Inspired by the Filipino concept of ‘maaliwalas’, which means a generous flow of light and air, it produces bright and free environments that are tactile, playful, elegant, thoughtful, and enriching.

Since its founding, it has crafted bespoke residences, affordable art studios, retail environments, and community spaces. ALAO’s work has been featured in the NY Times, DWELL, Habitus Australia, WhiteWall, AD PRO and other publications, and regularly contributes to research on architecture in the social realm and urban design.

PRINCIPALS

AYA MACEDA RA

Aya Maceda, a Filipino-Australian architect and professor at Parsons School of Design in New York, co-founded ALAO. A registered architect in Connecticut and Australia, she has worked with prestigious practices in Australia, Singapore, and the Philippines, specializing in the design of complex, award-winning residential and institutional projects that enhance the public domain, from highly detailed single dwellings to public libraries and university buildings.  In 2021, Architecture Digest named Aya one of the “5 Women in the design world you should know”.

Aya has an M.S. Advanced Architectural Design from, and is a former faculty member of, Columbia University GSAPP. She has served as a guest critic at the Harvard GSD and the University of Technology, Sydney. She is a recipient of the Percival and Naomi Goodman Fellowship for social work in architecture and the Lucille Smyser Lowenfish Memorial Prize for design excellence, and the Westfield Fellowship for Technology from the American Australian Association. A mother, a former board member of the Westbeth Artists’ Housing and a current board member of the Gowanus Canal Conservancy, she is dedicated in her advocacies. She has published her writing and built work in publications in Australia and the United States. 

 JAMES CARSE  AIA, AICP, LEED AP

James Carse is a co-founder of ALAO with extensive experience leading award-winning projects around the world. A registered architect, he is a certified urban planner and an accredited LEED Professional. He has served as an adviser for the American Planning Association’s International Outreach Program ranging from cultural preservation planning to new town development. He has collaborated with NASA, the Department of Environmental Protection, the New York Public Library, and other entities to reimagine the way we live, work, and create. 

James holds a Master of Architecture in Urban Design with Distinction from Harvard’s Graduate School of Design and a Bachelor of Architecture from Tulane University. He has taught at Catholic University of America, Columbia University, Cornell University, Parsons, and Tulane. He is a frequent collaborator with the Cooper Hewitt’s education programs, where he focuses on creating programs for skill development, ideation, and rapid prototyping. His writing and work have been published by Architect Magazine, Oculus, Harvard, and Nicolodi.

TEAM

 Emily Bult, senior designer

Emily Bult is associate and project coordinator at ALAO. She received her Master of Architecture degree from Columbia University GSAPP.  Emily brings to ALAO extensive experience in projects such as galleries, co-working spaces and residences. With a keen eye for detail, she has successfully realized well crafted community and work environments and residences for ALAO.  Emily oversees the residential projects at ALAO.

Kacy Co, senior designer

Kacy Co is a senior designer at ALAO. An early collaborator with actLAB, she returns to ALAO having worked at Architizer focusing on the business of the design industry and di Domenico + Partners focusing on accessible design in the public realm. She holds a Master of Architecture from the University of Michigan TCAUP. She is interested in the intersection of materiality and phenomenology in design.

Yuki Nakayama, senior designer

Yuki Nakayama is an architectural and interior designer with a strong interest in play.  Yuki holds a BFA in Interior Design from Parsons School of Design and a B.Arch from The Cooper Union. Yuki is also an artist in her own right. 

 Alexandra Bechara,  senior interior designer

Morgan Cattaneo, interior designer  

COLLABORATORS

Kristian Henson, graphic designer (kristianhenson.tumblr.com)

Visual Captivity, photographer (www.visualcaptivity.com)