Born in Madrid but raised in
Asilah, Morocco, Youssef Melehi received his degree in architecture U.P.A 7 in Paris, and a M.Arch from Georgia Tech University in the US. In 1989, he won the prize for best young Arab architect from the Arab Council of Ministries of Urban Planning and Habitat, and the
Aga Khan Award for Architecture for his work in Asilah.