About
Napoleon Merana was born in the Philippines and moved to the United States at five, settling in the vibrant neighborhood of Silverlake in Los Angeles, California. Surrounded by cultural richness and architectural diversity, he discovered a passion for architecture and design. Strolling around in the neighborhood , he discovered Rudolph Schindler’s uniquely designed apartments, Richard Neutra’s ultra modern homes, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s mysterious creations nestled in the Hollywood Hills. Combined with the dynamic energy of Sunset Junction and Hollywood, these experiences profoundly shaped and influenced his design sensibilities.
In 1996, Napoleon graduated with distinction from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) with a Bachelor of Architecture. His career has been shaped by collaborations with some of the most renowned architects. He interned with Daniel Libeskind in Berlin, experienced controlled chaos with Coop Himmelb(l)au in Vienna, explored sculptural forms alongside Frank Gehry in Los Angeles, and delved into uncharted territory with Jon Jerde in Venice. He was also invited to serve as Design Director for Special Events for Google, where he applied his expertise in ideation and urban planning for a top secret initiative.
