Omar Gandhi is the Principal of Omar Gandhi Architect, an architectural practice founded in 2010 with small teams in both Halifax and Toronto. The work of its two studios has garnered much National and International attention in the young practice’s history.

‍

In its early years, the studio was awarded the Canada Council for the Arts Professional Prix de Rome, was included in Wallpaper Magazine’s Architects Directory, and Omar himself was named as one of Monocle Magazine’s ‘Most Influential Canadians’. Omar was chosen as one of the Architectural League of New York’s ‘Emerging Voices’ of 2016 and in 2018, was appointed the Louis I. Kahn visiting Assistant Professorship in Architectural Design at the Yale School of Architecture.

‍

Most recently, Omar Gandhi Architect was the recipient of a 2018 Governor General’s Medal in Architecture for its work on Rabbit Snare Gorge and honored as the only Canadian practice in Architectural Record Magazine’s 2018 Design Vanguard. In 2020, the studio was part of the team awarded the new Art Gallery of Nova Scotia and in 2021, completed the revitalization of one of Canada’s most Iconic landmarks, Peggy’s Cove.

‍

His talk titled Private/Public chronicles the journey of a small architecture studio based in Halifax, Nova Scotia in the early days of its second decade in practice. From small renovations and dramatic coastal private residences to the design process and value-based approach that propelled the firm to major public and community projects. Gain insight into the power of collaboration and public consultation as the studio looks ahead to the future of both the profession of architecture and our own practice including the way in which we holistically represent our values as people and as a corporation.

‍

‍