Miranda moen
Registered Architect + Founder
my practice:
Miranda Moen (she/her) is a registered architect and the founder of MO/EN, a regional design and research practice based in Austin, Minnesota. She holds a Bachelor of Design in Architecture from the University of Minnesota (2015) and a Master of Architecture from Iowa State University (2019). In 2022, she was awarded a Fulbright Research Fellowship, which allowed her to spend eight months exploring the architectural connections between vernacular Norwegian architecture and Norwegian-American houses in the Upper Midwest. Her research focuses on how class and regional influences shape the evolution of immigrant-built architecture.
As an architect, I focus on both residential and commercial projects, offering a wide range of services from existing building renovations to new construction. My goal is to create attainable and meaningful architecture that fosters economic growth and strengthens community identity. By engaging with communities directly, I aim to design spaces that reflect their unique needs and aspirations, while contributing to the vitality of small towns.
As a material culture researcher, I utilize my architectural background to delve into themes of culture, ancestry, and history, particularly as they intersect with class and the evolution of the built environment in rural areas. My scholarship investigates how immigrant-built structures preserve and transmit cultural identity, offering a deeper understanding of the connections between place, people, and heritage.
Through MO/EN, my work combines design practice and research to celebrate the histories and cultural narratives of rural communities. I strive to create architecture that resonates deeply with inhabitants, fostering connections that honor the past while envisioning a sustainable and inclusive future.