Today we’d like to introduce you to Marija Volkman.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m Marija Volkman—architect, mother of two, and someone who chose architecture when I didn’t quite have the nerve to become an artist but knew I had a solid handle on math. I’m originally from Serbia, where I started my studies before life—as it often does—got complicated. After years marked by wars, dictatorship, hyperinflation, and political unrest, I left in 2000 and moved to Prague, Czech Republic. There, I finished school, worked for several respected architecture firms, and slowly built a practice of my own on the side. Those side projects grew into a real studio, which we ran out of the back of my partner’s parents’ paint shop.
In 2007, I married an American journalist, and we moved to Los Angeles for his “two-year writing experiment,” which is still going strong 17 years later. Today, I’m one of three partners running a bi-continental architecture practice with projects across the U.S. and Europe. I design homes, spaces, and stories—and I’m also raising two wildly creative daughters who keep me honest, humble, and constantly inspired.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not exactly a smooth road—more like a winding, cobblestone one with a few surprise detours and the occasional pothole. I left Serbia in my early twenties, learned Czech so I wouldn’t have to pay for school in Prague, and rebuilt my life from scratch. When I landed in LA, it was the start of the recession. I had no job, no network, and 30% of architects were being laid off. Somehow, I figured out how to stay employed the entire time—part grit, part stubbornness, and probably a little bit of luck.
There were years of unpaid competitions, visa bureaucracy, and the delicate dance of proving myself in a male-dominated field. I built a practice while raising kids, one of them on the spectrum, and went through a divorce along the way. There were moments when I felt completely overwhelmed—like I was patching together a life out of duct tape and deadlines—but I kept showing up. I stayed curious. I kept building.
All of it taught me how to stay creative under pressure, how to trust my instincts, and—most importantly—how to prioritize relationships and joy. These days, I say yes to projects that feel aligned, to people who energize me, and to work that reflects my values. I’ve learned that a beautiful life, much like a well-designed space, is about balance, rhythm, light, and flow. I’m still learning, still evolving, but I’m doing it on my own terms now—and that feels like success.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
I’m a partner at Archicraft Studio, a bi-continental architecture practice based in Los Angeles and Prague. We’re a small, independent firm with big ideas—and a collaborative spirit that spans time zones and design cultures. We specialize in high-end custom homes, creative spaces, and restaurants—we especially love helping build brands and scale them into thriving chains. Whether it’s a dreamy hillside residence or a bold new hospitality concept, we approach each project as a unique narrative that deserves thoughtful, inventive design.
What sets us apart is that we truly love to build. Many of our projects don’t just stay on paper—they actually come to life. We are trained as engineers as well as architects, with a European education that emphasized both structure and creativity. That means we don’t just dream up beautiful concepts—we know how to make them real, practical, and lasting. We understand the construction process deeply and speak the language of contractors, consultants, and city planners, which helps keep projects moving and grounded in reality.
Clients trust us not only for our vision, but for our responsiveness, clarity, and ability to navigate every phase of a project—from zoning and budgeting to final construction details. We are proud of the collaborative relationships we’ve built across disciplines, and we approach each new project as a creative partnership.
Lately, we’ve been expanding into post-disaster rebuilds, offering guidance and resources to homeowners navigating difficult transitions, including a manual I created after the California fires.
More than anything, we care—about the people we work with, the stories we are helping tell, and the lasting impact that good design, well-built, can have on real lives.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
For me, success isn’t just about awards, square footage, or how many projects we land—though those things are nice. Real success is when the work feels aligned with my values, when I’m proud of what we are building—not just the projects, but the practice, the team, and the life around it. It’s about creating spaces with intention, and a business with integrity.
Success is also feeling like I can be fully myself—in the studio, on site, or at the dinner table. It’s having time for my kids, for joy, for friendships. It’s inspiring others and being inspired daily. It’s staying curious, growing through the challenges, and finding those moments—big or small—when I think, Yes. This matters.
And if I get to do it with people I respect, laugh with, and learn from? That’s the real win.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://archicraft.co/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archicraftus/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marija-volkman/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w5H_G_7rtUI
- Other: https://www.marijavolkman.com
Image Credits
Eric Staudenmaier
Peter Dowd
Thomas Dittrich
