Nerin Kadribegovic’s passion for navigating complex design problems, especially where economy is of paramount importance, captures an eye for beauty and design, notably in social cause, that results in unconventional, award-winning solutions. Obsessed with artfully directing natural light to create nuanced, playful moments, he ushers a spirit of dignity into places, where least expected, through the aesthetic design opportunity.
A third-generation architect who endured displacement as a refugee of the wars in Yugoslavia and Bosnia, Nerin has directly experienced the impact of chaotic social and environmental disruption on people and society. This alert awareness evokes deep empathic connection to critical issues facing metropolitan urban centers around the world; those gripped by environmental or socio-economic crises.
The wartime reality imposed a fragility on life and shelter, that ignited his resolve in dissolving obstacles. Protecting a broken community, Nerin developed the uncanny ability to transform whatever material was at one’s disposal into something of functionality, beauty and meaning. Instilling hope and safety during hardship has become second nature, embedded into his mindset, both in design and leadership for social cause.
Prior to launching Kadre, Nerin was a partner at the award-winning firm of Lehrer Architects. When the pandemic brought needed urgency to protect Los Angeles’s most vulnerable population, Nerin led passionately in creating a template for tackling and ameliorating the city’s 60,000-person homelessness issue. During the height of the health crisis, he led the team through an accelerated, aggressive timeline to provide bridge housing. His designs – in collaboration with the City government, first on the AETNA Bridge Home, followed by designs for Tiny Home Villages, now serve as the lodestar to ending the homeless crisis in the City of Los Angeles. These projects have raised
and set the City’s design standards for sheltering the homeless.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Founder and Principal, 2022 – Current: Kadre Architects, Pasadena, CA
Partner, 2016 – 2021: Lehrer Architects, Los Angeles, CA
Principal, November 2011 – June 2016: Lehrer Architects, Los Angeles, CA
Director of Operations, August 2009-2011 Lehrer Architects, Los Angeles, CA
Associate Director, May 2007-August 2009 Lehrer Architects, Los Angeles, CA
Project Designer, April 02-May 2007 Lehrer Architects, Los Angeles, CA
Design Team Leader, April 01-Aug 01 YKim Architects, Los Angeles, CA
Project Designer, June 96-April 01; Arten Architectural Bureau, Mostar, BiH
AWARDS
2022 AIA Housing Award for Excellence in Design – Chandler Tiny Home Village
2021 AIA LA Award for Excellence in Design – The Katz Pavilion
2020 Merit Award for Excellence in Residential Design – Missing Middle Housing Prototype for Youth
2019 AIA LA Award for Excellence in Design – Studio MLA
2017 AIA LA Award for Excellence in Design – The Starter Home
2016 AIA LA Award for Excellence in Design – Affordable Home Prototypes
2014 Merit Award for Excellence in Design – Keck Institute for Space Studies, Caltech 2013 AIA Award for Excellence in Design – Reseda Park Pool
EDUCATION
Master of Architecture, 2003
Southern California Institute of Architecture, Los Angeles, CA
Graduate Study of Parametric Architecture, 2002
ESARQ, Barcelona, Spain
Exhibited and Published: Mass Customization in Architectural Design Work
Bachelor of Architecture, 2000
University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
Goldman Sachs, Los Angeles, CA
10,000 Small Businesses Graduate, 2019
