IARA, co-founded by Jingqiu Zhang and Lubin Liu in Beijing in 2019, is an international team that integrates design, research, education, planning, organization, and operations. The office not only focuses on the foundational creation of architectural spaces, but also emphasizes interdisciplinary connections and integrations beyond the physical realm. Through a multi-perspective and multidimensional approach to design, IARA redefines the relationship between space and people, employing interdisciplinary and cross-media methods to make design a medium that bridges various disciplines and communities.
IARA is deeply invested in the transformation of contemporary urban and rural environments. At the core of their philosophy is Social Realism—a design thinking that regards architecture not only as spatial construction, but also as a response to social issues and complex realities. Through the dual pathways of Infra Architecture (spatial, material, and environmental construction) and Reflex Arc (research, exhibitions, publications, and social engagement), the firm works directly on the ground, within the gaps of society, seeking embedded and transformative actions. Starting from a broad design perspective, the team actively participates in societal changes through cultural production and public engagement. It explores people-oriented methods for urban and rural development, and collaborates with various sectors to bring sustainable vitality to the built environment.
