Young architect pioneering new construction techniques

Architecture is the reason we live in a world today that consists of many different designs of buildings and environmental landscapes. It can be described as an art, science and profession.

Mikhail Ahmad is a young Guyanese entrepreneur who is very passionate about architecture. In fact, the architect is pioneering new construction techniques with the use of technology.
He was born at the Scarborough General Hospital in Toronto, Canada, to Guyanese parents Indira and Naseer Ahmad but came to Guyana at the age of five since his parents wanted to connect with their Guyanese roots.
This young man grew up in Good Fortuin on the West Bank of Demerara (WBD) and attended the primary school in his neighbourhood.
He would then embark on higher learning at the Zeeburg Secondary School from 2007-2010 and was later transferred to West Demerara Secondary from where he graduated in 2012.
Questioned why he chose this career path, Ahamad explained, “I grew up being exposed to construction as my dad Naseer is also an architect and my brother Xyzfaohn is an engineer. Between spending time on construction sites and taking an interest in arts, I pursued architecture.”
Immediately after leaving secondary school, he enrolled at the University of Guyana (UG) where he pursued the Civil Engineering programme. Within a year, Ahamad decided that he wanted to major in architecture as his passion for the arts and design was still there.
“I was well-rounded in all things architecture, from history to design to construction. I always took time learning about new and innovative technologies that could improve my designs which would, in turn, improve the livelihood of those using my spaces,” he said.
However, during his third year at university, he related that he had an epiphany that in a year he would be graduating and would be on the verge of job hunting. He admitted that the thought of being an unemployed graduate was a scary one.
Against this background, he related, “I wanted to stay ahead of the curve. At the start of my final year in 2016, between working part-time with my uncle selling carpets and working on final year projects I birthed LA Architecture; my own Architecture company.”
LA Architecture or LA as called by many is a Guyanese-based and operated company that specialises in home designs and consultancy. Ahmad, in great detail, informed <<<Guyana Times>>> about the processes his company follows regarding architecture designs and construction.
According to him, “Clients engage us in designing their home or building, we produce a design, structural drawings and illustrations. Our renderings and animations are popular with the locale. When requested, we provide an engineer’s estimate which gives a good sense of the cost of the project.”
“After designs have been given the green light by the relevant authorities, we are often contracted to stay with the project through the life of the construction as an in-house consultant. Our job as the consultant is to ensure that our design goes from paper to reality as it was meant to be. We also check that proper construction techniques and methods are used so as to have a successful and happy end product building,” he concluded.
In addition to design and supervision of homes, LA Architecture offers services to the builders and suppliers involved both dependently and independently. The young entrepreneur explained that his company works with contractors, fabricators, joiners, furniture builders, and landscapers on in-house projects, but also independently in making proposals on their behalf to companies and agencies when contracting for works.
When asked what makes his company different from competitors, he replied, “It is our love for the process of getting to that end product, no matter how many times we go from design to construction. The love for the process remains, as clichéd as that is. A repeated gesture from our clients is how enjoyable it was to work with us from paper to concrete. I believe we stand tall in building happy homes and relationships.”
In terms of expanding his company, Ahmad is highly interested in growing more in construction supplies, services and even real estate. He alluded that “it is my hope to soon enough design, build and sell our very own LA homes to the lovely people of Guyana.”
He believes that architecture can definitely improve the livelihood of our people.
“I have seen it done in many places across the globe, take Denmark for example. I’m hopeful and looking forward to more youths pushing my cause of making architecture more prominent in Guyana as it is needed so much. So many of our everyday problems can be resolved easily if only we put some architecture into it.”
He encouraged budding architects to stay committed to their art and to always deliver the best quality of work as it is very important when you would like to create a good reputation for yourself.
For anyone who may be interested in learning more about LA Architecture or to have their own architecture designs done, visit www.laarchitecturegy.com. The company can also be contacted on Facebook at L.A architecturegy or an Instagram at Laarchitecturegy.