Michael K Chen Architecture is a design practice that delivers innovative and highly crafted work for clients who value thoughtful and considered design. MKCA combines architecture, interior design, and product design through a collaborative and cohesive process. They have experience working on projects of various scales, from individual apartments to single-family homes and larger buildings. We had the chance to sit down with Michael K Chen himself, so read on to discover why his firm is one of the most respected in the industry today!
CovetED Magazine : Can you tell us about the beginning of your journey in the design world? How did the love for architecture emerge?
Michael K Chen : I was always drawing and building things as a kid. I think I decided to be an architect at age 6, and it just stuck with me.
CovetED Magazine : You founded your company in your own apartment in 2011. What were the main challenges and what motivated you to do so?
Michael K Chen : Before that, I worked on small side projects, first with a friend, and then on my own between office jobs and teaching. In 2011, I got a big project that required a team. We started with two people in a sublet office space, and grew into a shared office. It was the idea of having a team that excited me. Building a team with different backgrounds and perspectives makes our work richer. It's something I've always wanted, and once the opportunity came, it became about building and sustaining that team. It's the hardest and most rewarding part of running a practice because it forced me to learn how to manage people, bring out the best in them, and run the office smartly—things not taught in school.
CovetED Magazine : How would you describe your signature style?
Michael K Chen : We avoid any visual signature or style. Instead, we focus on craft, color, materiality, and play. We enjoy complex and challenging projects, and we are interested in intricacy. I find the most rewarding situations when there are many requirements, complexities, and voices that need to come together in harmony.
CovetED Magazine: How does everything start when you have a new project in your hands? Tell us a bit more about your creative process.
Michael K Chen : Most of our projects are commissioned, so we start by asking a lot of questions and listening. We talk about the values, concerns, and functional and budgetary needs of the project. We try to understand both what the client needs and what they value, and find ways to make those two things align in an interesting way. Through this process, we often identify collaborators—consultants, artists, designers, scientists, or other experts. We use digital models from the beginning, creating precise representations of spaces or sites. Then we sketch, iterate, collect images, and create problems to solve. Over time, ideas begin to form.
CovetED Magazine: For you, what is the secret to creating something unique?
Michael K Chen : Curiosity, listening, and learning to work well with others.
CovetED Magazine : If you had to name the project of your career and your life, which would it be and why?
Michael K Chen : That’s an impossible question! We look for opportunities to learn and grow as a practice. We’re doing more civic and cultural work, which we’d love to expand. While I wouldn’t call it the project of my career, my husband and I are building a small house in the country. It’s been a very interesting process—ambitious yet humble.
CovetED Magazine: What is the main message that you want to pass to the design world with your beautiful projects?
Michael K Chen : Our priority has been to connect our work to the values we and our clients hold. As designers, we have a responsibility to promote excellence—not through luxury or rare materials, but through people, their ideas, and their labor. We’re focused on craftsmanship and connecting it to broader issues. We’re also looking for ways to reduce waste, use local materials, and support ethical practices. This isn’t about slapping a label on old methods, but about rethinking what’s beautiful and compelling, and finding the right partners to help us achieve that.
CovetED Magazine : In your opinion, what is the big change that the pandemic brought to the design world?
Michael K Chen : The pandemic has made collaboration more important than ever. Remote communication tools have normalized virtual relationships, and we’ve had more conversations and cooperation than before. It also highlighted structural inequities, pushing us to rethink our role in society. We started a nonprofit network called Design Advocates to provide design services to underserved communities during the pandemic, and it’s been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.
CovetED Magazine : We are excited to know about what the future holds for the great Michael K Chen. What are your next steps?
Michael K Chen : We're working on several new ground-up buildings, which is exciting for us. We're also expanding into public projects and launching a furniture collection with TRNK later this year. And we're growing our team, which is always fun and rewarding.
“For us, that’s never been about luxury or the most precious materials, nor has it ever been about a signature aesthetic. It’s generally been about people, their ideas, and their labor.†– Michael K Chen
CovetED Magazine : Which piece of advice can you give to the young professionals today?
Michael K Chen : Every experience and person in your professional life is an opportunity to learn. Many architects and designers (myself included) tend to isolate themselves, thinking they must figure everything out alone. But recognizing your limits and using the people around you is empowering and the fastest way to grow.
What do you think about Michael K Chen ‘s interior designs? Let us know!
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