March, 2021
LUXlife Magazine - Responsible Architecture, Unforgettable Artistry
Aamer Architects is an innovative bespoke architecture firm with an earned reputation for prestige. Following the firm’s success in the 2021 Leading Designer’s Awards, we asked founder Aamer Taher what the firm is looking to achieve next.
Based in Singapore, Aamer Architects is a boutique and high-end architecture firm, with a well-earned reputation for flair and exceptional creativity in its work, cultivating an identity out of playful forms and non-conformist shapes. The founder, Aamer Taher, considers each build an extension of himself and his core character, with each project echoing his innovative drive and good humour. He himself is highly trained, having attended the prestigious University of Singapore, and graduated as a Master of Architecture from the Architectural Association in London. Following two years of putting his work into practice with several reputable firms, Aamer Architects itself was established in 1994. Since then, all Aamer Architects’ creations have aimed to embody the spirit and personality upon which it was originally founded. This is evident when looking through the firm’s portfolio of luxury residences and hospitality sites.
Although much of this work is found in Singapore, the firm’s distinctive signature can be found in cities across Asia. Indeed, currently, the firm is in the early design stages of a luxury hotel in Sri Lanka, marking just the latest addition in its long list of prestigious hotel and resort projects.
Ultimately, Aamer Architects sees design as a marriage between a variety of factors that come together to make the perfect project: site, climate, culture, structure, aesthetics, and service. When well-managed, these elements create beautifully bespoke structures that magnify the unique qualities of the site, the firm’s vision, and the client’s brief. Throughout its works and developments, Aamer Architects holds to a philosophy of “sculpting spaces in the tropics”, finding that its clients are especially attracted by the firm’s contemporary and highly modernised approach. In this, it champions tropical stylings, spatial planning to make the most out of an area, and uniqueness. As a result, Aamer’s work has been described as ‘haute architecture’ for the sheer dedication to truly unique, tailor-made designs from the outset.
“We never repeat our designs, so every client is assured that they will receive a tailored, unique design based on their needs and values, and the best possible solutions for the space they inhabit,” Aamer says.
By operating in this manner, Aamer Architects has distinguished itself from many of its peers to create buildings that can – in every way – be considered art.
Yet, every artistic choice made in the design process is ever tempered by the concepts of practicality and function. This includes the building’s impact on the surrounding environment – Aamer Architects takes corporate environmental responsibility to the client and makes it part of the build. It seeks to promote an understanding that great design and energy waste reduction are concepts that exist in tandem, making ethical environmental treatment part of its luxury service.
Although Aamer Architects is a boutique firm with around ten to twelve people employed at a time, its relatively small size does not inhibit its ambition. Each team member is a highly specialised and valued participant, and new hires are chosen for their passion and talent to make great designs. Of course, during 2020, even a team such as this found the pandemic a challenge. For Aamer Architects, it had to manage delays on site, create a safe office space, and work out teething problems regarding working from home. However, the firm pushed through to become more cohesive as a unit.
Going forward, Aamer Architects is just as dedicated as ever to its clients and mission – to this end, it will be looking to participate in more architecture competitions in 2021. It will also be looking to further enhance its sustainability in terms of materials and building practices. As a final word, Aamer Taher had this to say: “Remember Jaguar’s CEO’s statement; “If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design”.
Although Aamer Architects is a boutique firm with around ten to twelve people employed at a time, its relatively small size does not inhibit its ambition. Each team member is a highly specialised and valued participant, and new hires are chosen for their passion and talent to make great designs. Of course, during 2020, even a team such as this found the pandemic a challenge. For Aamer Architects, it had to manage delays on site, create a safe office space, and work out teething problems regarding working from home. However, the firm pushed through to become more cohesive as a unit.
Going forward, Aamer Architects is just as dedicated as ever to its clients and mission – to this end, it will be looking to participate in more architecture competitions in 2021. It will also be looking to further enhance its sustainability in terms of materials and building practices. As a final word, Aamer Taher had this to say: “Remember Jaguar’s CEO’s statement; “If you think good design is expensive, you should look at the cost of bad design”.
Photography by Amir Sultan
