Spinagu is an architecture practice that works across building, research, publishing, and cultural organizing. Founded by Jia Yi Gu and Maxi Spina, the studio approaches design as a way of asking questions about building while making space for different forms of gathering.
Their work is driven by a curiosity about the material, social, and ecological systems that shape everyday life, and by a commitment to transforming those systems towards more equitable and regenerative futures. Rather than treating architecture as the built object, Spinagu engages with architectural practice as a mode of critical inquiry.
At its core, Spinagu is interested in cultivating spaces for exchange and experimentation—where new relationships, material practices, and futures can take shape. Working across built projects and cultural and collective initiatives, the studio creates frameworks for conversation, experimentation, and shared learning. The studio priorities are to rebuild material systems and ecologies, towards regenerative and bioregional models, and advocating for and designing housing for equitable equity. These multi-year initiatives take many forms, durable and ephemeral: housing, institutions, exhibitions, books, furniture, dialogues, gatherings, experiments, workshops, and social technologies.
PARTNERS
JIA YI GU (b. Shanghai, China) is co-director of Spinagu and Assistant Professor of Architecture at Harvey Mudd College. She was previously Director and Curator at the MAK Center for Art and Architecture at the Schindler House and Materials & Applications. She is currently a Board member of the Feminist Center for Creative Work. She received her B.A. in Visual Studies, Theory, and Criticism at UCSD, Master of Architecture at UCLA, and is completing her doctoral studies in Architecture History/Theory at UCLA.
MAXI SPINA (b. Rosario, Argentina) is an architect and co-directo of Spinagu. He is currently Design Faculty and Undergraduate Thesis Coordinator at SCI-Arc and serves on the Board of Directors as faculty representative. He was previously a MacDowell Fellow, and a Maybeck Fellow at UC Berkeley; Lecturer at CCA and Associate Professor at Woodbury. He received his M.Arch from Princeton University and a B.Arch from National University of Rosario, Argentina. Previous to founding Spinagu, Maxi has worked for Neil Denari Architects and Studio Daniel Libeskind.
TEAM
Martina Ferrazini (b. Rosario, Argentina) is a designer at Spinagu. She is currently completing her final year of architecture at the National University of Rosario. She is also a professional hockey player.
COLLABORATORS
Spinagu has collaborated with Craft Contemporary, Community Arts Resource, Feminist Center for Creative Work, Getty PST ART, Goethe Institute, e-flux Architecture, Materials & Applications, MAK Center for Art and Architecture, and Villa Albertine. Spinagu's work has been generously supported by the National Endowment for the Arts, Getty Foundation, California Council of Arts, Canadian Center for Architecture, DAAD, Checkpoint Charlie Foundation, Graham Foundation for Advanced Studies in the Fine Arts, and Pasadena Arts Alliance.
STUDIO
SPINAGU
970 N BROADWAY, SUITE 203
LOS ANGELES, CA 90012
CONTACT US
GENERAL
office@spinagu.com
PROJECT INQUIRIES
collaborate@spinagu.com
JOP OPPORTUNITIES
work@spinagu.com
SOCIAL MEDIA
INSTAGRAM
@spinagu
PAST TEAM MEMBERS
Delaney McCraney
Esin Karaosan
Giulia Bellon
Hilary Huckins-Weidner
stratton coffman
Abe Wang-Hsuan Kung, Brandon Kintzer, Daniel, Arismendys Taveras-Hernandez, Heff Jin, Kevin Foley, Leo Zhang, Luiza de Souza, Mateus Comparato, Nathan Arundel, Nancy Ai, Neil Vasquez, Nicholas Perseo, Ravyn Crabtree, Ryan Farnam, Stephan Bica, Rishab Jain, Wesley Evans
WORK
We occasionally seek collaborators on a project by project basis. If you would like to work with us, please send a cover letter, resume/cv, and work samples in PDF format to work@spinagu.com