ZAHER ARCHITECTS

Team

Principal Architect

Sam Zaher

Sam Zaher is a registered architect and member of the Australian Institute of Architects with extensive education and experience. Sam has worked on numerous public, urban and residential projects, including the award-winning Olympic Village in Homebush Bay and the Walsh Bay Precinct in Sydney.

Graduating from UTS Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (Hons), Sam has over 20 years of experience in the architectural industry. Prior to studying architecture, Sam studied drafting and before that studied and worked as an engineer. This has given him a wealth of knowledge that very few competitors in Australia can match.

In 2004 Sam and his family relocated to the North Coast of New South Wales and established Zaher Architects in the inspiring hinterland of Byron Bay, giving Sam an opportunity to give the region access to some of the best architecture practices available in Australia.

Sam and his clients often pair timeless, beautiful and bold design with the latest advancements in environmental design. The result is a living experience that is luxurious and that won’t cost the earth.

Sam Zaher
Sam Zaher
Principal Architect

Sam Zaher

Sam Zaher is a registered architect and member of the Australian Institute of Architects with extensive education and experience. Sam has worked on numerous public, urban and residential projects, including the award-winning Olympic Village in Homebush Bay and the Walsh Bay Precinct in Sydney.

Graduating from UTS Sydney with a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture (Hons), Sam has over 20 years of experience in the architectural industry. Prior to studying architecture, Sam studied drafting and before that studied and worked as an engineer. This has given him a wealth of knowledge that very few competitors in Australia can match.

In 2004 Sam and his family relocated to the North Coast of New South Wales and established Zaher Architects in the inspiring hinterland of Byron Bay, giving Sam an opportunity to give the region access to some of the best architecture practices available in Australia.

Sam and his clients often pair timeless, beautiful and bold design with the latest advancements in environmental design. The result is a living experience that is luxurious and that won’t cost the earth.

Sam's story

It seems like I have been doing architecture and been part of the architectural industry for eternity. 

I started at a technical college after high school and completed an engineering and construction course. When I arrived in Australia my qualification wasn’t recognised so I had to do my architectural degree again. Of course, I enrolled in the wrong course (a drafting degree) and after four years finally switched to the right one, which took another 6 years. 

People often ask me how I spent so long studying and my answer usually is simply because I love architecture.

In the 80s I wanted to do a degree in electronics (this was before computers). Unfortunately, my grades weren’t high enough in that area and because of this I accidentally stumbled into a degree in engineering and construction. 

It must have been fate as I couldn’t imagine doing anything else. I love what I do because it is a profession where art and science collide, and aesthetics and practicality intertwine to create visual and spatial delights. I am passionate about architecture because it excites the left side and the right side of my brain.

After working for 15 years in Sydney for big-name firms I decided to relocate to Byron Bay and open my own practice

Byron is a small community, and therefore reputation is everything. That’s why I take what I do very seriously. There is a lot of money and emotions involved in the creation of quality architecture and everything has to be perfect. I believe that the process of creating a client’s dream home should be a painless journey and an exciting experience. It is something that many people get to do once in their lifetime and my goal is to make sure that this experience is a pleasant, creative process where the client gets involved and to see their dream home take shape.

I often speak to clients who say “we can’t afford an architect”, and my answer is; you can’t afford not to have an architect.

After many years in the industry, I’ve heard many horror stories and seen many disasters. When someone spends money on architectural fees, they automatically save double or triple that amount on site delays and design mistakes and rework.

Work with an architect and you can make money back on resale, as an architecturally designed home is more marketable. Whilst living in the house, you will benefit from living in carefully considered spaces that are beautifully designed and carefully executed to make most of the light, orientation and aspect. 

The cost of a project is directly affected by the quality of documentation and design so invest in an architect and you will save in the long term.

I’m looking forward to meeting you and collaborating as we create your dream home. I encourage you to be bold and to not hold back in asking for what you want. 

Associate Architect

Mercedes Mambort

Mercedes Mambort studied for a Bachelor’s Degree and Masters Architecture at R.M.I.T, one of the world’s top design-oriented and progressive architecture schools, as well as overseas study in Austria and Italy.

Over the last 13 years, Mercedes has worked for some of Australia’s most highly regarded architecture firms, as well as exhibiting at international architecture exhibitions including the 2012 Venice Biennale of Architecture. She has taught at Monash University and sat on the Victorian Chapter Council at the Australian Institute of Architects, as the EmAGN graduate representative.

In 2016 Mercedes sought a sea change, opting for a more balanced lifestyle in the Byron Shire. She brings fresh eyes, new perspectives and a level of technical skills beyond architecture that enhance the Zaher offering.

Mercedes’ architectural interests include building biology (the effects of building materials on health and well being) and creating energy-efficient and responsible buildings. She is currently in the process of obtaining her qualification to become a certified Passive House Designer.

Mercedes Mambort
Mercedes Mambort
Associate Architect

Mercedes Mambort

Mercedes Mambort studied for a Bachelor’s Degree and Masters Architecture at R.M.I.T, one of the world’s top design-oriented and progressive architecture schools, as well as overseas study in Austria and Italy.

Over the last 13 years, Mercedes has worked for some of Australia’s most highly regarded architecture firms, as well as exhibiting at international architecture exhibitions including the 2012 Venice Biennale of Architecture. She has taught at Monash University and sat on the Victorian Chapter Council at the Australian Institute of Architects, as the EmAGN graduate representative.

In 2016 Mercedes sought a sea change, opting for a more balanced lifestyle in the Byron Shire. She brings fresh eyes, new perspectives and a level of technical skills beyond architecture that enhance the Zaher offering.

Mercedes’ architectural interests include building biology (the effects of building materials on health and well being) and creating energy-efficient and responsible buildings. She is currently in the process of obtaining her qualification to become a certified Passive House Designer.

British Registered Architect

Florence Steed

Florence is a qualified British Registered Architect with keen interests in regenerative, user-focused and environmentally positive architecture. She has applied her enthusiasm for sustainability through the practical study of permaculture, biomimetics and natural building, and is now a fully certified Passive House Designer.

Florence completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees at the Manchester School of Architecture, one of the world’s best architecture universities. She enjoys a design challenge as well as exploring new techniques. She won an award for her thesis, which looked at methods for creating sustainable agricultural and transport facilities using bamboo as a primary building material.

Florence has a drive for balance within architecture. Having studied and practiced in the UK for a decade, she decided to relocate to the Northern Rivers area to pursue this balance and enjoy all the best that Australia has to offer.

Florence Steed
Florence Steed
British Registered Architect

Florence Steed

Florence is a qualified British Registered Architect with keen interests in regenerative, user-focused and environmentally positive architecture. She has applied her enthusiasm for sustainability through the practical study of permaculture, biomimetics, natural building, and is now a fully certified Passive House Designer.

Florence completed her Bachelors and Masters degrees at the Manchester School of Architecture, one of the world’s best architecture universities. She enjoys a design challenge as well as exploring new techniques. She won an award for her thesis, which looked at methods for creating sustainable agricultural and transport facilities using bamboo as a primary building material.

Florence has a drive for balance within architecture. Having studied and practised in the UK for nine years, she decided to relocate to the Northern Rivers area to pursue this balance and enjoy all the best that Australia has to offer.

Advanced BIM Draftsperson

Anna Perramon

Anna is passionate about environmental and sustainable construction, prefabricated processes, eco friendly, and nearly zero impact materials. Originally from Barcelona, she studied for her Bachelor’s Degree of Architecture at the International University of Catalonia, as well as overseas study in England.

Anna is a high experienced BIM Draftsperson who has worked for some of the best-known architect firms and engineering companies for over four years, focussing on energy efficiency, bioclimatic strategies and the prefabrication construction system of timber houses as well as structures at different scales.

Anna first fell in love with natural resources and local building techniques working at an NGO in Thailand. She pursued this further by travelling to Bali where she completed a bamboo construction course at the Green School. It was the great surfing culture and community that strives for environmental consciousness that called her to live and work in the Byron shire two years ago. Anna is further adding a sustainable perspective to Zaher Architect’s environmental design and a great 3D modelling & advanced BIM technology for our projects.

Anna Perramon
Anna Perramon
Advanced BIM Draftsperson

Anna Perramon

Anna is passionate about environmental and sustainable construction, prefabricated processes, eco friendly, and nearly zero impact materials. Originally from Barcelona, she studied for her Bachelor’s Degree of Architecture at the International University of Catalonia, as well as overseas study in England.

Anna is a high experienced BIM Draftsperson who has worked for some of the best-known architect firms and engineering companies for over four years, focussing on energy efficiency, bioclimatic strategies and the prefabrication construction system of timber houses as well as structures at different scales.

Anna first fell in love with natural resources and local building techniques working at an NGO in Thailand. She pursued this further by travelling to Bali where she completed a bamboo construction course at the Green School. It was the great surfing culture and community that strives for environmental consciousness that called her to live and work in the Byron shire two years ago. Anna is further adding a sustainable perspective to Zaher Architect’s environmental design and a great 3D modelling & advanced BIM technology for our projects.

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