omgivning

In Swedish, the word omgivning translates to “the way a space feels.” Through architecture and interior design projects, we at Omgivning breathe new life into existing spaces. We are placemakers and creative problem-solvers, designing programmatically and historically rich work that brings people together amid warmth and vitality.

Our work is rooted in a love for the extraordinary urban fabric of Los Angeles. We started this firm in 2009, early in the recession. Our mission then was the same as it is now: to bring a place from disuse to purpose, one existing building at a time. Today, Omgivning is a collective force for revitalization in and around downtown, where our studio occupies the entire floor of an old high-rise. Across more than 250 projects, we have become the go-to choice for clients seeking a specialist’s understanding of process, code, budgeting, and construction, especially as they relate to the highly technical challenges of adaptive reuse. As our work evolves, we are using that knowledge to extend our impact across the city and the globe.

We begin each project by listening closely to a building, its interior spaces, and our client. When we implement design strategies, they’re centered on two principles: urbanism and humanism. As urbanists, we love how a project thrives when it’s woven into the area’s overall fabric, tying together personal and social histories, current uses, and future objectives. As humanists, we make work that addresses the universal urge to enjoy the acts of eating, living, and creating. For us, characteristics like texture, form, color, and light are subtle cues that help people relate to a place and to each other. Naturally, this work is often very personal for us.

Our portfolio ranges from a 950 SF cafe to a two-million SF historic landmark. We are creating new hotels, creative offices, multi-family housing, restaurants, bars, and theaters. We also design furniture and lighting fixtures for projects by us and by others.

As our impact has grown in Los Angeles and beyond, we’ve expanded our staff, careful to hire only thoughtful, sociable people who enjoy grappling with the forces shaping today’s cities. We now employ more than 30 architects and interior designers who maintain a robust office culture based in knowledge-sharing and fulfilling our goals for the places we love. People work at Omgivning because they believe in the power of shared experience—whether they’re inside the office, down the street, or anywhere in the world.