RIA AL-AMEEN
Giaimo + Associates Architects Inc.
SAY IT LOUD - Toronto
Toronto Based Designer
Who or what inspires you professionally?
The people I work and collaborate with, especially women in the design and construction industry, inspire me. Their incredible intelligence, coupled with a strong sense of empathy, generosity and collaboration, continually inspires me.
RIA AL-AMEEN
Bio:
Ria Al-Ameen is a great architect and senior associate at Giaimo, who serves on the Board of Directors of the Canadian Association of Heritage Professionals and volunteers as an Initiative Lead with the TSA. Throughout her career, Ria has worked on public and private sector projects, specializing in adaptive reuse and context-sensitive design for existing and heritage buildings. Her background in academia, public art, and the visual arts brings a creative and multidisciplinary perspective to her work.
How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?
My late grandfather, an engineer, designed our family home in Baghdad, while my uncle, an architect, designed several family homes in Mosul. Their work instilled an appreciation for architecture's ability to shape everyday life from an early age.
What do you do?
I'm an architect and heritage consultant specializing in the conservation and adaptive reuse of heritage and existing buildings. Alongside my professional practice, I continue to explore a range of visual art practices.
What excites you in the work you do?
What excites me most is working with existing buildings and imagining new futures for them while preserving their layered stories.
Who or what inspires you professionally?
The people I work and collaborate with, especially women in the design and construction industry, inspire me. Their incredible intelligence, coupled with a strong sense of empathy, generosity and collaboration, continually inspires me.
What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?
I'm proud to have mentored and supported talented individuals throughout my career and to see the meaningful paths they've taken. Volunteering with the Toronto Society of Architects to support the architectural community is equally rewarding.
Featured Project Name:
Oculus
Featured Project Location:
South Humber Park, Etobicoke
Featured Project Completion Date:
2021
Role in Featured Project:
Architect and Heritage Consultant
Featured Project Description:
The Oculus is a fantastical space-age modernist pavilion constructed in 1959 and located in the South Humber Park. Once neglected, the pavilion was revitalized by Giaimo and ACO Toronto through a light exterior restoration, addition of contextual outdoor furniture, and a series of engaging and educational programming. The revitalization highlights the cultural, environmental, and social value of existing infrastructure while celebrating Toronto’s modernist heritage. Ria and Sara contributed throughout the project, supporting planning, restoration and design, fabrication, and the installation of Brighter Days Ahead, a temporary on-site artwork followed by an on-site exhibition. The project was a recipient of the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation.
