Omar Gandhi Architects

Since 2010, Omar Gandhi Architects has built both studios OG Halifax and OGTO from the ground up with small teams in Toronto and Halifax. In the studio's 12 years of history, OG has received much National and International attention. In its first year, the studio won the Canada Council for the Arts Professional Prix de Rome. Omar was introduced in Wallpaper* Magazine's Architects Directory, and Monocle Magazine named him one of the Most Influential Canadians. The Architectural League of New York also honored Omar as one of their "Emerging Voices" of 2016. He was also appointed as the Louis I. Kahn visiting assistant professor in Architectural Design at Yale School of Architecture. This marked the first time a Canadian architect was awarded the prestigious title. Omar Gandhi Architect was awarded the 2018 Governor General's Medal in architecture for the work it did on Rabbit Snare Gorge, and the studio was also honored in Architectural Record Magazine's 2018 Design Vanguard, a list of 10 promising architectural practices globally. Our office received the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia in 2020. On the studio's 10th and 11th years of history, we completed the renovation of Peggy's Cove, one of Canada's iconic landmarks (Omar Gandhi Architects, n.d.) By: Omar Gandhi, Erik Leborgne, and Jeannette Sanchez Philosophy We are a growing studio trying to establish an identity. We reflect often on how clear and consistent our designs have been. Our aim is to embed our architectures deeply into the environment we want to create. The architecture of our projects is like a context machine, where the architectural story becomes richer through the exploration of phenomenological environmental aspects. Rain, sun, hail, snow, and fog all interact to create and shape our architecture. Our office has been committed to producing responsible and thoughtful architecture in the past 12 years. The spectrum of our designs ranges from renovations and urban infill to homes and cottages on coastlines, large-scale public works, and projects that re-imagine entire landscapes. Our design team develops furniture and atmospheres that reflect the communities we serve. We created a design method that is followed in all of our projects. They are extruding or rather bent, originating from a simple local typology. It is then folded and pleated roof planes. The details and conditions of use are what give them the form. The adaptation has to be receptive in order for it to respond. Our architecture yields a technique that follows a very strict formal rule, where the forms and materials used express the unique qualities of each site. This way, our work grows, and together we can deliver successful projects. We create atmospheres for people and their surroundings, and learn to understand and appreciate each other. We adapt to each other, to the context, the world, and our work - in an ongoing dialogue (Omar Gandhi Architects, n.d.).

Omar and his team are highly commended for their thoughtful, high-quality work. They demonstrate a deep commitment to detail and individualized, innovative approaches. Despite the inherent importance of the project's particular environment, their homes emphasize design and craftsmanship. I appreciated the collaborative attitude cultivated by architects who develop solutions in the house design. I was particularly impressed by the magic that appears in their home layout. Each session observed the structure's unique personality. Cooperation with Omar and his team remains an enjoyable and satisfying experience from project to project. Omar has a creative, practical and aesthetic approach in his designs. I am very impressed with the dynamics of ancient and modern designs that emphasize the beauty of the building.