Francesco Cotana is a researcher and architectural historian specializing in nineteenth- and twentieth-century architecture. His research focuses on the transnational dynamics of architectural exchange between Italy, the United Kingdom, and North America, as well as the persistence and reinterpretation of classicism in architecture. His interests also encompass architectural surveying as a tool for the analysis and critical interpretation of the built environment. His work integrates the visualization and quantitative analysis of historical data with approaches drawn from Digital and Spatial Humanities.

Currently a Research Fellow at the Università degli Studi di Perugia, he received his international Ph.D. from the same institution in 2025. His doctoral dissertation examined the representation of historical information through Spatial Humanities, centering on the work of Giuseppe Poggi within the broader context of Italian and Anglo-American cultural exchange. This research was further developed through visiting scholar appointments at University College London, King’s College London, and New York University.