Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura / Adrian De La Vega / Aranda.
Hi Laura / Adrian, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
estudioLAAVA is a Miami-based Architecture and Design studio founded in 2020 by Cuban designers Laura de la Vega and Adrian Aranda. Driven by a shared passion for design, collaboration, and the richness of their cultural heritage, the duo brings a distinctive perspective to every project they undertake. Both founders hold bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Architecture from Florida International University and the University of Florida.
Before establishing the studio, Laura and Adrian contributed to some of the industry’s most respected firms including Arquitectonica, Shulman+Associates, and MSA Architects where they gained hands-on experience across residential, commercial, and urban scales. Their portfolio spans projects such as Little Haiti Station, Doral City Place 7 Apartments, Collins Park Garage, and Lockhart Beckham Stadium.
Today, estudioLAAVA operates at the intersection of architecture, urban planning, and artistic expression. Their work challenges conventional boundaries, blending spatial design with immersive, site-specific installations throughout South Florida. Recent highlights include the TYPOE Sculpture Garden for The Underline (2022), the Vibrant Splash Installation for Rimowa (2023), the Perrier Sensorium at Art Basel (2021–22), and architectural and interior design for a multifamily adaptive reuse project in Orlando — transforming a former hotel into new residential life.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
From day one, every project has been a learning curve and we wouldn’t have it any other way. When we launched the studio, we were still working full-time at demanding firms, which meant long days and even longer hours. We quickly learned how to balance it all, turning a packed schedule into a discipline that shaped how we work today.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
As a design studio, our work extends well beyond architecture and interiors as creatives, we feel a deep responsibility to the arts and the communities we serve. We seek out projects that are both publicly accessible and genuinely challenging, because the most rewarding outcomes are the ones that make us proud not just of the result, but of the journey it took to get there.
Collaboration is at the heart of everything we do. Whether working alongside close friends who have their own practices or connecting with local creatives in our city, we believe the best work happens when different perspectives come together. That same spirit extends to our clients we prioritize building close, communicative relationships with them to ensure every project is a true shared success.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
As Miami continues to grow, we see tremendous opportunity to be part of projects that serve the wider community. This expansion has also made us more conscious of the city’s urban planning needs we believe growth should benefit those who already call Miami home, and we’re eager to bring our knowledge and voice to that conversation.
The wave of new development is also raising the bar for design literacy among clients and developers alike, which excites us. It creates the conditions for more thoughtful, relevant work projects that are grounded in the context and history of a young, ever-evolving city, while meeting the demands of today’s world.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RoO3-IKSsiI
- Yelp: https://news.airbnb.com/curating-belonging-a-new-public-sculpture-garden-in-miami-takes-shape/
- Other: https://worldredeye.com/2022/12/perrier-at-botanical-gardens/
