Fares Nasserelddine is the founder of Siraf Associates. Having qualified in 2003 with a Masters degree in Architecture, he joined the award-winning Benoy practice, where he worked on the Bristol Temple Meads urban regeneration scheme, and then moved to the London office of HOK, a global US firm. There Fares gained experience on projects of all sizes – residential and retail, leisure and hospitality, education and healthcare – and was a member of the team that designed Heathrow Terminal 5 and the Royal London Hospital.
In 2008 Fares founded his own practice, Siraf Associates. ‘My first commission was as Project Architect on the refurbishment of a luxury property in Mayfair. That proved to be an invaluable learning curve: I was also responsible for liaising with the contractors on site and, as a result, I learned the day-to-day practical side of the business. That knowledge subsequently inspired me to launch a complementary construction company, and it’s why I like to call myself an Architect/Contractor.’
Since then Fares has worked in the private and public sectors in the UK and the Middle East, building a reputation for creative flair and technical excellence.
His portfolio includes homes and private housing schemes, mixed-use developments, boutiques and restaurants and investor collaborations on new-build and buy-to-let properties.
In recent years, Fares has increasingly focused on residential projects, including the sensitive re-modelling of period buildings. ‘I love to tackle structural issues, producing flexible, imaginative designs that enhance use and layout and maximise natural light. Also, I’m passionate about saving and re-purposing original materials – in particular timber – wherever possible.
‘For me, working with clients is a personal process: innovative architecture is as much about people as spaces. I take the brief and, once the build begins, I visit sites two to three times every week and am always available to clients. I approach each project on its own terms, devising integrated, tailor-made solutions that look stylish and function in the best way for those living and working in the space.’
