Studio Visit #01: Symbiosis Designs Ltd.
a conversation with Khalid Nahhas and Ramiz Ayoub
on Wednesday May 28th, 2014
The first Studio X Amman Pop-Up Series, Studio Visits is a journey through the studios and offices of architects and spatial designers, from emerging to established and from small studios to large teams, working from Amman. Through presentations, interviews and informal discussions, attendees are invited into the workspace of architects to learn about their ideas, design methodologies, and driving forces. The series of visits will culminate in a spatial analysis, recorded interviews, and other audio-visual and written materials to further understand the architect’s workspace.
Participation is free. Anyone interested may apply.
Symbiosis Designs ltd. is an award winning consultancy firm known for its design excellence and alternative innovative buildings. It was founded by senior architect Khalid Nahhas in 1991. Symbiosis Designs Ltd. has built a reputation for imaginative and appropriate architectural solutions. The firm’s innovative design approach, methodology and office culture preserve a unique “think out of the box” studio/workshop approach throughout all design stages of all projects, protecting and maintaining progressive creativity in the design output.
Khalid Nahhas
Founding Partner | Director
Khalid Nahhas is the founding Principal and the driving force in Symbiosis Designs Ltd. He received a degree in Geographic and Economic Planning from The University of Victoria (B.Arts, 1985), followed by a degree in Architecture from The University of British Columbia (B.Arch,1989). In 2002, Khalid Nahhas received the first Dubai-based Cityscape Young Architect Award for his work’s impact on the cultural landscape within urbanity. He was appointed as a member of the Amman Commission at the Greater Amman Municipality and served for three years advising His Excellency the Mayor on the new urban master plan (which received international recognition including the 2007 Town Planning Leadership Award and the Asia-Pacific City-of-the-Year Award for Leadership) as well as on the city’s new branding. He was also a member of the Design Committee of the Jordanian Pavilion in the Expo 2005, in Aichi, Japan. Khalid Nahhas is a member of the Board of Trustees of The Children’s Museum Jordan chaired by Her Majesty the Queen, and its Chairman of the Board of Directors. He is also on the board of directors of the Red Sea Institute of Cinematic Arts (RSICA), and of the Jordan River Foundation for community empowerment
Ramiz Ayoub
Partner | Senior Architect
Ramiz Ayoub has joined Symbiosis Designs Ltd. in 2005. He studied architectural engineering at the Jordan University of Science & Technology (B.Sc.,1991). He has over 20 years of professional and extensive architec- tural project management expertise, ranging from project management to architectural design to working drawings and construction documents in addition to value engineering. He has worked on complex buildings in Jordan, Palestine and the Arab Gulf region. In 2000, Ramiz Ayoub has received a Certificate of Recognition for working on the design of the Jordanian Pavilion in Hanover World Exposition, Germany.
The Studio Visits are led and organized by Jawad Dukhgan (Program Coordinator at Studio X Amman Lab) and developed with students Dima Mu’ti (3rd year, German Jordanian University), Dina Mu’ti (3rd year, German Jordanian University) and Ramzi Chahin (2nd year, Applied Science University).
