About
IM/KM Architecture and Planning is a firm that integrates the built environment with ecological conservation through a holistic design process. IM/KM was formed in 2008 when the architectural design team of Ivan and Kristin Morales brought their combined design expertise, gained from their years of experience at award-winning New York City design firms, to a 1,000-person surf town on the Pacific coast of Panama. In the remote and ecologically sensitive region of the Azuero Peninsula, the firm developed residences, hospitality and mixed use projects, adopting innovative approaches to land use and materials. In 2021, the firm moved their headquarters to Miami, Florida, while maintaining an office in Panama. IM/KM was developed against a backdrop of endangered tropical and coastal ecosystems, which deepened and expanded their role as architects. As a result, the firm formed Reserva Ecologica Panamaes, a non-profit ecological reserve in Panama, and Studio Tlalli, a design studio that produces furniture and objects using sustainable supply chains at the reserve. The firm works globally, with a focus on the Americas, on projects comprehensive of architecture and sustainable land use. IM/KM is adept at building diverse teams in challenging environments and working with local municipalities to execute large-scale environmental and social programming. The firm collaborates with their clients to create beautiful modern architecture that engages with the surrounding environment, and offers the potential to utilize built space in conservation efforts that are economically viable and have scientific and social impact.