Context is key. We uncover and enhance the inherent memories and shared stories of a given site, space, and client. As an architecture and design practice, we honor both western and eastern philosophies for living with meaning and purpose.
MUKA was founded in Los Angeles in 2021 with a shared vision that living with beauty and purpose is essential to the lived human experience. Co-founded by licensed architects and designers Zabie Mustafa and Neda Kakhsaz, our practice is internationally recognized on prestigious lists including: Architectural Digest New American Voices, Wallpaper* 400, Elle Decor One's to Watch, AD100 Germany, and AD100 Middle East.
Practice
MUKA /ˈmuːkə/ : a word derived from our founders' surnames to celebrate the strength of partnership. Rooted on the pillars of diversity, Studio MUKA’s holistic approach spans ground-up buildings, interior design and object design across the country. We are committed to making beautiful buildings and spaces that have everlasting impressions. Our buildings and interiors are formed through visual storytelling, memory, feeling and atmosphere. We are a team that combines architecture, interior design and object design to create narratives around a theme or topic that connects to the sensibilities of the project location and our collaborators. To this end, we approach every project with a commitment to unwavering authenticity, emotion formed through materials, and the pursuit of discovery in the ever-evolving process of design.
Pillars
There is no beauty without emotion. We believe beauty is essential to the lived human experience. Our work provokes feeling, creating sanctuaries, inviting the senses to be heightened and the imagination to be inspired.
Change is the only constant. Our work synthesizes the timeless with experimentation. We approach familiar materials and forms in unfamiliar ways. We believe innovation stems from the force of solving a problem.
Mission
In a rapidly evolving world, where innovation surges at a remarkable pace, we stand at the precipice of losing touch with what it means to be human. The fundamental need for meaningful experiences is what unites us. We begin with an open mindset, devoid of any preconceived ideas, but acknowledge our duty to address the shared challenges we all confront. MUKA’s approach extends beyond set parameters, surpassing the constraints of the site and its physical aspects, rejecting conventional norms with an inclusive and unbiased attitude. We transcend typical disciplinary boundaries, actively seeking collaborations and innovative resolutions with those equally perceptive, recognizing the importance of approaching the world with a new and critical lens. Regardless of scope or scale, we believe that experiences should be heightened through the tactility and sensuality of architecture, interiors, and objects. Our projects foster meaningful relationships between histories, emotions and innovation.
People
Neda Kakhsaz
Neda Kakhsaz is an architect and designer who was born in Tehran, Iran and grew up in Los Angeles, California. She completed her architectural training with the highest honors at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York. She has worked for KIMOY Studios, Think Architecture, and as project architect at the Architectural Digest top 100 firm Studio Shamshiri. At Shamshiri she had the privilege of working on landmark historical residences all over the US, from Los Angeles to New York to Houston.
Zabie Mustafa, RA
Zabie Mustafa is a licensed architect and designer born and raised in New York, with original ancestral roots from Uzbekistan and Afghanistan. Zabie attended Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, where he completed his Bachelors of Architecture and received the distinguished Degree Project Award for his thesis, [AGE-ing] The Aging City and Suburbia. He previously held positions at Ole Sondresen Architect, Workshop APD and the Architectural Digest top 100 firm, The Archers. Zabie also spent a number of years working with the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum and the Whitney Museum of American Art as an Associate Exhibition Designer; working closely with the curatorial team on prominent exhibitions.
Services
- Building Design
- Concept Design
- Site Planning
- Project Programming
- Schematic Design
- Design Development
- Interior Design
- Rendering + Visualization
- 3D Design Modeling
- Space Planning
- Furniture + Object Design
- Exhibition Design
- Feasibility Studies
- Furniture, Fabric + Accessories Selections
- Lighting Design
- Procurement of all Interior Selections
- Installation of Interiors Selections
- Coordination with Permit Expediters
- Construction Documents + Detailing
- Construction Administration
- Time, Cost + Quality Management
- Consultant Coordination + Management
Press
Press
Studio MUKA’s boldest move in this Los Angeles home? A garage door in the living room.
