply

        • Indeed! It’s a fantastic piece of architecture, and one of Zaha’s best in my opinion. The Ara Pacis as you mention is well worth a visit too! Can’t wait to return to Rome.

          Like

Leave a reply to da-AL Cancel reply