As Principals of UUfie, we bring together diverse cultural and professional backgrounds, with licensure in both Canada and Japan. This dual foundation informs a design approach that is both globally connected and locally responsive.
Our practice is deeply collaborative—not only within our studio, but with clients, consultants, and craftspeople. Projects like Ports 1961 in Shanghai reflect this ethos: the building’s iceberg-like glass façade was realized through close coordination with material specialists and fabricators across continents.
Every project is a chance to question, reinvent, and refine. We work closely with our team and global network to explore innovative materials, construction methods, and design solutions—balancing function, aesthetics, and sustainability through shared expertise and mutual trust.
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Eiri Ota is a licensed First Class Architect in Japan and co-founder of UUfie. Born in Paris and educated at Musashino Art University in Tokyo, he brings a distinct international sensibility to his work, balancing conceptual clarity with technical depth across cultural, residential, and commercial projects.
Ota began his career at Jun Aoki & Associates, where he led the design of several landmark retail and hospitality spaces, including Louis Vuitton Namiki and White Chapel in Japan. His global experience includes large-scale masterplans such as the Qingdao Bath Project in China and the Visitor Centre at Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Ota has cultivated a practice defined by innovation and cross-disciplinary collaboration. From 2011 to 2013, he worked with Yabu Pushelberg on luxury retail and hospitality interiors in Asia and North America, including projects for Lane Crawford, Park Hyatt, and the Four Seasons.
As Principal at UUfie, Ota leads projects from concept through construction with a focus on craft, process, and dialogue. In addition to his professional work, he teaches at the University of Toronto’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, and is an active visiting critic and mentor within the architectural community.
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Irene Gardpoit is a licensed Canadian architect and co-founder of UUfie, recognized for her work at the intersection of art, materiality, and architectural complexity. Her work extends across North America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.
She studied architecture at University of Toronto and began her career at the Tokyo studio of Pritzker Prize Laureate Arata Isozaki (2003–2009), where she led major cultural and institutional projects for the Aga Khan Foundation, including campuses across Central Asia and the Qatar National Convention Centre. She also served as lead architect for the Hara Museum ARC in Japan.
Upon returning to Canada, Irene contributed to the winning proposal for the Athletes’ Village for the 2015 Pan Am Games while at KPMB Architects. As Principal of UUfie, she leads projects that have garnered international recognition for their thoughtful, experimental, and transformative approach to design.
In parallel with her professional practice, Irene is actively engaged in architectural education and discourse, serving as a juror, mentor, and visiting critic across academic and professional platforms.