Archinect
Maria Kuzminskaia

Maria Kuzminskaia

Los Angeles, CA, US

 

About 

Maria Kuzminskaia is an experienced design leader with expertise in building design and project management. She is principal and co-founder of the Los Angeles based design studio MetropolitanmomentuM. Her professional career has been focused on architecture, urbanism, research, and development. Continuously, she aims to find an appropriate balance between the built environment and nature. She brings a unique human touch to her craft. It reflects a strong connection to nature and technology. She pays particular attention to details and quality. She has designed, supervised, and/or managed the development of a variety of local and international projects.

She has traveled the world learning from other cultures and their traditions. She has always been interested in connecting to the human spirit, and this is translated into her professional work regardless of its size, scope, complexity, and/or budget. The type of projects she has helped to design, to manage, and/or to develop range from skyscrapers and movie theaters to single home residences and public art structures. They carry similar design sensibilities as a result of her consistent professional stewardship.

Maria implements the best management practices, innovative ideas, and advanced design tools to every project. Management and design excellence is rooted in her professional endeavors.

Maria works directly with clients, and she personally oversees, coordinates and manages the design team and all consultants.

Maria has been honored with various architectural and design awards from multiple institutions and organizations. She graduated from the Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc) in Los Angeles with a Post-Professional Master Degree, and she obtained professional Master and Bachelor Degrees in Architecture from Saint Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering (SPbGASU) in Saint Petersburg, Russia.

Employment 

Pleskow Architects, Inc., Los Angeles, CA, US, SENIOR PROJECT DESIGNER, PROJECT MANAGER

PROJECTS:

- 3714 Kelton Apartments, Los Angeles, CA
- 4025 Grandview townhouses, Culver City, CA
- UCLA North Athletic Sports Field, UCLA, CA
- 12821 West Washington Apartments, Culver City, CA
- H2O Town Park, Water Replenishment District, Pico Rivera, CA
- Park Drive House Remodeling, Los Angeles, CA
- Clover Park Restroom replacement, Santa Monica, CA
- LOOK Cinemas Lexington, Lexington, TX
- Dallas Film Center, Dallas, TX
- New York Roof Top, New York City, NY
- Retaining Wall "The Cut", Echo Park, CA
- J.Lindeberg, West Hollywood, CA
- LA Pool House, Los Angeles, CA
- West Los Angeles Residence, Los Angeles, CA
- LOOK Cinemas Santa Monica Place, CA
- Naud Street Development, CA
- LOOK Cinema Clearfork
- Fashion Island Cinema, CA
- St Andrews Apartments, CA
- Temple Apartments, CA

Oct 2013 - current
 

MetropolitanmomentuM, Los Angeles, CA, US, PRINCIPAL + CO-FOUNDER

RECENT AWARDS:

- American Architecture Prize 2017 - Bracero Monument - Public / Installations & Structures - Honorable Mention

- American Architecture Prize 2017 - Los Angeles River Habitable Bridge - Transportation / Urban Design - Honorable Mention

- Iconic Awards 2017, Germany - Floating Gardens - Best of Best, Category Concept / Visionary Architecture

- American Architecture Prize 2016 - Pushkinsky International Cinema Hall At Moscow - Revitalization - Heritage Architecture - Bronze Prize

- American Architecture Prize 2016 - Pushkinsky International Cinema Hall At Moscow - Revitalization - Architectural Design / Misc. Architecture - Silver Prize

- American Architecture Prize 2016 - Floating Gardens - Landscape Architecture / Educational - Honorable Mention

- Worldbuild 365 - 2016 Heritage Architecture - Project of the week

Apr 2012 - current
 

ARABTEC CONSTRUCTION LLC, Saint Petersburg, RU, ARCHITECT, CODE CONSULTANT

-PROJECTS:

- 86 Story Office Building "Gazprom", Saint Petersburg, Russia

Feb 2011 - Jul 2011
 

Studio Caracciolo, New York, NY, US, PROJECT DESIGNER

PROJECTS:

- 262 Mott Street Nolita Holiday Market Interior Design, New York, NY

Nov 2010 - Dec 2010
 

ARCHITECTURAL WORKGROUP B2, Saint Petersburg, RU, LEAD ARCHITECT

PROJECTS:

- 25 Story Apartment Building, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- 30 Story Office Building, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Business Center "Intercom", Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Lobby at luxury apartment building, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- IT Campus, Bonch-Bruevich State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Mitsubishi/Mazda Car Salon Interior Design, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Satellite Town Urban Planning, Saint Petersburg Region, Russia
- Shopping Mall "Shkiperkii" interior Design, Saint Petersburg, Russia

AWARDS:

- Project of the Year Saint Petersburg Board of Architects - 2009

Aug 2004 - Aug 2010
 

Education 

Southern California Institute of Architecture (SCI-Arc), Los Angeles, CA, US, Masters, MASTER OF DESIGN RESEARCH STYDIES (POST-GRADUATE, 3 SEMESTER PROGRAM)

Sep 2012 - Sep 2013
 

Saint-Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Saint Petersburg, RU, MArch, DIPLOMA OF SPECIALIZED STUDIES (GRADUATE, 1,5 YEAR PROGRAM)

Jan 2005 - Jul 2006
 

Saint-Petersburg State University of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Saint Petersburg, RU, BArch, BACHELOR (UNDERGRADUATE, 4,5 YEAR PROGRAM)

Sep 2000 - Jan 2005
 

Awards 

American Architecture Prize 2017 - Bracero Monument - Public / Installations & Structures - Honorable Mention, Honorable Mention

Bracero Monument
Category: Public / Installations & Structures - Honorable Mention

2017
 

Iconic Awards 2017, Germany - Floating Gardens - Best of Best, Category Concept / Visionary Architecture, 1st Place

Floating Gardens
Best of Best, Category Concept / Visionary Architecture

2017
 

American Architecture Prize 2017 - Los Angeles River Habitable Bridge - Transportation / Urban Design - Honorable Mention, Honorable Mention

Los Angeles River Habitable Bridge
Category: Transportation / Urban Design - Honorable Mention

2017
 

American Architecture Prize 2016 - Pushkinsky International Cinema Hall At Moscow - Revitalization - Heritage Architecture - Bronze Prize, 3rd Place

Pushkinsky International Cinema Hall At Moscow - Revitalization - Heritage Architecture - Bronze Prize

2016
 

American Architecture Prize 2016 - Floating Gardens - Landscape Architecture / Educational - Honorable Mention, Honorable Mention

Floating Gardens - Landscape Architecture / Educational - Honorable Mention

2016
 

American Architecture Prize 2016 - Pushkinsky International Cinema Hall At Moscow - Revitalization - Architectural Design / Misc. Architecture - Silver Prize, 2nd Place

Pushkinsky International Cinema Hall At Moscow - Revitalization - Architectural Design / Misc. Architecture - Silver Prize

2016
 

Worldbuild 365 - 2016 Heritage Architecture - Pushkinsky International Cinema Hall At Moscow - Revitalization - Project of the week, Award

Worldbuild 365 - 2016 Heritage Architecture - Pushkinsky International Cinema Hall At Moscow - Revitalization - Project of the week

2016
 

PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION ‘ARCHITECTURAL PHOTO’, 1st Place

ORGANIZER: ST PETERSBURG UNION OF ARCHITECTS

2009
 

APARTMENT INTERIOR SPACE IN DWELLING HOUSE ‘CITY OF YACHTS’ MOSCOW, SHORT-LIST (5 BEST PROJECTS), Honorable Mention

PUBLISHED IN MAGAZINE ‘WORLD OF NEW SETTLER’ (#64 JULY 2006)

2006
 

1ST PRIZE AT INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION OF DIPLOMAS AND WORK IN ARCHITECTURE ORGANIZER: INTERREGIONAL SOCIAL ORGANIZATION FOR ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE, 1st Place

INTERNATIONAL COMPETITION OF DIPLOMAS AND WORK IN ARCHITECTURE

ORGANIZER: INTERREGIONAL SOCIAL ORGANIZATION FOR ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION ASSISTANCE

2005
 

Skills