Lovers Unite is an architecture and design practice creating one-of-a-kind homes and memorable hospitality spaces, mostly in California.

Karen Spector and Alan Koch, who are partners in both life and professional practice, have created a studio that is passionate about collaboration and building community through design.

Our portfolio of architecture and interior design completed for both residential and commercial spaces has been recognized in several publications, including the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Magazine, Dezeen, and Eater among others.

Recent notable projects include the restaurant and wine-bar Dunsmoor in Glassell Park, Bar Chelou in Pasadena, Civil Coffee in Studio City, as well as the development and design of Michelin-starred Kismet's Rotisserie roll-out in Southern California.

Previous projects realized both together and independently include the internationally recognized art museum Dia: Beacon, the award-winning iT House in Joshua Tree, and interior design for the acclaimed restaurant Konbi.

Alan Koch

Alan is a licensed architect with extensive experience working on art, cultural and residential projects. His collaborations with artists such as Catherine Opie, Robert Irwin, and Chris Burden have taken many forms and include the creation of homes, artist studios, galleries and large-scale artworks and installations. Previous to Lovers Unite, he founded the design studio Open Office where he executed a range of residential projects across the East Coast and the internationally-renowned art museum Dia: Beacon. As co-founder of architecture practice Taalman-Koch, Alan co-created a prefabricated building system which has been used to create dozens of homes throughout the United States, including an iconic Joshua Tree vacation rental, itHouse. His work has been featured in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Dwell and included in exhibitions in prominent institutions including the Vitra Design Museum and MoMA.

Alan received his BArch from Cornell University, and a BFA from Otis Art Institute at Parsons School of Design.

VIEW COMPLETE CV

Selected Awards
AIA New York Design Award Winner,  Merit Award, Dia Beacon AIA Los Angeles Design Award Winner, Merit Award, Off-Grid itHouse Emerging Voices Award, Architectural League of NY National Endowment for the Arts Grant, Houses x Artists, MAK Center for Art & Architecture Vertical Garden Competition Winner, MAK Center for Art and Architecture

Karen Spector

Karen is a formally trained artist and designer. She brings a depth of expertise in branding and interior design for retail and hospitality, working on projects for nationally recognized brands including REI, Jack Irwin, Konbi, and Kismet Rotisserie, as well as brand creation for developers of multimillion-dollar mixed-use developments in Southern California. Prior to co-founding Lovers Unite, Karen taught photography and conceptual art at the University of California, Santa Barbara. She has worked with internationally recognized artists Lorna Simpson, John Miller, and James Casebere. Her design work has been featured in Metropolis Magazine, Food & Wine, Bon Appetit, Eater, Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, and Sight Unseen.

Karen received her BA from Columbia University and an MFA from University of California, Santa Barbara.