We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Ruba Wafa Tarazi ("RWT").
With over twenty years of experience, Architect Ruba Tarazi creates distinctive architectural compositions that complement their surroundings. Tarazi received her Bachelors degree in Architectural and Building Sciences from Jordan University of Science and Technology. She began her career path at the offices of renowned architect George Hakim, and later she worked with Haddad as a partner before founding her own firm. During those years before she set off on her own, she specialized in design, precision detailing and honed her talents through her work, on commercial, industrial and residential projects. Tarazi’s background plays an integral part in her love of nature and all things natural, as a painter, her passion for art nurtures her eye for beauty and attention to the finest details, giving her creations signature touch.
Ruba Wafa Tarazi Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Ruba Wafa Tarazi.
Ruba Wafa Tarazi Design - Academy Offices
Designer Interview of Ruba Wafa Tarazi:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
RWT : Being a child who loves to draw, to plant and to explore the world around, I grew up loving colors, textures and nature. When I was small I studied art and enjoyed all types of drawing, painting and pottery in addition to my passion to landscaping then I knew that studying architecture and landscaping will fulfill my talents.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
RWT : My company is a licensed architecture company located in Amman- Jordan specialized in all kinds of architectural works starting from small landscaping projects and renovation projects to huge architectural projects like factories and schools...
DI: What is "design" for you?
RWT : Creating spaces that brings happiness people.
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
RWT : architecture and landscaping
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
RWT : The most favorite design is the Dead Sea Villa, located on top of a hill and overlooking beautiful view of the Dead Sea. I really enjoyed designing and building and planting the fruit trees at site. We used stone from our excavation and the outcome was beautiful colored stone facades balanced with simple plaster walls and glass screens overlooking the view. Infinity edge pool with an endless view of the sea.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
RWT : I have designed a steel structure extension for a factory in Jordan.
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
RWT : Stone is my favorite material / platform / technology
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
RWT : When I chose the final design alternative for the project I have been studying.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
RWT : The interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces. Welcoming entrances and simplicity.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
RWT : Happiness
DI: What makes a design successful?
RWT : When we achieve a lot more than what the client asked for and the project brings more users because of it's creativity in design.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
RWT : If the project is related to the site where it was built, the time it was built in through the choice of material and detailing and the main concept behind it.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
RWT : the responsibilities of an architect and designer in general is to create designs that solves social and environmental problems.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
RWT : I think designers will see their designs built and manufactured instantaneous through 3d printing technology and this will simplify the process and increase the demand of new creative designs.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
RWT : As an architect my exhibition is through my architectural project for all people to use and enjoy located in Jordan.
DI: Where does the design inspiration for your works come from? How do you feed your creativity? What are your sources of inspirations?
RWT : Nature is my inspiration.
DI: How would you describe your design style? What made you explore more this style and what are the main characteristics of your style? What's your approach to design?
RWT : My designs are simple and functional in plans, powerful in the choice of materials and always blending with landscaping.
DI: Where do you live? Do you feel the cultural heritage of your country affects your designs? What are the pros and cons during designing as a result of living in your country?
RWT : Born and lived in Amman, Jordan all my life. The cultural heritage here affects designs a lot as privacy is a big issue here and the way we design private houses here demand always separation between the guests section and owners living section but this challenge leads us to create courts and intermediate spaces that adds more value to our designs.
DI: How do you work with companies?
RWT : As an architectural consulting firm we start our work with companies who approach us through intensive meetings to understand their goals then we propose all our design ideas through 2d and 3d presentations then we both choose the final design. Our office prepares construction drawings, take approvals from Jordan Engineers Association and Greater Amman Municipality, study all contractors proposals and supervise construction process at site.
DI: What are your suggestions to companies for working with a designer? How can companies select a good designer?
RWT : I advise companies to deal with architectural firms with long experience and good reputation. Check their achievements and previous projects at site and save time and effort.
DI: Can you talk a little about your design process?
RWT : We study our project very well, visit the site several time, gather information from site as much as we can then do research for similar projects and try to introduce new ideas and suggestions. We use Archicad design program to present all our ideas in 3d to make it easier for client to visualize our concepts.
DI: What are 5 of your favorite design items at home?
RWT : Sculptures, paintings, entrances, plants and windows ( glass facades)
DI: Can you describe a day in your life?
RWT : Woke up early, do my exercise and have breakfast then go to work, visit sites and meet with clients and contractors then come back lunch time cook and sit with my family go back afternoon to office for meetings. At night I enjoys sitting with my family or go out with friends.
DI: Could you please share some pearls of wisdom for young designers? What are your suggestions to young, up and coming designers?
RWT : I advise young designers to work a lot to gain experience and strengthen their skills.
DI: From your perspective, what would you say are some positives and negatives of being a designer?
RWT : Being creative is a gift from God, designers should be always proud of their gift of creativity but on the other hand they should know that being a designer is not easy and needs a lot of effort and years to be recognized.
DI: What is your "golden rule" in design?
RWT : Proportions matters a lot at site. Architecture is a huge sculpture people will enjoy many years if it was designed in right proportions.
DI: What skills are most important for a designer?
RWT : Creativity and computer three dimensional skills.
DI: Which tools do you use during design? What is inside your toolbox? Such as software, application, hardware, books, sources of inspiration etc.?
RWT : Archicad is a full program for architectural design.
DI: Designing can sometimes be a really time consuming task, how do you manage your time?
RWT : Planning each project and setting fixed schedules is always a successful plan.
DI: How long does it take to design an object from beginning to end?
RWT : In Architecture depends on the scale of the project, from one to three months maximum.
DI: What is the most frequently asked question to you, as a designer?
RWT : What projects are you working on those days?
DI: What was your most important job experience?
RWT : Site supervision. Supervising the construction of your design adds a lot to the final output. It gives you last chance to improve on your design either in materials, colors, even proportions. The designer who cares a lot for his work stays on top of things until the construction rises in maximum beauty.
DI: Who are some of your clients?
RWT : Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Amman Baccalaureate School, Jordan knights Football Academy and varies residential and commercial projects.
DI: What type of design work do you enjoy the most and why?
RWT : Designing for kids because they are the future.
DI: What are your future plans? What is next for you?
RWT : Training young architects, creating more innovative designs and deliver award wining projects that serve communities and environment.
DI: Do you work as a team, or do you develop your designs yourself?
RWT : I do the architectural part and then work with other engineers as a team finalize the design.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
RWT : I am doing some landscaping projects for residential villas and I am designing a training center. Each project has it's difficulties but I am enjoying each one of them.
DI: How can people contact you?
RWT : Our Website is : www.architectrubatarazi.com location: 18, anis bin qutada street, Sweifieh, Amman, JORDAN Mobile: +962795561463
DI: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?
RWT : Being a Juror at Jordan Universities and International Competitions, this yearly experience adds a lot to my vision in design, it keeps me up to date to the educational field and the new studies in our professional field and informs me how new generation thinks.