Board Director
Dott Arch, AA MArch, Imperial MBA, ARB
London, UK
Gianluca Racana
Photograph by Frederic Aranda ©
Gianluca joined ZHA in 2000 to lead the MAXXI: National Museum of XXI Century Arts in Rome, winner of the 2010 RIBA Stirling Prize. Since then, he has directed major transformative projects across Australia, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, including the CityLife Masterplan and Generali Tower in Milan, the new Western Sydney International Airport, the King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station in Riyadh and the new Aarhus Stadium in Denmark.
Gianluca oversees both the architectural and commercial performance of designs, ensuring alignment with client objectives and ZHA’s standards. He plays a critical role in fostering strong relationships across multidisciplinary teams, integrating diverse professional contributions to deliver innovative solutions. A ZHA board member since 2013, he contributes to the firm’s strategic direction and leadership, while fostering integration, innovation, and best practices across the studio.
In his practice, Gianluca focuses on strategies that enhance energy efficiency, user experience, and long-term building performance, while promoting inclusive urban environments that reduce environmental impact and serve as catalysts for positive social change.
Photograph by Trevor Mein
Featured Projects
From Italy’s first national institution dedicated to contemporary creativity, to an airport guided by sustainable principles, discover highlights of Gianluca's notable projects at ZHA.
Photograph by Hufton + Crow
Generali Tower - Shopping Centre (Podium Interior - lower ground floor)
Gianluca studied architecture at the ETSAB in Barcelona, the Columbia University in New York, and ‘La Sapienza’ University in Rome, where he graduated with Honours. He earned a Master’s in Architecture and Urbanism from the Design Research Laboratory (DRL) at the Architectural Association (AA) in London and completed an MBA from the Imperial College Business School in London, with a thesis in infrastructure finance.
Gianluca has lectured widely on urban design, architecture and sustainable design strategies, addressing academic and professional audiences worldwide. He has also curated the Rizzoli publication documenting the journey of the MAXXI project.
Gianluca speaks four languages and enjoys practicing them through cinema, theatre and reading. His interests include playing the guitar, sailing, practicing yoga and tennis, and travelling with his family.
Projects
Explore a selection of projects Gianluca has contributed to since joining ZHA.
Photograph by David Bombelli
City Life Milano Residential Complex
Residential
The Residential plot is composed of 7 linear buildings set along a continuous path around two land areas: Rc1, including buildings C1- C2-C3 and Rc2 with buildings C4-C5-C6-C7. The land areas are divided by a strip of public park.
Photograph by Hufton + Crow
Generali Tower
Offices
Tall Buildings
Generali Tower is within the CityLife masterplan that has redeveloped Milan’s abandoned trade fair grounds following the fair’s relocation to Rho Pero in 2005.
Photograph by Hufton + Crow
Transport + Infrastructure
KAFD Metro Station will serve as a key interchange on the new network for the Blue Line (Line 1) with the terminus of the Yellow Line to the airport (Line 4) and the Purple Line (Line 6) as well as a skybridge connecting to the local KAFD monorail.
Courtesy of ZHA, render by Negativ
Masterplans
The masterplan re-establishes and reinforces the links with the Port of Tallinn and the Old Town, as well as the links between the city and the sea; providing connectivity from the ferry and cruise terminals to the city centre, and at the same time creating an integrated new neighbourhood for the people of Tallinn.
Render by Negativ
Transport + Infrastructure
A multi-modal transport hub for the city’s commuters as well as international rail passengers and air travellers using the adjacent Tallinn Airport, the Ülemiste Passenger Terminal is designed as a connecting bridge linking together districts of Tallinn currently separated by the railway tracks that dissect the city.
Courtesy of ZHA, render by Negativ
Transport + Infrastructure
ZHA’s ‘Green Connect’ proposal for Vilnius Railway Station creates an integrated transportation hub for the 21st century with new civic spaces enveloped by nature
Render by Negativ
Sports
The team comprising ZHA working with architecture, engineering consultancy Sweco and landscape architects Tredje Natur has won the competition to build the new Aarhus football stadium in Denmark.
Offices
Integrated within the Vilnius City Plan and the popular public square adjacent to the site, Business Stadium Central will be a new gathering place for the city.
Render by Atchain
Residential
Comprised of 293 apartments offering panoramic views of Qetaifan Bay and the Lusail skyline, The Grove has been designed with its waterfront promenade as the heart of the community.
Render by XUniverse
Hospitality
Residential
The Alba is a new US$1.9 billion mixed-use beachfront development designed by ZHA for Omniyat on the Eastern Crescent of Palm Jumeirah with panoramic views of Dubai’s coast and skyline.
Render by X UniverseCG, courtesy of MoHUP
Masterplans
Designed by ZHA, the $1.3bn Al Khuwair Muscat Downtown and Waterfront Development will span 3.3 million m² and is set to revitalise the area.
Render by ZHA
Masterplans
The 582-acre Discovery City masterplan will be ZHA’s first project in Malaysia.
Render by Negativ
Transport + Infrastructure
Heritage + Regeneration
Repurposing an existing shipping warehouse built in 1960 into a new 20,000 sq. m ferry and cruise ship terminal, ZHA’s design adds a fourth level to the structure to incorporate public terraces with panoramic views of the Daugava River and the skyline of Riga’s city centre, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Transport + Infrastructure
ZHA's design draws from Lithuanian cultural heritage, incorporating traditional motifs and art forms within a contemporary architectural language. The terminal's modular geometry originates from the rhombus, a triangular shape that holds significant meaning in Baltic folklore.
Hospitality
Residential
Located in Kodra e Diellit, the fastest-growing district of Tirana, the Nest and Cascades are new additions to the community. Renowned for its colourful post-communist architecture and vibrant café culture, Tirana is the capital of Albania with almost one million residents living within its greater metropolitan region. Progressing rapidly towards European Union membership, the Albanian economy is predicted to grow significantly in the coming years—with Tirana as the centre of its growth.
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