Nelson Alvarez was born in Havana, Cuba. He graduated from the Institute Technical Superior of Havana, School of Architecture, in 1979. His work as an architect and professor at the same institute led to an opportunity to study at the University of Venice, School of Architecture, in 1992, where he earned a Master’s Degree in Urban and Regional Planning. Alvarez then continued to live and study in Italy for more than a decade.

Early on, Alvarez developed a passion for photography and graphic design while also refining his freehand drawing skills. These talents proved both beneficial and profitable when he moved to Venice, where he worked on various projects as an architect and photographer. In 2004, Alvarez relocated to Miami, Florida, where his family had settled. Since 1980, he has worked extensively as an architect, professor, photographer, and as an Italian and Spanish language tutor.

In this series, inspired by Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino, Hugo Pratt’s iconic comic book character Corto Maltese, and Christian Norberg-Schulz’s Genius Loci: Towards a Phenomenology of Architecture, I invite you on a journey into the heart of a city. This exploration delves beyond its streets and structures to uncover its very soul—the spirit or genius loci.