Meet Zac Cohen | Creative Director at Räkkhaus

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zac Cohen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zac, how does your business help the community?
Räkkhaus helps shape communities by ensuring architecture is more than just a collection of buildings—it’s a force that connects people, strengthens relationships, and enhances the way we experience our cities.

We believe in the democratization of architecture—bold, meaningful design should uplift everyone who experiences it, not just those who can afford to live inside it. In the past, great architecture was a privilege reserved for the elite. Today, it should be part of everyday life—woven into streets, public spaces, and entire communities in ways that inspire and engage all who encounter it. Our spaces invite interaction, foster connection, and enrich culture—whether through public gathering places, adaptive reuse, or developments driven by the people who live there.

Every project is rooted in respect for context and history. Too many developments erase what came before, stripping a place of its identity. Architecture should enhance, elevate, and evolve the built environment—adding to its story rather than replacing it. Sustainability is central to this approach, ensuring that every space we create is built to last, serving both people and the planet.

True social impact comes from thinking beyond site boundaries—understanding how each project contributes to the fabric of a neighborhood, a city, and the future of architecture itself. If we can create spaces that inspire, engage, and uplift, then we’re doing more than designing buildings—we’re shaping a world where architecture belongs to everyone.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
At Räkkhaus, we believe architecture is more than just the backdrop to life—it’s an active force that shapes culture, experience, and identity. Frank Lloyd Wright called architecture “the mother art,” and we take that seriously. Unlike other forms of art that can be admired from a distance, architecture demands engagement. It’s immersive, permanent, and inescapable. That’s exactly why it should never be boring.

What makes Räkkhaus different is our commitment to bold, unapologetic design that challenges the status quo. Too many buildings today are forgettable—designed for efficiency rather than experience, value-engineered to the point of lifelessness. We reject that. Our architecture is visceral. It moves people. It’s meant to provoke a reaction—whether it’s admiration, curiosity, or even discomfort. Because if architecture doesn’t make you feel something, what’s the point?

We take risks, but we also make them real. Vision is nothing without execution, and that’s where our development background sets us apart. We don’t design in a vacuum—we understand how to navigate budgets, constraints, and real-world challenges without compromising impact. The result? Architecture that’s not just possible, but powerful.

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that playing it safe is the biggest risk of all. Architecture should inspire, elevate, and push boundaries—not just exist.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’d want to give them a real experience of the city—not the curated, polished version, but the grit, energy, and creativity that actually make Phoenix interesting.
We’d start in Roosevelt Row, where the city is raw, alive, and constantly evolving. Murals, galleries spilling onto the streets, music, pop-ups—there’s always something happening. If it’s First Friday, even better. The whole district turns into a block party, packed with artists, musicians, and the kind of people who keep the city moving forward. We’d swing by Xico, where Latino and Indigenous artists have been shaping the scene long before Roosevelt Row became cool. Then, we’d grab drinks at Lucky’s Indoor Outdoor, which is part dive bar, part backyard—always fun! Plenty of options in this neighborhood.
Next morning, we’d hit Papago Park, hike through those iconic rock formations, and watch the city wake up in the distance. We’d walk over to the Desert Botanical Garden, where the entire desert is on display—towering saguaros, wild textures, and landscapes that prove nature is the best designer. They have incredible artist installations throughout the year – it’s a can’t miss. I recently saw the Chihuly exhibit there and it was amazing! Then, we’d stop at The Henry for brunch and head out to Taliesin West—Frank Lloyd Wright’s desert laboratory—because if you want to understand architecture in Phoenix, you have to see how he merged design with the landscape instead of fighting against it.
Then it’s time for a road trip. First stop: Sedona. Red rocks, vortex energy, hikes that make you rethink what colors even are. Then we’d hit Jerome, a mining town turned art haven, where every building leans at a slightly different angle, and the whole place feels like it’s held together by sheer stubbornness. We’d grab a bite at Haunted Hamburger—it’s got killer views and a haunted history to go with it. Then, for something truly surreal, we’d detour to Arcosanti, Paolo Soleri’s experimental desert utopia—part sci-fi, part architecture, part ruin, and somehow still ahead of its time.
Back in Phoenix, a final drink downtown, maybe a rooftop bar, watching one of Phoenix’s greatest natural wonders—the Arizona sunset.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I believe success is hard to quantify. If I had to give a shoutout, it would go to the independent thinkers, the risk-takers, and the disruptors—the ones who refuse to accept mediocrity and take the leap even when the landing isn’t clear. The people who see possibility where others see limitations. The ones who question the rules, break them, and redefine what’s possible. The misfits, the visionaries, the ones who believe the world isn’t set in stone—that it can be shaped, reimagined, and rebuilt for the better.

I owe a lot to those who challenged conventional thinking, who helped me see that architecture isn’t just about buildings—it’s about ideas, emotions, and the energy they create. The ones who believe cities can be more vibrant, more human, more alive if we’re bold enough to build them that way. They are the ones who showed me the profound connection between architecture and the human spirit.

Website: https://www.rakkhaus.com

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