Ina Elias

Ina Elias graduated with a Bachelor of Landscape Architecture, at the University of Toronto (1991), and Environmental Design, at OCAD, (1987). In 2009, she obtained the Master of Landscape Architecture from the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, at the University of Toronto.

She founded Elias + Associates in 1993 and first gained public recognition with her design of the “Birch Walks” at the University of Toronto in 2002. Her design methodology is based on a team-oriented philosophy. It integrates a variety of disciplines in the construction of a project, including industrial design, interior design, art history, engineering, and science. The approach is conceptual, producing designs that combine artistic spirit, humour, and material experimentation. The projects evolve from a process of extensive research and problem solving, combined with sensitivity to site context, architecture, and client needs. Each project addresses ecological and social issues.

Ina works in a diversity of creative areas, including exterior furniture design, custom screens, planters, and exterior curtain fabrics. As well, she specializes in outside garden structures, cabanas, and extensions of buildings, such as canopies, terraces, steps and walls. She uses these elements to integrate the existing building into the landscape. Ina is closely involved in the design and project management of all of the firm's projects. Her team is multi-disciplined; each member highly specialized, bringing their expertise to the project. 

Ina’s ongoing exploration into the integration of design theory and practice has led her to continue her own education (MLA, 2009) and teach courses in the History and Theory of Contemporary Landscape Architecture, as well as design studios in Landscape Architecture, at the John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture Landscape, and Design at the University of Toronto. She has written the revision to Contemporary Canadian Landscape Architecture under “Landscape Architecture" in the Canadian Encyclopaedia. She is an honorary visiting lecturer at the Jilin College of Arts in Chungchun, China. Ina also lectures and is involved in design studios at Ryerson University. She has lectured to the Senior Alumni Association of the University of Toronto. Presently she is co-authoring a book on Architecture and Gender.