Julia Nakanishi | 中西樹李亜

is a designer and researcher based in Toronto/Tkaronto, Canada. Her work explores adaptive re-use, landscape remediation, and community-informed design.

Julia holds a Master of Architecture (M.Arch) and a Bachelor of Architectural Studies (B.AS) from the University of Waterloo, and has worked at international architecture and design firms, including Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) in New York City, Atelier Bow-Wow in Tokyo, NL Architects in Amsterdam and PUBLIC WORK in Toronto.

Julia’s M.Arch thesis research focused on the role of designers in Japan’s depopulating rural regions, as well the possibilities of building re-use and program design in the countryside. Her ongoing research questions address how architects can learn from vernacular building methods, explore interdisciplinary methods of working, and facilitate community engagement in the design process.