Elena Barthel is graduated in architecture (University of Florence 2000), member of the Institute of Architects of Florence (2001) and PhD at the Department of Urban Planning (University of Florence 2010).
She taught Urban design thesis studio (Planning Department, Florence School of Architecture 2001-8) and Architecture Design Studio at the Architectural Association in London (2006-7). In 2008, for the Architectural Association, she co-designed the ‘Hooke Park Design & Make Strategic Plan’: a ‘on the ground’ program, developed in consultation with West Dorset local Perish and Planning Authorities. The project focused on the ethical, social, environmental, and economic impact of the design and built program on both, the London based AA institution, and the local rural community in Hooke. Since 2012, the Design & Make program has been teaching students from all over the world.
She is currently Adjunct Professor at Auburn University School of Architecture Rural Studio: a community based, design and build program located in west Alabama where she has been working full time as Assistant professor from 2008 until 2016.
During this period, She run the Rural Studio Farm: a prototypical homestead as a laboratory for organic farming and passive architecture strategies.

Since 2008, she has been lecturing in architecture programs and different venues from Tel Aviv Eco Week, Quito Biennale, Rhode Island School of Design, University of Alabama, Bergen and Amsterdam School of Architecture, Helsinki Art Museum, Turin Polytechnic, University of Roma 3, Trento University of Engineering Milan Polytechnic, Florence School of Architecture, Syracuse and California State University.
In 2014 she co-authored ‘Rural Studio at twenty: Designing and Building in Hale County, Alabama, published by Princeton Architectural Press. In 2018 and 2019 she published the articles ‘Thinnings’ (Harvard Magazine 04/2018) and ‘Taking off’ (Lotus 03/19).
In 2016 with Rural Studio, she co-designed “Forum” for the exhibit “Architecture as art”, at the Milan Triennale and the ‘Theatre of the useful’ for the XV Venice Biennale “Report from the front”, both installations produced zero waste emphasizing on a responsible everyday use of resources.
In 2017, in collaboration with Andrew Freear and Studio Tempi, she won the Jury Prize for the project ‘1 City, 1 Landscape: Re-Call’ in San Giovanni Valdarno.
With the Comunità di Base delle Piagge, and the comune di Fiesole she is currently working on the design of participated community public spaces.
In 2018 she was part of the SIAT YOUNG 2018 competition jury in Turin.