Michael Kovac Founder and Design Partner

Born into an Air Force family in coastal Maine, Michael Kovac spent his formative years living around the world, including extended time in Okinawa, Japan. Early exposure to aviation, precision engineering, and non-Western architecture instilled a sensitivity to structure, material expression, and cultural nuance—elements that continue to inform his work. He went on to study architecture at the University of Southern California, where he was awarded a Trustee Scholarship.

Michael began his professional career in the office of modernist architect Jerrold Lomax, where he absorbed a disciplined approach to proportion, detailing, and contextual design. In 1988, he established KOVAC (formerly Kovac Design Studio), a multidisciplinary practice recognized for its elevated modernism and deeply site-responsive architecture. From meticulously crafted residences to innovative commercial and wellness spaces, Michael’s work is grounded in the belief that architecture should be thoughtful, enduring, and quietly transformative.

In addition to architecture, Michael’s design interests span lighting and furniture, disciplines he sees as natural extensions of the architectural narrative. Under his leadership, KOVAC is developing a line of lighting for mass production and a curated selection of furniture pieces that reflect the studio’s ethos: restrained, tactile, and intentional.

A dedicated environmentalist, Michael lives with his wife, Karina, a pediatrician, in Sycamore House—the firm’s first LEED Platinum-certified residence and an embodiment of KOVAC’s commitment to sustainability and integrated design. Outside of the studio, Michael draws inspiration from time spent in nature. A lifelong outdoorsman, he finds clarity and creative energy in mountain biking, paddleboarding, and skiing.