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Artistic Yet Precise Architectural Designer and Builder Faisal Syed on Creativity Behind Craftsmanship b y D e n i s e K . J a m e s F rom an early age, architectural designer and builder Faisal Syed was intrigued by the parts that make up a whole. Describing himself as a creative child who
manifested by hand onto a blank sheet of paper.” Sketches are later generated into computer images and shared. As for how Syed feels about the technological nuances of his craft, he maintains that a computer cannot make or break a true artist. “A great designer can create using pencil and paper just as easily as with a computer program. Having the convenience to communicate faster, draw more accurately, and build with better materials is more efficient but is not better. It is the talent, creativity, vision, and experience that produce meaningful results.” Syed takes the search for materials seriously and opts for those: “Found in unusual places… such as steel yards, flea markets, sawmills in the middle of nowhere, and 100-year-old barns that have been demolished.” In his estimation, materials gleaned from such sources are both storied and functional, and his work depends on wood, steel and masonry. In fact, many complete designs develop around items found serendipitously, and elements such as light fixtures, hand railings, entry doors, and balustrades can set the entire tone for a dwelling. When the moment arrives to create a photo-worthy interior, Syed enlists the eye of his wife, Jenifer, with whom he has “endless discussions with on the details of a project”. With Jenifer’s vision, “thousands of decisions” are made on the colors, materials, and textures that make up a home. But whether the project is on the Emerald Coast, Midwest, or Bahamas—Syed Design Group has projects in numerous locales—the principles of design remain the same and guide the success. These principles are not based in “latest and greatest” tenets, either; Syed considers the great architects of the 20th century to be his chief influences. “I look to the older masters, such as Lutyens, Corbusier, Kahn, and A. Hays Town,” he says. “The resources I am most engaged with are books of architectural details from the 1930s through 1950s. These… are an endless source of wonder and speak to me on a deep level.” Additionally, Syed values collaborating with his mentor, partner, and friend Ted Goodman. “He has been a practicing architect since before I was born and has taught me so much about good design. We have created many projects together.”
longed to “figure out how things worked”, Syed would inevitably deconstruct each new toy he was given, determined to understand its function on a deeper level. With a father who was both a mathematician and an engineer and a mother who was both an educator and a singer, Faisal grew up in a world of both the left and the right brain, preparing him for an artistic yet precise career in custom architecture. “My mother’s creative core was centered on the idea that life is a gift, and we can repay the gift by creating beautiful things,” he says. The designer recalls visiting India at age 5 with his mother to her childhood home for the first time since fleeing the tumultuous partition of the country into two nations in 1947. Young Faisal was immediately enchanted by elements of the property—including its lush courtyard and paradise garden—and says that to this day he can draw the floor plan from memory. Meanwhile, in what became Pakistan, at the home where Syed grew up with his family, all design elements were custom made; nothing was mass-produced. A parade of artisans was constantly in and out of the home, creating everything from carpets to cabinets and instilling his early appreciation for beauty and design. Today, as the founder of Syed Design Group, Faisal Syed has created not only homes but entire communities. His initial design firm in Columbus, Ohio, (where he attended Ohio State University and met his wife), is still in business; but his current home of Rosemary Beach has held his heart since the mid-1990s, with the design firm flourishing along the entire Emerald Coast since 2003. Staying true to his lifelong appreciation of art, Syed passionately takes on the visions of his clients, from the initial consultation to the final reveal. He explains that establishing a rapport at the initial meeting is most important. “People gravitate toward what makes them comfortable.” Thus, understanding his client thoroughly is paramount. “The discussion centers on topics other than the home,” he explains. “I listen very closely and ask questions about how they live and their interests, passions, stories, and life experiences.” Following these conversations, Syed lets the muse take over. The first sketch comes from his own hand, pen, and paper. Whether on a restaurant napkin or sketchbook late at night, the process is perhaps the designer’s most cherished—“The moment ideas are
Faisal Syed
[M]any complete designs develop around items found serendipitously, and elements such as light fixtures, hand railings, entry doors, and balustrades can set the entire tone for a dwelling.
If you would like to learn more, email Faisal Syed at faisal@sdg30a.com or call (850) 543-5951. You can also visit the company website at www.sdg30a.com.
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