10/20/2026
Last week, we were honored to welcome Jing Liu, Founding Partner of SO–IL, the Brooklyn-based architecture practice whose work spans continents and disciplines, for the latest installment of New Earth Dialogues.
In conversation with Julia Gamolina of Madame Architect, the discussion explored how looking beyond the traditional architectural canon can expand our understanding of sustainability and climate resilience. Jing highlighted the value of local materials, indigenous building knowledge, and regional construction traditions, including bamboo, as alternatives to resource-intensive building practices. She also made the case for working with what already exists, challenging the culture of demolition in favor of adaptive reuse, while exploring how emerging technologies and recycled materials can open new possibilities for building more responsibly.
She also shared how growing up in China, living in Japan, and later moving to the United States shaped her understanding of resources, consumption, and abundance. Reflecting on these different cultural contexts, she spoke about the importance of rethinking our relationship with the built environment and embracing a more resource-conscious approach to how we live and build.
The conversation also turned to playfulness as an essential part of architectural practice. Jing discussed how designing spaces that feel dynamic, joyful, and interactive has shaped SO–IL’s work, as well as how raising her daughters has influenced her perspective on design. She also reflected on the firm’s B Corp certification, describing it as an opportunity to examine not only its environmental impact, but also its governance, operations, and broader responsibilities.
Her closing reflections turned toward the next generation of architects and the opportunity to imagine our collective future through regeneration and abundance rather than scarcity.
We are grateful to everyone who joined us, and to Jing and Julia for an evening of ideas, inspiration, and dialogue.
