We had the good fortune of connecting with juliana touma and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi juliana, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My thought process behind starting atelier akari architecture was to introduce sustainable building principals to the middle-class residential client.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Juliana obtained her Bachelor of Architecture with Honors from the University of Miami in 2005. She then continued to work full time for Eastshore Architects as a junior architect designing high-end residences in South Florida and the Caribbean. While completing her Master of Geography, Planning/Zoning, Environment, Logistics and Trade at the University of Paris Sorbonne IV, she worked for the local Parisian architecture studio Arnaud Thomassian and Guillaum LeClercq. In 2012 Juliana Touma opened Atelier Akari Architecture which is based on Miami Florida and specialize in residential architecture. Through the practice we are able to build upon the many lessons learned from other practices and universities.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Our office is based in South Beach and we always recommend visiting the beach and lummus park.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Juliana began her career in architecture as a student at the University of Miami interning for the summer in Boca Raton with KCA Design Group Inc. Juliana then went on to work with many other firms which include; the Historical Detroit based firm Howard Sims Design Group Inc, local Miami Professional Structural Engineer Hoshmand Vaziri, and Coral Gables based firm Eastshore Architects.

Recently Juliana has collaborated on projects with the houston based firm Hines Architecture and Design and Laurinda Spear at ArquitectonicaStudio.

Website: atelierakari.com

Instagram: atelierakari_

Linkedin: atelier akari architecture

Image Credits
juliana touma

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