Interview with Hooman H. Shirazi, Founder & CEO of HMan Design & Construction, Inc., US

I was born into an artistic family. My father is a well-known professor of architecture with many rewards and grants, my mother has an excellent taste of interior design and my younger sister is a graphic designer. Well when I was a kid, I spent some of my time, you know like summer time or sometimes after the school with my father at his office or we went to his jobsites, so at that time, I loved the architecture and design just because I imagined that I could create a piece of art in somewhere on this earth and be helpful.

Well, My company is an architectural design and construction studio, basically we do building designs, leading and supervising all the stages from the basic design and construction management.HMan [D+C] studio is an international AWARD-WINNING design studio. We help our clients to get to their dream’s home. We do full service design, project management and general contracting. We are specializing in high- end residential, commercial design, construction management, and utilize the finest sub-contractors, we use modern technologies and quality materials to complete projects to the highest standards.

You know, design can mean whatever you want it to mean to you. So I believe design is about imagination and communicating feelings through visual sensations and unique experiences.

My favorite kind of design is based on the simplicity and functionality, because I think both make the final result excellent.

Simply touching the people's desires!

Well, my favorite architectural design style is more contemporary modern style because of the simplicity; however I love the Tuscany architecture style as well.

So it’s long process but I make it short for you; after meeting with the clients, before starting the design we do some due diligence and feasibility study; and then we do planning & site analysis. From the design options that I have my team do the 3D modeling study to finalize it to have the design and technical package to be able to get the building permits, after that we deliver the construction management as well if our clients as us to do so.

The overall answer is No; but it depends on each project and location of the project which might impact the design process for sure.

Thank you! ...These awards mean a lot to me, my team and my company. The competition is an essential international arena to test our design and build capability and creativity

Nelson-Perkins is a smart 2 townhouse project at South bay, California. I tried to design these two units as one structure as far as visually, and I chose this project because of the simplicity of the forms and functionality; actually you can see this project in our website at HManDC.com with more details and information.

The most challenging part of the design was dedicating about 2ft x 100ft length of the land to the city for the ADA use as well as 9ft x 9ft the corner of the property for the ADA ramp; Also the height limitation of 30ft that allowed me to design only 2 story building, so with all those deductions and set- backs limitation, it caused a challenge to have the maximum area & land use. The other challenge was the exterior design that needed to pass the neighborhood design committee as far as compatibility with the existing and new neighborhood.

1. The “Creativity” that gives artistic freedom and personal expression. 2. The “Opportunity” to keep learning and experimenting. 3. The “Ability’ to impact positively and touch the lives of those that come in contact with our work

Well, I ́d like to answer this question focusing on the technology and digital aspects, I live in United States of America and you know the technology in this country is the number one, and this makes it so easy and unique to create your dream to be more real.

I would say to use the best and the latest design software and practice more

You know, to be an architect and builder, you must work hard and spend a lot of time specially your personal life into it; So I would like to thank my wife who is very patient and supportive and helped me on this, whose love made my dream come true.

My family specially my father as a well-known architect.

Just follow your dream and NEVER GIVE UP... Hard work does pay off all the time!!

Yes, I would like to say, I am so grateful to have won this MUSE award and to be honored among all the other great architectural firms and high caliber of work and thank you so much for giving us the opportunity to share our work and thoughts.