Zabie Mustafa (left) and Neda Kakhsaz (right), founders of Studio MUKA. Photograph by Taghi Naderzad, courtesy of Studio MUKA.

Starting your own practice comes with a mixture of excitement, collaboration, stressors, and endless problem-solving. As a new firm, architects Neda Kakhsaz and Zabie Mustafa are developing their approach to architectural design and how they would like to make their mark within the industry. After meeting as architecture students at Pratt Institute, they have embarked on showcasing their design sensibilities by creating strong narratives surrounded by a specific "theme or topic as it relates to the sensibilities of the project location" with their collaborators and clients.

For our latest Studio Snapshots installment, we chat with Neda and Zabie, co-founders of Studio MUKA, to discuss their journey of starting their own firm and what they hope to create as a budding design practice. 

Studio MUKA was previously featured in Archinect's 20 Must-Watch Emerging U.S.-Based Architecture Practices in July 2023. The duo shared what it means to be a West Coast-based architecture firm and how being in Los Angeles influences their work. "We are always crossing disciplines from the very early stages of design to bring together all elements that form a space [...] Los Angeles and California at large have always been a place for innovation and the birthplace of many cultural, technological, and economic movements that have influenced the whole world. There is so much layered history in this region, even though it feels like things are constantly changing."

Can you briefly share your architecture journey and what led you to start your own practice? How did you both meet?

Our architecture journey began in 2011 when we met while studying architecture at Pratt Institute in Brooklyn. Through the years, we have collaborated on numerous projects, and it felt natural that one day we would begin our own practice. Studio MUKA was founded in 2021 as a full-service architecture and interior design studio with a multidisciplinary approach that spans ground-up buildings, interiors, and object design for both residential and commercial projects.

How large is your team? How is your office structured?

We are a boutique-sized firm with a team of 4–6 people. We all work very collaboratively on every aspect of our projects, from our internal team to our external team of fabricators, contractors, and vendors. We are always creating and sharing with one another, and we truly believe that great work emerges from collaboration.

We have always sought to create our own practice, where we can create a platform for new ideas. We look at every project as an opportunity to discover something new, and we take discovery and experimentation very seriously, rooted in the past but always looking towards the future.

What are the benefits of having your own practice? Is scaling up a goal?

We have always sought to create our own practice, where we can create a platform for new ideas. We look at every project as an opportunity to discover something new, and we take discovery and experimentation very seriously, rooted in the past but always looking towards the future. We always go back to this notion of thinking and making at the foundation of our practice, whether it be the exploration of the limits on a certain material as a starting point or sketching a quick idea that inspires a whole concept for a project. Ultimately, we are very excited to continue growing into the fabric of the profession and working with ambitious clients who resonate with our ethos and are as excited as we are about the future of design. We would love to keep expanding on projects in the residential sector but are seeking opportunities to work on unique institutional and retail projects. We dream of tapping into our background in exhibition design as well as collaborating with artists and creatives.

Working on buildings and interiors means that every day will bring new challenges as no two projects are the same, and no two clients are the same either.

What have been your biggest challenges in starting and running your own practice?

We are firm believers that anything good and worthwhile takes a lot of effort and time. Working on buildings and interiors means that every day will bring new challenges as no two projects are the same, and no two clients are the same either. We like to think we thrive when faced with challenges because that really is what design is about. We are constantly solving problems, whether it’s around the intellectual exercise of creating a concept for a project or down to the details of the construction of a space or even a custom piece of furniture. On a technical note, probably the most challenging aspect is understanding how to value our own time. Time is our most valuable asset, and we are focusing on spending the majority of our time on pushing every project and our practice forward and doing what we do best.

What’s something you strive to change when it comes to architecture’s problematic work culture?

We are big believers that creating a great working culture and a creative environment is key to making really meaningful work. We feel it is very important that everyone has a voice in the practice, and we strive to make the office a laboratory of learning, thinking, and making. We also believe that each team member is an author of the projects they are working on and that architecture is a team sport; no project can be done with one person alone.

Are there any exciting projects in process or recently completed?

Yes, we are currently working on several very exciting projects. We just completed a Concept Design for a ground-up residence in the desert located in Joshua Tree with complete passive heating and cooling systems and integrated architectural furnishings that play on the sculptural and ephemeral qualities of the landscape. We recently completed a project in Los Gatos, California. It is an extensive renovation to a 1950s residence amidst a lush canopy of Redwood trees. Another project we really enjoyed working on recently is a private residence located on the eastern end of Long Island, New York, with spectacular roofs that form curved ceilings on the interior.

Where do you hope to see Studio MUKA in the next five years?

We envision our practice continuously growing in size and working with great clients on more amazing projects. The majority of our projects are residential, and we have plans to work on more cultural and public projects. We are always open to collaboration and are so excited about new prospects on the horizon. We are interested in working with individuals who are looking to collaborate with us on all kinds of various scales of projects. We strive to achieve a “total work of art” with each and every project, and we always tell our team to think of every element in a space.

What qualities do you look for in new hires?

Individuals who are curious design thinkers who are always eager to learn and expand their knowledge and are excited about working in a collaborative environment. Everything in design is extremely collaborative, so it is also important to have sharp communication skills and the drive to keep moving projects forward. One key element we look for is individuals who have a broad understanding and love for architecture and art history and an intuitive eye for design.

If you could describe your work/practice in three words, what would they be?

Memory, feeling, atmosphere

What do you want your firm to be remembered for?

It is really important for us to push the practice and industry of architecture and interior design forward.

What’s the most played song on your work playlist? OR What music do you listen to when working?

We often listen to jazz and classical music in the studio.

You never leave the office without ______?

Measuring tape and felt tip pens! We always bring a sketchbook and our camera.