Jaya Kader is the founding principal of KZ architecture. Born and raised in San Jose, Costa Rica, she spent 15 years in Boston before moving to Miami.
Prior to starting KZ architecture, Jaya collaborated with renowned architects Robert A.M. Stern, Moshe Safdie, and Graham Gund. With them she worked on numerous projects including public libraries, municipal centers, houses of worship, and luxury resorts throughout the United States and Latin America.
A member of the American Institute of Architects, Jaya earned a Master of Architecture at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design in Boston in 1988.
Prior to that, she received her Bachelor’s Degree from Brandeis University (1984) Summa-Cum-Laude with highest honors in Art and Architectural History. Jaya is also a member of the US Green Building Council and a LEED accredited professional.
Her design philosophy is one of context and purpose. Through an in depth study of place, she responds to the specific conditions of each site, with the aim that her projects can become one with their surroundings. Through dialogue with her clients, she strives to achieve clarity of purpose.
The firm approaches its work with the calling of service and a humanistic perspective that good design has the potential to enhance the quality of life in any setting.
While her professional knowledge is complemented by constant research and openness to new ideas, KZ architecture is consistently rooted in basic practices. These include a commitment to sustainability, a focus on craft, materials and constructability, and an emphasis on process and collaboration.
Drawing from South Florida’s subtropical climate, the firm’s projects strive to capitalize on indoor/outdoor living integration.
For more information, www.kzarchitecture.com
Image Credits: Photo courtesy of KZ Architecture.