Fernanda Canales studied at the Universidad Iberoamericana, México City (Bachelor with Honours, 1997), at the Universidad Politécnica de Cataluña in Barcelona (MA, 2001) and is currently preparing her PhD at the ETSAM Madrid. She was awarded a fellowship from the FONCA (Fondo Nacional de Cultura) in the "young creators" category (2003-2004) and has worked for architects such as Toyo Ito (Tokio), Ignasi de Sola-Morales (Barcelona) and Luis Fernández-Galiano (Madrid).
Since 1996 Canales has developed her independent practice of architecture and research based in Mexico City. Her firm has won several competitions, including the new CEDIM Campus in Monterrey and the theater complex in Guadalajara. Her office is currently engaged in both public and private projects, focusing on housing, educational and cultural programs.
Her work and essays have been widely published, including: Praxis, Lessons, Wallpaper, The New York Times, Arquitectura Viva, El País, Reforma, Letras Libres, Lo Mejor del Siglo XX, Domus and of books such as Barrgan´s Guide and Central de Arquitectos, Espacios Culturales de Abraham Zabludovsky. Recent exhibits include: Rotterdam Biennale 2004, Bienal de Arquitectura de São Paulo 2005 and Venice Biennale 2006. She has been a professor at the Universidad Iberoamericana in Design and Urbanism and also at the CMAS Master in Urbanism, as well as at the UNAM, and invited professor at the ETSAB in Barcelona. Canales is a member of the editorial board of Arquine and La Tempestad. The Colegio de Arquitectos de México awarded her an honorific distinction as an emerging architect in 2010.
