Paolo Portoghesi, born on November 2, 1931, in Rome, is an Italian architect, theorist, historian, and professor of architecture at the University of La Sapienza in Rome. He has held several prestigious positions, including serving as the President of the architectural section of the Venice Biennale, Editor-in-Chief of a leading architectural journal, and Dean of the Faculty of Architecture at the Politecnico di Milano. Portoghesi studied architecture at the University of Rome and completed his studies in 1957. In 1961, he began teaching the history of criticism at the same institution. Alongside architect-engineer Vittorio Gigliotti, he established an architectural practice. His expertise lies in classical architecture, particularly Baroque architecture, with a strong focus on Borromini and Michelangelo. His interest in contemporary architecture aligned with that of his colleague Bruno Zevi, advocating for a more organic modernism, influenced by architects like Victor Horta and Frank Lloyd Wright, as well as movements such as Italian Neo-Realism and the Neo-Liberty style. This approach has been a defining element of Portoghesi’s career and is evident in his architectural work, which reflects a deep concern for the study of nature—an idea further explored in his 2000 book Nature and Architecture.