Melina Girardi
Melina is a founding partner of WORKSHOP GIRARDI KABALA, a design studio on the search for practical, beautiful and historically resonant design solutions to contemporary challenges. Melina holds a Master of Architecture from the ‘Angewandte’ in Vienna and has 10 years of experience working in world-class architecture offices, among them 5 years with Frank Gehry. She enjoys developing unusual design solutions to complex architectural prompts and embraces the ambiguous territory of the creative unknown with a sense of play, using the tactile nature of working with regenerative materials as a tool to craft seductive aesthetic narratives, advocating for sustainable material practices with earth in mind and design at heart. Lara Hoad
A California licensed architect, educator, and environmental activist, Lara is principal at Lara Hoad Architecture Design: Creating and Educating Design with purpose for People, Place and Planet. Lara holds teaching positions at Woodbury University School of Architecture and Otis College of Art and Design where she is core faculty for the minor in sustainability, teaching classes on climate change, biomimicry, regenerative practices, and plastic pollution. Lara is a LEED Accredited Professional, a Climate Reality Leader and crew member and ambassador for eXXpedition, all women sailing voyages to research toxins and plastic in our oceans.
Matthew Kabala
Matthew is a founding partner of WORKSHOP Girardi Kabala. In his 10 years of professional experience, Matthew has played important design roles on large-scale cultural and civic projects, including museums, concert halls, schools, and parks. He has also worked directly with Frank Gehry on sculpture, industrial design, film and opera sets, collaborating with top artistic and technical talents from a broad range of professions. His personal approach to the discipline locates pragmatic material solutions to contemporary design needs within the fertile ground of resonant social, religious, and architectural traditions.Ali Keenan
A licensed architect in California, Ali founded her own boutique practice Ali Keenan Architecture. She is a healthy material and sustainability advocate, while actively researching alternative building methods and fire-resistant practices, with the goal of making architecture more accessible and affordable for all. Ali received her Bachelor of Architecture from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a minor in Sustainable Environments and completed the Glenn Murcutt International Architecture Masterclass in 2019.
Jordana Maisie
Jordana Maisie is an architect, designer, and founder of JMDS: a multidisciplinary design studio & workshop based in LA. A background in orchestral music, photography, and film, constructed a foundation for an art practice; bridging physical experience and interactive design. After completing graduate school, she brought her unique approach to Diller Scofidio + Renfro’s renowned studio in NYC. Jordana holds a Master of Architecture, and MFA in Lighting Design from Parsons School of Design, a BFA in Photography from the Glasgow School of Art; and MFA in Video Production & Sound Engineering from the University of NSW. She is a Healthy Materials Advocate, and has a Permaculture & Natural Building Certification. Study, and by extension, teaching, are critical to JMDS’ philosophy, and Jordana holds Adjunct Professor positions at the University of Southern California’s School of Architecture, and Woodbury University’s School of Architecture.Jeffrey Miller
From the value statements buildings make representing who we are as a culture to a well aligned bathroom tile pattern, there is profound joy in the creation of the built environment. At JM|A+D, life is about creating spaces that matter while living our values, building connections, and making an impact. Jeffrey is deeply passionate about and actively involved in his profession through various organizations, research efforts, and philanthropy. He specializes in the development of complex building systems, drawing on his deep and varied experiences to deliver sophisticated design solutions. His company builds thoughtful human interactions with our environments.
Ian Svilokos
Ian is a licensed architect, fabricator, and founder at the collaborative PIE - a research-based architecture, design and fabrication studio. While earning his B.Design in Architecture from the University of Florida, and his M.Arch from Yale University, Ian spent time building single-family homes across the northeast. Upon completion of his Masters, he relocated to Bali, Indonesia to develop and design hyper-regional resorts traveling to multiple properties across the globe. He finds inspiration in working with various mediums to help projects find their greatest potential. Whether metal, earth, wood, or plant, his pursuits in design are informed by the unique opportunities each material presents. Ian uses his personal history and diverse knowledge base to find and design experiences unique to each project.