Today we’d like to introduce you to Karin Liljegren.
Karin, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I grew up in NJ, the quintessential 1950’s suburbs of Manhattan. By 15 I knew I wanted to be an Architect and that I hated the suburbs. Sometimes I’d sneak into the city and get off at 42nd street – in the 80’s when there was no Disney, only hookers, and drug dealers. A 15-year-old, white girl from the suburbs alone – if my parents only knew. I had a lot of early year struggles with men mentors in the business telling me I couldn’t be an Architect. I had a deep self-confidence issue. Thankfully my biological makeup from birth is a fighter, leader and efficiency machine – though it took me about 40 years to figure that out.
I did undergrad in Architecture in Charlotte NC and got my masters in Architecture at UCLA. After 7 long years of all-nighters in design studio I was ready to work and climb up that ladder!
My first real architecture job was with KFA in Santa Monica. I was there for 15 years and had the most amazing bosses – Barbara and Wade – they gave me autonomy, opportunities for growth and lots of encouragement. I thrived, well, after I fell on my butt a lot because this profession is tough!
While at KFA we got the first Adaptive Reuse project in DTLA. It was 1999 and we converted 3 historic high rises (now known as the Old Bank District at 4th & Main). It was primarily my project and I got hooked to the point of obsession on these old historic buildings and on revitalizing DTLA.
I’ve been doing just that – exclusively – for the last 18 years. In 2008 I was a single parent living downtown. In 2009 I started my firm Omgivning. Yes – a single mom, starting my business in the middle of the recession – a female no less – by myself. I didn’t really think too much about it – I was just on my “path”.
Fast forward to 2017 and I have an amazing staff of 26. I’ve worked hard at “growing them up” in the company so that I don’t have to always be the lone person running this ship. We have had our hands in over 250 buildings in DTLA since 2009. I’m starting other businesses that are related to Omgivning and I’m constantly coming up with new ideas for growth – personally, financially and business wise.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Omgivning – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Omgivning is a Swedish word that describes how a space feels around you.
At Omgivning, we are Architects, Interior Designers and Urbanists. We specialize in revitalizing buildings in particular in and around DTLA.
We work on small 950sf cafes all the way up to 2 million sf historic landmark adaptive reuse projects. We do a large range of program types including multi-family housing, hotel, office, restaurants/bars and furniture design. No matter the scale of project, we are centered in our love for Urban life. No matter the type of project, we are passionate about seamlessly blending architecture and interior design to create spaces that have a “sense of place” that is inspiring.
Our expertise and passion is to design within an existing space and/or with complex constraints. We take cues from the existing fabric and weave in new life based on the new use of the space. We strive for an emotional sense of wellbeing and authenticity in our spaces
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
LIKE: Los Angeles is a place for people to find and/or make themselves. There is an overwhelming feeling of innovation, experimentation, non-traditional thinking that can lead to great things. Because of this, we are constantly evolving and changing.
DISLIKE: In the morning when I enter my office building in the Historic Core, when I have to step over a person passed out on drugs or seeing a mentally ill guy take a dump in the street 4′ away from me.
Contact Info:
- Address: 724 S Spring Street #501 Los Angeles, CA 90014
- Website: omgivning.com
- Phone: 213.596.5602
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: omgivning_architects
- Facebook: omgivning
Image Credit:
Hunter Kerhart
Emi Kitawaki
Shimahara Illustration
Binyan 3D
Getting in touch: VoyageLA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
