AMNA ANSARI
Associates UltraBarrio
SAY IT LOUD - TEXAS Exhibitor
Texas Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
My aunt was a college professor in biology in Karachi. She became more than an aspiration as I witnessed her rise to a peak position in her field. She published, persisted and ‘leaned in’ in a culture and context where few have dreamed to succeed.
AMNA ANSARI
Bio:
The great designer, Amna strategically aligns architecture, urbanism, landscape, and technologies towards socially vibrant, equitable and enduring spaces. Her award-winning architecture and urban design projects span cultural, ecological, and economically vital goals. As an alumnus of MIT, Amna takes a research approach towards solving a problem and disrupting the status quo. Above all, her goal is to bridge context and knowledge into the projects and people she works around.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
At a young age I was sketching, painting, and drawing over my dad’s hydroelectric plans, in this I found a personal drive through art and an early perspective on landscape. Architecture merged my interests so I could design and experiment spatially.
What do you do?
I run my own architecture and urban design practice UltraBarrio, that merges architecture, urban design, and landscape. Our central goal is to shape cities to be more civic, sustainable, and generationally connected by design.
What excites you in the work you do?
At UltraBarrio, I orient myself with design as an evolving response. I make it a goal to stay nimble and adapt with changing conditions to uncover unexpected and delightful solutions. In short, the more ambiguous the problem, the better.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
My aunt was a college professor in biology in Karachi. She became more than an aspiration as I witnessed her rise to a peak position in her field. She published, persisted and ‘leaned in’ in a culture and context where few have dreamed to succeed.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
I find myself faced with decisions that offer no certainty. From working in Shanghai, to attending graduate school, to starting a business. I am most proud of having the grit to push through in a field that is not largely representative of me.
Featured Project Name:
House On The Bayou
Featured Project Location:
Texas
Featured Project Completion Date:
Ongoing
Role in Featured Project:
Principal Designer
Featured Project Description:
The one-acre site for the 4,000sf house is along the bayou with ample tree canopy and a dramatic drop towards the bayou. With the site largely in the flood zone, the new structure responds to weathered pines that coordinate with the interior spaces. Arrival sequences span the landscape through park like paths where trunks, transparency, and bronze blur together with the site’s rich thicket. The interior much like the site, is diverse with spaces that thread light with the intended use of spaces.
