With the rise to prominence of several designers, each with a distinct style of his own and a huge following of admirers, the architecture and interior design field in Egypt has been gaining much attention. Recently a new name, Mohamed Abou Samra, exhibiting passion and professionalism, has been gaining ground in the design field. eniGma sat down with the young architect and designer to get to know more about his career and his design firm, Abou Samra Designs (ASD).
Mohamed Abou Samra always knew he wanted a career in architecture and single-mindedly pursued this passion and ambition. Even before graduating with an architecture degree from Delta University for Science and Technology in 2017, he had already determined the path he would take. “I had a vision of my own and a distinctive way of thinking, which is why I decided not to join anyone’s firm upon graduation. Instead, I decided to found Abou Samra Designs (ASD) to apply my own ideas. Since we already had a family business in real estate development, my design firm specialising in both interior design and architecture, became an arm of the family’s Abou Samra Group,” he explains.
“I think that designing someone’s home is one of the most superb
jobs on earth”
Already exhibiting his own style in architecture, Abou Samra credits his extensive travels and exposure to different cultures for much of his evolution and growth as a designer. “Seeing different cultures and how they interpret buildings and spaces was very important in developing my own vision. I noticed that every destination has its own story, representing the culture of the people living there. This was instrumental in developing my interior design concept, which goes beyond designing a luxurious space to making sure my design tells a special story related to the end-user. My designs also have to be long lasting and implementable,” he explains.
Although their designs are simple at first glance, ASD excels at creating intricate and creative modern designs that produce quality residential projects for their clients. Known for their impressive attention to details and their perfect use of colours, ASD has garnered a reputation for excellence among their growing roster of clients.
“I think that designing someone’s home is one of the most superb jobs on earth. My goal is to leave a mark on my client’s happiness as he strolls around every corner of his home. My designs have to match my client’s identity, which means that I give the highest priority to meeting his /her needs and expectations. At the same time, I always challenge myself to introduce new innovative ideas that would amaze my client. I like to recommend ideas that are out of the box,” says Abou Samra. “Advanced technologies like automation and Smart Home Systems, are also integral parts of our designs,” he adds.
With the firm already expanding beyond Egypt to neighbouring countries like Saudi Arabia, Abou Samra sees a bright future for the industry in the Arab region and wants to play a pivotal role in its evolution rather than watch from the sidelines. “I’m fighting to change the rules of the interior design industry in the Middle East through delivering some core values like art, innovation, and a special identity to each project,” he exclaims.
In recent months, with the coronavirus pandemic impacting many industries, naturally, ASD was not immune to the rocky start experienced by the design field in 2020.
However, Abou Samra’s willpower and dedication helped weather these rough conditions and ASD continued to prosper despite the difficulties. “Every field is subject to sudden fluctuations, and whoever wants to continue thriving must deal with this issue. In ASD, we consider any challenge as an opportunity to make a difference and take a step forward. So instead of giving in to the slowdown caused by the pandemic, I decided to empower my team to extract every bit of innovation they have inside them,” explains Abou Samra, adding, “Of course, we also maintain safety and protection procedures in all our work.”
Looking ahead, Abou Samra’s passion and determination will continue to serve him well as he forges his own path in the design field. His impressive talent for innovation and creativity, not to mention his strong work ethic, are sure to go a long way as he leads ASD to new heights of success and client satisfaction.
Instagram: @abousamragroup
Facebook: Abou Samra Group