Lea Stagno

Lea has a Bachelor’s of Architecture from La Universidad de los Andes. After nearly a decade working as a lead designer for an architectural firm in Miami, Lea pursued graduate studies at Cornell University. After graduating with an M.Arch in 2015, she was hired to teach the first-year, core-design studio at the same university.

In 2016, Lea won the Eidlitz Fellowship, whose support she used to study and produce a documentary on earth architecture practices across Latin America. Her interest in materiality is born from her experience growing up in Merida, Venezuela, where much of the architecture is informal and untouched by architects. There are countless artisans, innovating (and inventing) new techniques and exploring the versatility of local materials. Lea has always sought to bridge the gap between design and construction, architect and artisan. After 4 years working as a Senior Designer in New York and 16 years in the field, Lea finally found her home at Winkelman Architecture.

Outside the office, Lea finds inspiration in her lifelong passion for modern dance, painting, and illustration. When it is time to turn off, you can find her cooking Sicilian food inspired by her Nonna’s recipes, hiking or biking, and most likely of all, lying on a real beach (i.e. one with sand).