We had the good fortune of connecting with Finn Wijatno Architects, LLP Sean Finn & Finche Wijatno and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Finn Wijatno Architects, LLP, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
After 15 years of running both a hospitality studio and a multi-family studio at our former office, we grew weary of the inevitable repetition and overwhelming scale of multi-family projects. We started FinWij in 2018 to pursue smaller, more interesting projects and do the work we got into architecture to do: find creative solutions and mind the details. We do lots of restaurants, hotel renovations, retail and custom residential projects, but we’ve also been pleasantly surprised by some unusual design briefs that have come our way. From a veterinary compounding pharmacy, to a meditation center in a historic post office, to a camouflaged walk-in cooler, these unusual projects keep our minds sharp and give us a fresh perspective on how we practice.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We offer full scope design services on some projects; on others we partner with brands, owners and other designers to make ideas real in our role as executive architects. With over 50 years in the field between the two of us, FinWij brings technical proficiency and the efficiency of our experience to the table. We believe in nurturing good ideas to maturity, even if we’re not the parents.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Definitely a food tour around the city! From the midnight taco at a street stand, to hole-in-the-wall Ethiopian food like Awash, to the amazing food at Jitlada in Thai Town! Closer to home, Esme in downtown Culver is fire!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
(Finche) My mom has been my main motivation to push myself outside my comfort zone. As an immigrant and a minority in this country, it was always a worry for her that the odds were stacked against me. So, with this business Sean and I created, I hoped to set her heart at ease
(Sean)
My mentor in grad school, Perry Kulper, said that “the world doesn’t just need more ‘stuff’.” He taught me to always look for opportunities to transcend mere problem solving and make something meaningful, even when dealing with mundane design issues.

Website: www.finwij.com

Instagram: @finwij

Image Credits
Bamford Spa— Photography: 1 Hotel Juniper Garden— Photography: 1 Hotel Riot Games— Photography: FinWij Sushi Roku Austin— Photography: Richard Casteel Supertoro Hollywood— Photography: K2 Restaurants Sylvan— Photography: FinWij Vinton Residence— Photography: FinWij

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