About Maria Lorena Lehman
About Maria Lorena Lehman
About Maria Lorena Lehman
Music Composer Spatial Futurist
Music Composer Spatial Futurist
Music Composer Spatial Futurist



Maria Lorena Lehman is a composer whose work centers on original music for ensemble, orchestra, and recording—music shaped by a forward-looking vision of possibility, inspiration, and renewal.
Lehman's primary compositional practice also focuses on music for film and immersive media, including epic fantasy, drama, sci-fi, documentary, and other world-building narratives where music shapes emotional storytelling and lived experience.
Alongside her work as a composer, Lehman is a Spatial Futurist, developing environmental design symphonics—a framework that applies musical principles such as counterpoint, orchestration, and form to the design of future environments. In her work, music is both destination and guide: the emotional future we want to inhabit, and the structural thinking that shows us how to get there.
As her practice evolves, Maria Lorena Lehman increasingly works as a composer–producer, shaping not only the music itself but its full sonic realization—guiding performance, recording, and production from concept through final master so that sound, space, and human experience are architected with intention and depth.
MLL ATELIER is founded by music composer and spatial futurist, Maria Lorena Lehman.
Journal Essays Published
Journal Essays Published
Journal Essays Published
Newsletter Subscribers
Newsletter Subscribers
Newsletter Subscribers
Web-Platform Users
Web-Platform Users
Web-Platform Users
Specialization
Maria Lorena Lehman, founder of MLL ATELIER, specializes in the design-composition of symphonic worlds:
1.
Film/Media Scores
2.
Concert Music
3.
Artworks
4.
Future Cities
5.
Architectural Technology
6.
User Interfaces / HUD
7.
XR Systems
8.
Bio-Architecture
9.
Meta-Structures
1.
Film/Media Scores
2.
Concert Music
3.
Artworks
4.
Future Cities
5.
Architectural Technology
6.
User Interfaces / HUD
7.
XR Systems
8.
Bio-Architecture
9.
Meta-Structures
1.
Film/Media Scores
2.
Concert Music
3.
Artworks
4.
Future Cities
5.
Architectural Technology
6.
User Interfaces / HUD
7.
XR Systems
8.
Bio-Architecture
9.
Meta-Structures

Statement of Practice
Arkisymphonics: A Movement
I compose symphonic space. My creative process is the vehicle by which I travel to test my ideas and visualize their evolution. From such odysseys, I return with authored texts, sonic compositions, experimental art, and avant-garde design films as artifacts that tell immersive stories to uplift life in ways not yet imagined. I create at all scales: from small tools, to buildings, to cities in physical, virtual, and extended reality realms.
When we reach for what we can become, we see better ways to solve for what we have not yet been. For this reason, I orchestrate both sound and space as a composer, through a style and philosophy I call ‘Arkisymphonics’ — where form fuels growth. With science-fiction thinking, I unlock new frontiers of symphonic space at the nexus of neuroscience, emerging technology, and physics to reimagine how we, as a humanity, influence our own experience, and subsequent evolution. Thus, each of my compositions is made to help grow and actualize our highest human potentiality.
Since the earliest days of my education, I have been inspired and influenced by the Swiss-born German artist and violinist, Paul Klee. His teaching that “movement underlies the growth and decay of all things” has deep influence on my philosophy and practice of music and architecture. As he writes how “a line is a dot that went for a walk”, he teaches how a point or beat can grow to become a line or note, and how a line or note can grow to become a column or melody, and how a column or melody can grow to become a wall or a harmony. These early concepts still hold as I continue to ideate projects that focus on transformation and evolution.
For me now, movement is threefold: first, it is a physical action; second, it is a collective push toward a vision; and third, it is the stirring of the soul that ultimately fuels the previous two. With movement, we grow or decay. It is my hope that through my transcendent orchestrations of symphonic space, I use movement to inspire, nurture, and innovate beneficial growth that uplifts our world. In essence, I design and compose for the grand 'symphony' of humanity.
The Founder
Biography
Maria Lorena Lehman is an award-winning author, designer, artist, and composer whose work centers on original music for orchestra, soloists, and chamber ensembles, created for albums and live performance. Rooted in classical processes yet shaped by a contemporary sensibility, her music explores narrative, atmosphere, and emotional depth. Having studied piano since age five, Lehman uses the instrument as a tool to shape her compositional voice. This foundation underpins her signature ARKISYMPHONICS approach, which makes the music immersive, spatial, and emotionally nuanced, creating experiences of sublime transcendence.
Lehman’s Harvard-education in architectural digital design fuses into her symphonic musical works to create narrative poetic arcs that blend rhythm, balance, and form into unique experiential storytelling. Alongside her concert work, Lehman is expanding into select film projects — particularly epic fantasy, drama, sci-fi, documentaries, and other worldbuilding compositions — where music functions as a central narrative force. Through recording, performance, and interdisciplinary collaboration, she is building a notable and enduring career centered on ambitious, transportive, and deeply emotive music. Lehman is founder of MLL ATELIER®, an authorial studio spanning music composition and long-form design inquiry — winning a multitude of awards:
• For design, these awards include the THA Boutique Design Firm of the Year Award for North America in Innovation & Design, as well as the Harvard University Digital Design Prize for the "most creative use of digital media in relation to the design professions".
• For art, these awards include the Harmony for Humanity: Global Consciousness Art Prize, as well as the International Leonardo da Vinci Prize.
• For research, these awards include the Silver Medal Nautilus Book Award for her seminal book entitled “Adaptive Sensory Environments” published by Routledge.
By combining music composition principles with speculative design, systems thinking, and a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between humanity, technology, and the environment, Maria Lorena Lehman unlocks emerging trends, technologies, and societal shifts to create immersive, thought-provoking experiences. Her pioneering environmental design visions create new worlds that open new possibilities. With focus on creating meaningful, innovative, and aesthetic sensorial journeys, Lehman’s expertise and artistry as a spatial futurist positions her as a transformative and global changemaker.
Maria Lorena Lehman is a graduate of Harvard University holding a Master in Design with Distinction specializing in Digital Media and Production Environments, as well as holding the Bachelor of Architecture with Honors from Virginia Tech. Currently, Lehman is earning her Graduate Diploma in Film and Game Scoring from the Film Scoring Academy of Europe where her compositions are played by the European Recording Orchestra (ERO). Maria Lorena Lehman is widely published in a multitude of books, research journals, and is in numerous periodicals including Architect Magazine, The Architect's Journal, Rethinking the Future, ArchDaily, and Forbes. Her work is shown in galleries, art fairs, conferences, and museums internationally, including New York, Barcelona, Miami, Milan, London, and Paris. Since its inception, Lehman’s online platform at mllatelier.com has served over 1 million users globally, with more new visitors continuing to visit daily.
Biography
Maria Lorena Lehman is an award-winning author, designer, artist, and composer whose work centers on original music for orchestra, soloists, and chamber ensembles, created for albums and live performance. Rooted in classical processes yet shaped by a contemporary sensibility, her music explores narrative, atmosphere, and emotional depth. Having studied piano since age five, Lehman uses the instrument as a tool to shape her compositional voice. This foundation underpins her signature ARKISYMPHONICS approach, which makes the music immersive, spatial, and emotionally nuanced, creating experiences of sublime transcendence.
Lehman’s Harvard-education in architectural digital design fuses into her symphonic musical works to create narrative poetic arcs that blend rhythm, balance, and form into unique experiential storytelling. Alongside her concert work, Lehman is expanding into select film projects — particularly epic fantasy, drama, sci-fi, documentaries, and other worldbuilding compositions — where music functions as a central narrative force. Through recording, performance, and interdisciplinary collaboration, she is building a notable and enduring career centered on ambitious, transportive, and deeply emotive music. Lehman is founder of MLL ATELIER®, an authorial studio spanning music composition and long-form design inquiry — winning a multitude of awards:
• For design, these awards include the THA Boutique Design Firm of the Year Award for North America in Innovation & Design, as well as the Harvard University Digital Design Prize for the "most creative use of digital media in relation to the design professions".
• For art, these awards include the Harmony for Humanity: Global Consciousness Art Prize, as well as the International Leonardo da Vinci Prize.
• For research, these awards include the Silver Medal Nautilus Book Award for her seminal book entitled “Adaptive Sensory Environments” published by Routledge.
By combining music composition principles with speculative design, systems thinking, and a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between humanity, technology, and the environment, Maria Lorena Lehman unlocks emerging trends, technologies, and societal shifts to create immersive, thought-provoking experiences. Her pioneering environmental design visions create new worlds that open new possibilities. With focus on creating meaningful, innovative, and aesthetic sensorial journeys, Lehman’s expertise and artistry as a spatial futurist positions her as a transformative and global changemaker.
Maria Lorena Lehman is a graduate of Harvard University holding a Master in Design with Distinction specializing in Digital Media and Production Environments, as well as holding the Bachelor of Architecture with Honors from Virginia Tech. Currently, Lehman is earning her Graduate Diploma in Film and Game Scoring from the Film Scoring Academy of Europe where her compositions are played by the European Recording Orchestra (ERO). Maria Lorena Lehman is widely published in a multitude of books, research journals, and is in numerous periodicals including Architect Magazine, The Architect's Journal, Rethinking the Future, ArchDaily, and Forbes. Her work is shown in galleries, art fairs, conferences, and museums internationally, including New York, Barcelona, Miami, Milan, London, and Paris. Since its inception, Lehman’s online platform at mllatelier.com has served over 1 million users globally, with more new visitors continuing to visit daily.
Biography
Maria Lorena Lehman is an award-winning author, designer, artist, and composer whose work centers on original music for orchestra, soloists, and chamber ensembles, created for albums and live performance. Rooted in classical processes yet shaped by a contemporary sensibility, her music explores narrative, atmosphere, and emotional depth. Having studied piano since age five, Lehman uses the instrument as a tool to shape her compositional voice. This foundation underpins her signature ARKISYMPHONICS approach, which makes the music immersive, spatial, and emotionally nuanced, creating experiences of sublime transcendence.
Lehman’s Harvard-education in architectural digital design fuses into her symphonic musical works to create narrative poetic arcs that blend rhythm, balance, and form into unique experiential storytelling. Alongside her concert work, Lehman is expanding into select film projects — particularly epic fantasy, drama, sci-fi, documentaries, and other worldbuilding compositions — where music functions as a central narrative force. Through recording, performance, and interdisciplinary collaboration, she is building a notable and enduring career centered on ambitious, transportive, and deeply emotive music. Lehman is founder of MLL ATELIER®, an authorial studio spanning music composition and long-form design inquiry — winning a multitude of awards:
• For design, these awards include the THA Boutique Design Firm of the Year Award for North America in Innovation & Design, as well as the Harvard University Digital Design Prize for the "most creative use of digital media in relation to the design professions".
• For art, these awards include the Harmony for Humanity: Global Consciousness Art Prize, as well as the International Leonardo da Vinci Prize.
• For research, these awards include the Silver Medal Nautilus Book Award for her seminal book entitled “Adaptive Sensory Environments” published by Routledge.
By combining music composition principles with speculative design, systems thinking, and a deep understanding of the interconnectedness between humanity, technology, and the environment, Maria Lorena Lehman unlocks emerging trends, technologies, and societal shifts to create immersive, thought-provoking experiences. Her pioneering environmental design visions create new worlds that open new possibilities. With focus on creating meaningful, innovative, and aesthetic sensorial journeys, Lehman’s expertise and artistry as a spatial futurist positions her as a transformative and global changemaker.
Maria Lorena Lehman is a graduate of Harvard University holding a Master in Design with Distinction specializing in Digital Media and Production Environments, as well as holding the Bachelor of Architecture with Honors from Virginia Tech. Currently, Lehman is earning her Graduate Diploma in Film and Game Scoring from the Film Scoring Academy of Europe where her compositions are played by the European Recording Orchestra (ERO). Maria Lorena Lehman is widely published in a multitude of books, research journals, and is in numerous periodicals including Architect Magazine, The Architect's Journal, Rethinking the Future, ArchDaily, and Forbes. Her work is shown in galleries, art fairs, conferences, and museums internationally, including New York, Barcelona, Miami, Milan, London, and Paris. Since its inception, Lehman’s online platform at mllatelier.com has served over 1 million users globally, with more new visitors continuing to visit daily.
Notable Awards
Commitment to innovation, creativity, and design for human potential has earned MLL ATELIER recognition globally.
2024
International Leonardo da Vinci Prize: The Universal Artist
2024
International Leonardo da Vinci Prize: The Universal Artist
2024
International Leonardo da Vinci Prize: The Universal Artist
2023
Harmony for Humanity: The Global Consciousness Art Prize
2023
Harmony for Humanity: The Global Consciousness Art Prize
2023
Harmony for Humanity: The Global Consciousness Art Prize
2023 - 2025
Fellow of the Professional Artist Association
2023 - 2025
Fellow of the Professional Artist Association
2023 - 2025
Fellow of the Professional Artist Association
2022
Boutique Design Firm of the Year for North America: THA Innovation and Design Award
2022
Boutique Design Firm of the Year for North America: THA Innovation and Design Award
2022
Boutique Design Firm of the Year for North America: THA Innovation and Design Award
2021
3D Design Firm of the Year for United States: THA Innovation and Design Award
2021
3D Design Firm of the Year for United States: THA Innovation and Design Award
2021
3D Design Firm of the Year for United States: THA Innovation and Design Award
2019
International Research builds the case for 'Interaction Narratives' based on the work of Maria Lorena Lehman | Buildings: Peer-Review Journal
2019
International Research builds the case for 'Interaction Narratives' based on the work of Maria Lorena Lehman | Buildings: Peer-Review Journal
2019
International Research builds the case for 'Interaction Narratives' based on the work of Maria Lorena Lehman | Buildings: Peer-Review Journal
2018
HP Mars Home Planet Competition Finalist: Hewlett Packard: Urbanization of Mars Rendering Challenge
2018
HP Mars Home Planet Competition Finalist: Hewlett Packard: Urbanization of Mars Rendering Challenge
2018
HP Mars Home Planet Competition Finalist: Hewlett Packard: Urbanization of Mars Rendering Challenge
2017
Silver Medal Nautilus Book Award Winner: Nautilus Book Awards: Creative Process
2017
Silver Medal Nautilus Book Award Winner: Nautilus Book Awards: Creative Process
2017
Silver Medal Nautilus Book Award Winner: Nautilus Book Awards: Creative Process
2016
Routledge Featured Author Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group
2016
Routledge Featured Author Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group
2016
Routledge Featured Author Routledge: Taylor & Francis Group
2015
JDR Industry Award Nominee: Best Blog in Architecture JDR Industry Blogger Awards
2015
JDR Industry Award Nominee: Best Blog in Architecture JDR Industry Blogger Awards
2015
JDR Industry Award Nominee: Best Blog in Architecture JDR Industry Blogger Awards
2004
Digital Design Prize Harvard University Graduate School of Design
2004
Digital Design Prize Harvard University Graduate School of Design
2004
Digital Design Prize Harvard University Graduate School of Design
1998
Juris Jansens Memorial Award: Excellence in Design Virginia Tech
1998
Juris Jansens Memorial Award: Excellence in Design Virginia Tech
1998
Juris Jansens Memorial Award: Excellence in Design Virginia Tech
1997
Michelle Currie Memorial Scholarship: Excellence in Design Virginia Tech
1997
Michelle Currie Memorial Scholarship: Excellence in Design Virginia Tech
1997
Michelle Currie Memorial Scholarship: Excellence in Design Virginia Tech
Let's Connect
Contact Maria Lorena Lehman to inquire about music commissions, newest studio publications/premiers, and project collaborations. Share your ideas, questions, and insights by clicking the button below:


Let's Connect
Contact Maria Lorena Lehman to inquire about music commissions, newest studio publications/premiers, and project collaborations. Share your ideas, questions, and insights by clicking the button below:


Let's Connect
Contact Maria Lorena Lehman to inquire about music commissions, newest studio publications/premiers, and project collaborations. Share your ideas, questions, and insights by clicking the button below:

