We are driven by the desire to create beautiful, meaningful spaces - buildings and objects that function as intelligently as they appear elegant. If God is in the details, then we are deeply religious. We are drawn to and curious about design investigations that allow us to question what we think, feel, see and "know" to be true.

ABOUT THE FIRM

Será was founded in March 2017 by Seher Aziz after an illustrious career spanning almost two decades with projects across Pakistan, India, UK & USA. As a boutique architecture firm, we place emphasis on attention to detail. We lead projects with a strong concept which sets the tone for the design. We then tend to translate these concepts into forms and space, and engage in a thorough exploration of materials, both reclaimed and new; sometimes exposing the marks of age, other times paying homage to the original form of the material – but always telling a story.

Será's profile of residential design ranges from a broad spectrum of modern, minimal aesthetic to raw and Scandinavian inspired. Every space is carefully curated, with each design element accounted for with a purpose. Natural light and an experimentation with material is an important part of our aesthetic. We hope to inspire a new way of inhabiting space that allows each individual to create their own sense of “home.”

Likewise, our profile of commercial projects are modern, opulent design or rough luxe reminiscent moods. Each project has a thorough concept that is translated to reality through an extensive and deliberate selection of materiality and detail, allowing each individual to create their own sense of “brand.”

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

Seher Aziz - Founder Será, M'ARCH, YSOA

Seher Aziz completed her Bachelor of Liberal Arts from Bennington College, Vermont in 2001 and a Masters of Architecture from Yale School of Architecture in 2006. After completing her education she moved to New York City to join the internationally renowned firm, Robert A. M. Stern Architects, where she had the opportunity to work on various high profile projects of different scales, including the Bush Presidential Library, and the American Revolution Museum in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. She was subsequently invited to Stuttgart, Germany to join Behnisch Architekten where she worked on the new state of the art 100,000m2 science complex for Harvard University in Massachusetts.

Seher first returned to Pakistan in October of 2009 and joined Studio Tariq Hasan (The Architects) as senior designer, where she gained experience of the local market and building strategies, working on several large scale affordable housing and educational projects in different parts of Pakistan. In 2011 she was selected to be part of the team to design the new training facility for Manchester City Football Club in Manchester, UK, led by the New
York based firm Rafael Vinoly Architects. She saw this project through from schematic design to design development. She then returned home to team up with Ahmed Mian of Studio Subtractive to collaborate on several projects and carved out a unique space for herself in the design landscape of the growing metropolis whom she worked for until December 2017.

Seher also maintains a painting studio and has been a production designer for movies and television commercials. She has also been a part-time design studio faculty at Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture in Karachi, and has been part of final year juries at Karachi University and NED University.

(July 2012 - December 2017)
Teamed up with Ahmed Mian at Studio Subtractive, providing architecture, environments/interior design, industrial design and LEED® consultancy services. Rafael Vinoly Architects, Manchester, UK Architectural Designer.

(July 2011— June 2012)
Member of the small design team that developed the proposal for the new training facility for Manchester City Football Club from Schematic Design through Design Development. Worked closely with Project Architect and consultants on layout and coordination of the Central Training Facility. Concentrated primarily on the design and documentation of feature areas including first team building and youth academy with changing rooms, gym, refectory, state of the art injury and rehab centre, and player accommodation. Indus Valley School of Art and Architecture, Karachi, Pakistan.

Adjunct Studio Critic. (Jan 2011— May 2011; Aug 2012—2014)
Co-taught a fifth semester Architectural Design studio, and Interior Design studios at one of Karachi’s premier
architecture schools. Worked closely with students to apply critical thinking developing projects from concept
to evolved and cohesive design proposals.

Education on Experience

The Architects (Studio Tariq Hasan), Karachi, Pakistan Senior Designer. (Oct 2009— Jan 2011)
Led design team on multi-story affordable housing complex in Karachi from Schematic Design phase through Design Development. Assisted on bid set as well as construction documents for a university campus in earth quake affected zone in the Northern Areas. Was part of charrette team for a number of projects, including a Jamat Khana and prayer hall, an invited competition for a university campus, as well as a residential project. Robert A.M. Stern Architects, New York, NY

Architectural Designer. (Aug 2006— Mar 2007; Feb 2008—May 2009)
Integral member of design team for the American Revolution Center, Valley Forge and Long Wharf Office head quater, New Brunswich projects. Responsible for presentation quality hand rendered and photoshop images of both projects in the concept and schematic phases. Worked on all aspects of planning and design, producing drawing sets from SD through DD. Designed and produced construction drawings for custom furniture and lighting pieces for residential clients.

Behnisch Architekten, Stuttgart, Germany
Architectural Designer. (Mar 2007— Jan 2008)
Worked on a new 550,000 square foot interdisciplinary research facility for Harvard University’s Allston Science Complex in Boston, MA. Involved in project from SD to DD stages with particular attention to facade details and
documentation.

Business Hours: Mon-Fri 10am-7pm

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Ambiance: Professional, Contemporary & Creative

Our Style: Every project, every client or each brand deserves its own identity that should be reflected in the design of the space it inhabits. Therefore, every project starts with a conversation, the formulation of a concept, an idea. Often we know first what something should feel like, what it should do, and the associations we are trying to invoke. Touched by nostalgia, we often create spaces more from a memory, not purely in their form but in their ethos. We are interested in the passage of time, as expressed in materials both natural and man-made, design that forms the backdrop against which the drama of Life may unfold.

Partner Brands: In the past we have worked with fashion brands Feeha Jamshed, Farah Talib Aziz, Muse, Al Karam to name a few. Restaurants and eateries include Loco, Mews, Cote Rotie, Bella Vita, Del Frio and Bonsai.

We believe strongly in the process of collaboration. Rome wasn't built in a day, nor by one person. As architects, planners, designers and thinkers we are open to dialogue that reaches beyond our parameters and embraces other disciplines.
Meet a few of our usual suspects here:
Graphic designer and branding genius:
Mumtaz Mustafa www.mumtazmustafadesign.com
Mural artist and creative consultant:
Naveen Shakil www.naveenshakil.com

Smoking Area: We have an informal discussions “balcony,” which is also the designated smoking zone.

Nearest Cross Street/Landmark? Misri Shah Mazaar

What's New? An upcoming restaurant across the border, making us part of the few architectural firms in the country with projects in India. Also in the works are a few local eateries in Karachi. We’re also excited to wrap up an annex extension to an existing home – a single unit loft which is being executed in steel frame construction. This not only saves construction time, but is also in keeping with our industrial design reminiscent aesthetic that we tend to lean toward.