(“Text as submitted by architect”)
Fernando Hitzig
Fernando Hitzig is an Argentine architect born in Buenos Aires in 1976. He earned his architecture degree from the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Urbanism (FADU) at the University of Buenos Aires in 2002. Early in his career, he combined professional practice with academia, teaching at the Instituto Europeo di Design (IED) in Madrid from 2003 to 2005 and later at FADU, University of Buenos Aires, from 2006 to 2008. In 2008, he further expanded his expertise by completing an executive program in Business in Architecture and Construction at ESEADE, specializing in the development of new projects. Hitzig has also demonstrated a strong entrepreneurial spirit, serving as a founding member of Areatres (2009–2013), where he helped identify the growing demand for innovative workplaces and designed efficient office layouts. During the same period, he co-founded DormsBA Buenos Aires, a student accommodation initiative, reflecting his commitment to developing functional and market-driven architectural solutions.
Leonardo G. Militello
Leonardo G. Militello is an Argentine architect born in Buenos Aires in 1978. He graduated as an architect from the Faculty of Architecture, Design and Urbanism (FADU) at the University of Buenos Aires in 2003 and began his academic career by teaching at FADU from 2002 to 2004, returning as a lecturer from 2006 to 2008. In 2005, he was admitted to the doctoral program in Architectural Projects at the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) in Barcelona, Spain. To strengthen his expertise in project development, he completed an executive program in Business in Architecture and Construction at ESEADE in 2008. Militello has also been actively involved in entrepreneurial ventures, serving as a founding member of Areatres (2009–2013), where he helped develop innovative workplace concepts and designed functional office environments.
He also co-founded DormsBA Buenos Aires (2010–2013), contributing to the development of its business concept while leading the architectural design, equipment, and interior decoration of the student accommodation. In 2013, he further specialized in sustainable architecture through LEED-focused training, including the Green Living Projects program in Barcelona and the Sustainable Design & Construction program at Universidad Torcuato Di Tella in collaboration with the Argentina Green Building Council (AGBC). Expanding his creative practice beyond architecture, Militello conducted Creative Doodling workshops at Haus Creative School from 2016 to 2018 and led a Brand Architecture workshop at Haus Visual School in Buenos Aires in 2018, reflecting his multidisciplinary approach to design, creativity, and education.
Practice Ideology
Hitzig Militello Architects is an architecture and interior design firm specializing in brand architecture, with extensive experience in the food and beverage (F&B), leisure, and hospitality sectors. The studio delivers creative, concept-driven projects tailored to each client’s needs, offering comprehensive services that span every stage of development—from initial planning and design to project completion. With projects across Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America, the firm has established a strong international presence.
The firm’s design philosophy is rooted in the concept of integral design, emphasizing collaboration and interdisciplinary teamwork. Through Studio HMA, architects work alongside branding specialists, graphic designers, artists, creative agencies, and F&B consultants to create cohesive, holistic environments. This integrated approach ensures that architecture, branding, graphics, and spatial experiences complement one another, resulting in projects with a strong and consistent identity. Extensive research into emerging trends and careful evaluation of each project’s potential enable the team to develop innovative concepts that are authentic, functional, and contextually relevant.
A key strength of the practice lies in creating and revitalizing brand identities. By working closely with clients, the firm develops distinctive spaces that reflect the character of each brand while delivering memorable experiences for users. Their emphasis on originality and authenticity has resulted in projects that successfully combine creative vision with practical functionality, making each design unique and meaningful.
The firm’s excellence has been recognized through numerous prestigious international awards. These include being shortlisted for the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards (UK), finalist positions in the SCA-CPAU Biennial Awards, Biar Awards, Next Landmark Awards, Prix Versailles (Paris), and the IDA Interior Design Competition (Chicago). Among its notable achievements is winning the Best Bar in the Americas at the Restaurant & Bar Design Awards in London and receiving the Design & Technical Summit Award in São Paulo.
Hitzig Militello Architects’ work has been widely featured in internationally renowned publications such as Wallpaper, Dezeen, ArchDaily, Architectural Digest, Hospitality Design, Interior Design, and Design Boom. The firm has also received international recognition for business excellence from the World Confederation of Businesses, reinforcing its reputation as a globally respected design practice.
