At the intersection of art and architecture, LOT-EK operates according to an approach rooted in upcycling, reimagining ordinary components to create extraordinary architecture.

Based in New York, LOT-EK is an architecture firm founded in 1993 by Ada Tolla and Giuseppe Lignano, two architects who graduated from the University of Naples and pursued graduate studies at Columbia University, where they now teach in the architecture department. Tolla and Lignano's distinctive and committed approach has earned them recognition far beyond the United States, and their work is frequently exhibited in prestigious museums such as MoMA, the Whitney Museum, and the Guggenheim.

LOT-EK distinguishes itself through its approach centered on recycling and transforming industrial objects. Moving beyond conventional materials, the firm focuses on industrial infrastructure and manufactured goods, transforming them to create sustainable and engaging architecture. This upcycling philosophy breathes new life into structures that bear the imprint of their industrial past while meeting the contemporary needs of their users.

The architecture firm collaborates with a diverse range of partners on projects spanning from art installations and family homes to cultural institutions and civic spaces. It has completed projects in numerous countries, from Australia to South Africa, adapting to varied cultures and landscapes. The cosmopolitan team, comprised of architects and designers with diverse backgrounds and sensibilities, further enriches this vision.
Recognized for his avant-garde work, LOT-EK has received accolades such as the Architectural League's Emerging Voices Award and the AIA New York Honor Award. His latest work, LOT-EK: Objects + Operations, reflects his passion for transformed objects and materials, redefining what modern architecture can be.

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