Kobi Karp

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Kobi Karp (b. November 1, 1962) is a famed Miami architect who is the principal and founder of Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design, Inc. (KKAID), a vertically integrated full-service architectural and interior design firm.

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Kobi Karp

Karp is known for specializing creative and innovative design solutions to governments, historical preservation boards, societies and communities. His work is a reflection of Le Corbusier, Gropius, Ralph Rapson and Morris Lapidus in regards to progressive architecture. He also designs in an ecological mindset and bases many of his green building construction from architects such as Maurice Fatio with his use of cross ventilation and covered terraces.

Early life

Throughout the United States and the Caribbean working on major hospitality and all inclusive resort projects.

During the spring of 1986 Karp toured Europe sketching various monasteries and cloisters surrounding the Alps with architect Garth Rockcastle. He gained an understanding of the past learning how previous civilizations lived to design for future ones.

While in college Karp worked in various jobs in the architectural and construction industry and learned how architectural building projects were constructed and learned the methodology of the business. He worked for the respective Minnesotan firms of Waters, Cluts, and O’Brien and under the architect John Cunningham.

One of the first big projects he lent his expertise to was a project for the Town Hall in Elk River, MN as a member of the Governor's design team. He was part of the development of the downtown Elk River and Mississippi riverfront. As an architectural student Governor Rudy Perpich charged him and the team with creating a multi-purpose civic center with an observatory, cafeteria and underground parking.

In 1987 the University of Minnesota honored Karp for his work on the Elk River project. In that same year he graduated from the University of Minnesota at age 24 and was the youngest registered architect in 1988 at the age of 25 when he passed the Architect Registration Exam.

In 1988 he was hired by Lane, Pettigrew, and Jones to run their Miami office on Lincoln Road designed by one of Karp’s future collaborators Morris Lapidus and served as a career catalyst.

1993 Karp was engaged and began to consider Miami home and where he wanted to raise a family.

Kobi Karp architecture & interior design

Karp founded KKAID in 1995 and in operation to date the firm has been linked to $10 billion dollars in projects globally.

Art deco restorations

Karp was one of the key figures in the early 90’s revival of Miami Beach’s historic Art Deco district that restored the city’s hotels and residential buildings to their former splendor and glamor. Notable projects were the preservation and restoration of Miami Beach’s Astor, Edison, Clevelander and Breakwater hotels.

1996 Karp renovated and restored the 1936 Hotel Astor originally designed by architect T. Hunter Henderson. ‎ The lobby is an example of quintessential haute minimalism of the modern art deco look. In 1996 the Miami Beach Design Preservation League issued him the Excellence in Historic Preservation award for his work on the Hotel Astor.

In 1998 Karp renovated Lapidus’ 1966 Seacoast Towers in Miami, forging a strong bond between the two architects.

In addition to working extensively in the historic Art Deco district Karp’s creations dot the Miami skyline. His buildings range from intricate residential buildings to mixed use expansive skyscrapers.

“Architecture is a reflection of society…Buildings are always different. I think the way to understand who you are and where you are going, you have to know the past of you and your civilization,” Karp says.

KKAID has been international since 1988 but has recently expanded their architectural and interior design services to new luxury clients and can be seen across the globe. The project scope of KKAID’s global expansion centers around large-scale design and construction projects for hotel chains, luxury high and mid-rise condominium towers, commercial town centers, mixed-use developments and town planning. Some recent project locations include; Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sochi, Cancun, Romania, Grenada, Russia, Mexico, and Asia.

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Etihad - Approx. sf for the development to date is 440,000 SM.

A recent project the firm is currently involved in is the Etihad development project in Abu Dhabi.Etihad Village is a 4700 residential unit complex that will provide housing for Etihad Airways employees. The development is part of a master plan development called Al Raha Beach, a stretch of land along the coast just outside of Abu Dhabi.

Throughout his nearly 25 year history KKAID has amassed recognition and accolades from both the architect industry elite and municipalities where his works blend and enhance their urban infrastructure. Miami Design Preservation League, Dade Heritage Trust, Florida Builders Association all have presented awards to Karp. He's received the Outstanding Leadership Award, and in 1999 the named Karp the Outstanding Young Architect of the Year and also issued him the Outstanding Service Award.

In 1999 the American Institute of Architects awarded Karp with an Outstanding Service Award for his role in bringing world famous architect back into the organization. Lapidus’ return after years of denouncing the group following a 1963 scathing insult by his peers inside one of his hotels during an AIA meeting.

Karp was able to persuade him back in the fold to speak and be honored by the AIA. The group chose Karp to broker this unusual request since one of his early projects included work on one of Lapidus’ buildings, the Seacoast. Karp succeeded in bringing Lapidus to the event and rightfully earned the prestigious award.

In 2001 KKAID began a restoration and renovation project of Miami Beach’s Cadillac Hotel. The building space owned by Marriott included two buildings; one was originally constructed in 1939 the other was built in 1956. Karp and his team restored the 1939 lobby and turned the 1956 lobby into a restaurant.

Karp says, “My philosophy combines my professional and personal views. I feel that architecture must relate and appeal to the human spirit and soul. I believe architecture must use innovative techniques to create mood with function—always striving to design interesting, higher quality projects for clients while ultimately producing a successful environment.”

Green philosophy

Karp uses Ecological Building measures in many principles of green architecture in his designs.

Karp’s design of Absolut Lofts won a 2006 Pillars of the Industry Award and received an award from the Historical Preservation society for its use as an infill project. Karp designed the condo buildings in the green fashion, before green was popular. His buildings employ dramatic shading, cross ventilation, and window placement that maximizes the lighting of the units to save on energy. ‎

In April 2007, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) recognized Baylights Condominium a design project spearheaded by Karp as the first green residential building in South Florida.

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Kobi Karp at the DBA Award ceremony held at Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago Club.

“Do I think green architecture is the future? Absolutely,” says Karp. “We utilize the green building process consistently and continuously on our projects.”

He goes on to say, “What may be new to you may not be new to humanity. Preserving the environment and our history helps us be more civilized and cohesive in a rapidly expanding global community.”

‎Just recently in November 2007 Kobi was named “Architect of the Year” by the Developers & Builders Alliance.

Karp’s designs are generally regarded as progressive for his use of the latest materials, concepts and ideas.

1101 brickell and empire world towers

Two large scale Miami projects currently in the works designed by Karp include Miami’s Empire World Towers and the 1101 Brickell Building; both projects have the potential of being added to the list of the world’s tallest buildings.

The 1101 Brickell Building is a planned hi-rise recently approved by the City of Miami and the Federal Aviation Administration to be built in downtown Miami. When completed in early 2010 the 74 floor building will be the second tallest building in Miami at a height of 849 ft. The building slated to be constructed in the southern part of Miami's Brickell Financial District was home to the former Banco Industrial de Venezuela building. Karp preserved the building and will build the new tower adjacent to it. The building was highly desired by city lawmakers for its ability to connect Brickell to Bayshore Dr. by a pedestrian walkway joining the buildings and the two major thoroughfares.

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Empire World Towers

Empire World Towers , the Miami complex is comprised of 2 proposed super tall skyscrapers joined by three glass walkways connecting the two towers. Both towers to stand at 1,200 ft, with 106 stories each and be pedestrian friendly with commercial, retail and condo-hotel residential ambiance. If built, the Empire World Towers would surpass the Four Seasons Hotel and Tower as the tallest buildings in Florida and may, become the two tallest all-residential buildings in the world.

Additionally the towers would also boast being the tallest concrete structures in the world and be among the tallest buildings in the United States.

Corporate clients

Hospitality corporations such as Hyatt, Hilton, Starwood, and Club Med; Development Corporations such as The Related Group, Fortune International, Cornerstone Group, Aldar Properties, and Nakheel employ KKAID to design new properties, renovate existing ones, create interiors and plan sites for pending development.

Karp is also a licensed contractor and interior designer based in Miami. He is also an active member of the American Institute of Architects, The American Society of Interior Design, National Trust for Historic Preservation League, and several other professional associations

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