Graduated from the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid (UPM, 2019) after a year abroad at ENSA Paris-Belleville, her professional practice has been primarily based in Paris, where she worked for nearly seven years at Jean-Christophe Quinton Architecte. She has developed different projects, especially social housing and public facilities. In addition, Elena is part of the architecture team whose proposal for the Nalón Estuary won first prize at Europan 17 and received an AJAC XIV award in Barcelona.
During her years in Madrid, she participated with Professor Ana Esteban Maluenda in the research project ArchiteXt Mining, where she had the opportunity to work with Spanish journals Revista Nacional de Arquitectura (1941-58) and Arquitectura (1959-73), supported by two collaboration grants. Her interest in heritage values and criticism also led her to write an undergraduate thesis on the renovation of two historical theatres – the Opéra-Comique in Paris and the Teatro Real in Madrid – and to conduct a research for her final music studies project, which focused on the Parisian art scene in the early 20th century.
She has collaborated on the edition of several books, including Textos de teoría y crítica, L’altérité des pieces et la promesse des formes or La Petite Agora. She has also contributed to exhibitions such as Trà mare è monti: architettura è patrimoniu in Musée de la Corse and has been involved in organising cultural events in Madrid and Paris. This interest stems not only from her music education – Elena also completed her professional diploma in both countries –, but also from her involvement in JOECOM, an orchestra she founded in 2013 with Alejandro Cantalapiedra and which remains active today.
She is currently an MSCA fellow, engaged in a joint doctorate with DECADOCS under the supervisors Sergio Martín Blas and Fernanda de Maio, with her PhD titled The Meaning of Decadence in Architecture: New Hotels Typologies in Venice and Beyond, Translated Forms and Ideas. Her international professional experience (Paris–Madrid–Boston) complements her passion for languages and cultural exchange.
DECADOCS 