Omar Gandhi Architects

Omar Gandhi Architects is an innovative Toronto and Halifax-based architecture practice known for its creative and context-sensitive approach to design. Founded in 2010, the firm has since gained worldwide recognition for its very imaginative and often audacious projects in architecture, ranging from bespoke residential homes through urban infill developments, large-scale public works, and historic landscapes. Each project by OG reflects a unique response to its site, integrating a sense of play and the unexpected while redefining conventional architectural forms.

The philosophy of Omar Gandhi Architects is underpinned by great sensitivity regarding the physical and environmental conditions of the sites. This practice doesn't drastically follow traditional notions of architectural form; it finds new ways of experiencing familiar elements. Work by the firm represents a remarkable playing out of materials, topography, and the wider environmental setting through abstraction and evolution of established building types. The thoughtfulness of this approach is manifested in a series of visually striking projects that are at the same time conceptually sophisticated, such as the cabin at Rabbit Snare Gorge in Nova Scotia and the landform-inspired intervention at Peggy's Cove.

The firm's portfolio is heavily recognized for focusing on specific detailing and superlative craftsmanship. Noteworthy projects such as the Schlotfeldt Residence in British Columbia's Okanagan Valley show OG's commitment to originality and a high degree of excellence in architectural design. This has been recognized by various great awards like the Practice of the Year from Architizer, Architectural Masterprize, among various others. He has won several renowned awards from the Canada Council for the Arts and the Governor General's Medal in Architecture.

The founder is Omar Gandhi, a recognized Canadian architect whose career is studded with great successes and contributions to the profession. He was born in Toronto and raised in Brampton; Gandhi attended the University of Toronto before moving to Halifax to attend Dalhousie for his Master's. He acquired valuable experience working for leading architectural practices before starting his studio in 2010. Early nods as "Canada's Next Top Architect" from The Globe and Mail and Monocle Magazine's "20 Most Influential Canadians" point to the impact he is having on the profession.

Gandhi is committed to helping further the architectural discourse well beyond his practice. He has been a visiting professor at the Yale School of Architecture, where he was appointed Louis I. Kahn Visiting Assistant Professor in Architectural Design. He has been very practical and indulgent with the academic as well as professional fraternity, and Gandhi, till today, with a blend of tradition and innovation keeps pushing the frontiers of contemporary architecture. He actively teaches, gives lectures, and explores new paradigms for architecture. This helps the company to achieve continued success and be rated among the leaders in the industry.