Spear co-founded Arquitectonica in 1977 with fellow architects Bernardo Fort-Brescia, Andres Duany, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, and Hervin Romney. In its early years, the Miami-based firm created a number of colorful, geometrically inspired structures — including the Pink House and the Atlantis that quickly became iconic. Spear also introduced a new style of interiors into many of the Arquitectonica buildings, and this move spurred the introduction/development of her line of products for international firms such as Brayton, Wolf Gordon, and Hunter Douglas. After two decades, Spear’s interest shifted dramatically to nature and the interaction between a building and its site and context. “I felt there was something unconscionable about the way architecture was often ignoring the site, even thinking that it wasn’t necessary to visit. About fifteen years ago, I thought, to do it right, you’d have to be a landscape architect as well.” Returning to school, she obtained her master’s in landscape architecture and her license and founded ArqGEO in 2005. This young firm is a collaborative studio whose projects stem from a broad and deep continuum drawn from Spear’s previous body of work. The intention of blurring the line between building architecture and landscape architecture is embraced and encouraged in every project that ArqGEO undertakes. Spear works differently now than she did during the early days of Arquitectonica.” I prioritize how the building fits into the site, and I prioritize the site over the building.” GEO is a collaborative studio working on large and small projects with the main purpose of creating resilient landscapes that address our current crisis’: climate change, pandemics, the adversity and inequities faced by people of color in the United States, and around the world. Spear believes that it is incumbent upon us to rethink our role and the role of nature in this new world context and to ensure that green places are accessible to all. “Planting more trees is what will make a difference.” “Every project that we do in GEO is about elevating landscape — we’re always thinking of resilience, things that will work in the years to come.”
Writings
Later in 2020, Spear will release a book titled, GEO BIO MIAMI designed by Irma Boom which addresses many of the topics that interest Spear: green infrastructure, climate change, storm water management, and most importantly, the quantifiable and non-quantifiable value that landscape architecture brings to a project. As Charles Birnbaum eloquently states in the introduction of the new book: “GEO’s work establishes – and broadcasts- the young firm’s holistic approach to the site, and its context, by deploying an arsenal of ideas that leveraged the art and science of landscape architecture”.
