BIO
Architecture changed my life…It’s given me the rare opportunity to collaborate closely and learn from many talented clients, builders, and skilled trades over the last three decades. Translating design work into built environments requires a collaborative spirit, empathy and constant vigilance. It’s a galvanizing process which has given me great joy and has resulted in built work that I hope has not only enriched the lives of its inhabitants, but has also created places of lasting meaning in our collective landscape.
ZPA was founded in 2019. I wanted high quality design to be in reach for anyone who wanted it. Memorable design work grows not only out of the advantages a particular context offers but also its constraints. From the smallest intervention to the grandest gesture, I want to help my clients distill their wants and needs into built work that is at once practical and inventive, well crafted and sensitive to the land upon which it sits.
ACADEMIC + WORK HISTORY
March 2019 to present, Owner and Design Principal of Zahir Poonawala Architect llc.
March 2006 to March 2020, Design Principal @ Oz Architects Inc., Don Ziebell President, 480-443-4904 www.ozarchitects.com
May 1999 to Jan 2003, Project Designer @ Pavlecic Trudeau Architects, Marc Trudeau Principal, 312-922-4575 www.ptarch.com
May 1997 to November 1998, Designer and Constructor @ Rockhill and Associates, Dan Rockhill Principal, 785-393-0747 www.rockhillandassociates.com
University of Kansas, M- ARCH, 1997, Graduated with Honors, participated in Studio 804, www.studio804.com
Washington University, BA in Art History and Conservation, 1991
WORK INVENTORY
New Construction - Private Residence - Epard Porsche House - Lawrence KS, 1997-1998
Historic Preservation - Beaumont Frisco Water Tower Restoration, Beaumont KS, 1998
Commercial - Fields Awning - Lawrence KS, 1998
Partial Renovation - Private Residence - Ogden Farmhouse - Lecompton KS, 1998.
Full Renovation - Private Residence - Lake Shore Drive Apartment - Chicago IL, 1998
Partial Renovation - Private Residence - Hyde Park SFR,- Chicago IL, 1998
Commercial - Girboud Jeans Storefront and display equipment - Chicago IL, 1998
Full Renovation - Private Residence - High Rise Apartment - Chicago IL, 1999
Full Renovation - Private Residence - Wicker Park Brownstone - Chicago IL, 2000
New Construction- Private Residence - 5 story Townhouse - Chicago IL, 2000
Full Renovation - Private Residence - Studio Apartment - New York City, 2001
Partial Renovation - Private Residence - 2 story home and attic, Lake Forest IL, 2002
New Construction - Private Residence - Saguaro Residence, Paradise Valley, 2005
New Construction - Private Residence - Larcher Resdience, Paradise Valley, 2005
Commercial- Renovations of Cabanas at Royal Palms Resort and Spa - Phoenix AZ, 2006
New Construction - Private Residence - Knight Residence, Scottsdale AZ, 2006-2008
New Construction - Private Residence - Larson Residence, Scottsdale AZ, 2009-2010
New Construction - Private Residence - Linthicum Residence, Scottsdale AZ, 2010
New Construction - Private Residence - Hidden Rock Residence, Scottsdale AZ, 2010-2011
Full Renovation + New Construction - Private Residence - Nassikas Residence, Paradise Valley AZ, 2012
New Construction - Private MultiFamily - MuleHaus - 3 unit Townhouse - Park City UT, 2013-2014
New Construction - Private Residence - Carefree AZ, 2014
Interiors - Private Residence - Park City UT, 2015
New Construction - Private Residence - Kauai HI 2015
New Construction - Private Residence - Siegel Summerville Residence - Gold Canyon AZ, 2015-2016
Full Renovation + New Construction - Private Residence - Bellagio Residence - Bel Air, CA, 2016-2017
New Construction - Private Residence - Mar Vista Residence - Los Angeles CA, 2017
New Construction - Private Residence - Brentwood CA, 2018-2019
New Construction - Private Residence - Young Bose Residence - Carmel Valley CA, 2019
Full Renovation + New Construction - former residence of Marilyn Monroe, Los Angeles CA, 2020
Partial Renovation + New Construction - Neil Residence - Scottsdale AZ, 2005-2020
New Construction - Private Residence - Brighton CO, 2020-2025
New Construction - Simon Residence - Scottsdale AZ,
Full Renovation + New Construction - Windsor Residence - Phoenix AZ,
Full Renovation + New Construction - Fort Yingling West - Tucson AZ
Partial Renovation + New Construction - ADU - Houston TX
Full Renovation + New Construction - Bonnie Brae Residence - Houston TX
Full Renovation + New Construction - Lulu Glen Residence - Los Angeles CA
Full Renovation + New Construction - Pond Oreille Lake House - Hope ID
Partial Renovation + New Construction - 7041 Improvements - Phoenix AZ
Renovation + New Construction - Costello Residence - Sherman Oaks CA
Public Art - Theater in the Park - Kansas City MO
Public Art - KC Street Car Competition - Kansas City MO
Partial Renovation + New Construction - Garage + Entry Addition - Bellevue WA
Full Renovation - Mixed Use Building - Columbus Park, Kansas City MO
Partial Renovation - SFR - Encino CA
Full Renovation + New Construction - Los Feliz Residence - Tempe AZ
Partial Renovation + New Construction - Mandala Residence - Scottsdale AZ