About Oli
Oliver Koch, cofounder of OLI KOCH LLC, brings to the company more than two decades of international experience in interior architecture, design, and lighting. Born in Germany, he began his professional path with three years of formal cabinetmaking training, followed by studies in Design and Interior Architecture in Cologne. During this time, he gained hands-on experience working in furniture showrooms and interning at interior design offices, including with Andrée Putman in Paris.
Because of his growing expertise, Oliver was invited to join Luminaire’s Coral Gables showroom as an interior architect, where he planned exhibitions, guided clients through design consultations, and curated showroom spaces. He also expanded his knowledge globally by attending international furniture fairs and trainings with leading companies such as Boffi, Living Divani, and Porro. It was here, at Luminaire, that Oliver met Melissa — his future wife, creative partner, and now cofounder of OLI KOCH LLC.
Following his time at Luminaire, Oliver returned to his architectural roots, spending 20 years directing design for firms specializing in interior architecture and illumination planning. He served as Creative Director for Kreon USA and later for Apure Lighting, a company known for its minimalistic architectural fixtures developed in collaboration with Porsche Design Studio. In these roles, Oliver collaborated on international projects led by renowned firms such as Zaha Hadid, Norman Foster, and Piero Lissoni.
Through OLI KOCH LLC, Studio for Aesthetic Comfort, Oliver brings together his mastery of light, materials, and proportion with a philosophy that design should not only inspire visually but also nurture a deeper sense of comfort and balance. By crafting timeless, elegant, and tailored spaces, he ensures that each client experiences the profound effect aesthetic comfort has on their quality of life.
About Melissa
Melissa Pena Koch is the cofounder of OLI KOCH LLC, where she combines her lifelong passion for art and design with decades of experience in education and collaboration. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from New World School of the Arts in Miami and soon after established her first studio at Damien B. Art Center, an early art complex in what would later become Wynwood, where she created and sold her work.
Melissa then joined Luminaire, a renowned furniture and interior design showroom in Coral Gables, where she met her husband and future cofounder, Oliver — an experience that planted the early seeds of their shared creative journey. She went on to pursue a Master’s in Elementary Montessori Education from Barry University and dedicated 21 years to guiding children with curiosity, patience, and creativity.
Even while teaching, Melissa remained deeply connected to her art, working out of Fountainhead Studios in Miami’s Little River District. Today, she has returned fully to her creative roots, channeling her artistic eye and thoughtful approach into the vision of OLI KOCH LLC. Her path as both an artist and educator has shaped her belief that creativity and authenticity can enrich everyday life — an approach she now carries forward through OLI KOCH LLC.