Umair Zia’s art flows from the theoretical premise that life is a synergistic outcome of the design processes in nature. It is only after atoms reorganize themselves in a certain way that life manifests itself. Zia’s art is an extension of Sir Richard Buckminster Fuller’s dream of a world that works for all life.
“The clutch is in, will we shift up or down? It’s Utopia or Oblivion.”
– R. Buckminster Fuller
Art
Besides visualizing his own books, Umair creates drawings and diagrams for all those needle-moving, heart-warming, planetary projects (books, poems, blogs, and scripts, etc.) that are either inspired by or are simply concerned with Nature. His ink-on-paper hand-drawn sketches are robust in detail and full of meaning.
For interest and inquiries, please send an email to: [email protected]
Books
Umair Zia’s book, ‘Tree Tech: 50 Lessons for Humanity’ is an exploration of the wisdom of the trees in 50 life lessons. Directed by Nicolas Alcala and Roxi Shohadaee, Tree Tech is Umair’s personal journey to establish a dialogue with the millennia-old magnificent beings that hold some of the wisest secrets available to humanity. It’s a thrilling and spiritual quest to understand biomimicry and the hidden ancient technologies of the trees. Previously, Umair has published multiple research articles. He is a member of the editorial board of ii International Journal of Interior Architecture + Spatial Design.
For research opportunities and general inquiries, please write to: [email protected]
Architecture
Umair is a PCATP-licensed architect, well-known for his visionary concepts for the future of the cities. His work is deeply grounded in theory, and his projects have been exhibited at multiple platforms including Venice Art Biennale, Arctic Perspective Initiative, eVolo US, Urban S.O.S., and Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat UK. He was the finalist of the 2011 CTBUH Why Tall? design competition.
For consultation on architectural projects, design commission, and planning review, please email: [email protected]
Design Juries & Talks
Umair Zia delivers inspirational talks and seminars on the following topics:
- Bio-mimicry in the Age of Complexity
- Bio-mimetic Design through Scales
- Design Synergies
- On Learning from the Nonlinear Living Systems
- Introduction to the Nonlinear Processes in Architectural Design and Urban Planning (for Architects and Urban Planners only)
- Nature’s Cross-programming
- Complexity and Visualisation
- Diagraming the Unpredictable
Umair is frequently invited for design juries of nature-inspired projects at schools of architecture and product design.
To book Umair Zia for an online talk or design jury, please send an email to: [email protected]
Please arrange for a jury of projects that are inspired by nature and natural processes only.
|| Books
An architect, author, systems illustrator, and living systems technologist, Umair Zia leads the visualization of complex systems with an emphasis on synergy across scales and disciplines.
|| About Ümair Zia
A multi-disciplinary designer, Umair founded the Living Systems Design Research Group at the National College of Arts, Lahore in 2010 where he established and pioneered the synergistic design process for nature gadgets, fusing craftsmanship and nature to deliver projects that align with principles of technological sustainability. Umair became a regular assistant professor at NCA in 2017.
Umair completed his Master’s in Architecture from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore in 2015. Prior to that, he earned a B. Arch degree from NCA, complementing pre-engineering studies at the Government College University, Lahore.
In 2020, Umair was admitted to the first cohort of the Design Science Studio (The Buckminster Fuller Institute + HabRitual) where he joined the Living Systems Collaboratory (Emergent Media Lab, University of California, Irvine). He launched multiple projects in collaboration with the studio, in addition to the tens of previous design and research publications, and inventions. He became a student of Fritjof Capra and protégé of systems philosopher, Mansoor Vakilli in 2021.
Umair’s work has been recognized at the Venice Art Biennale (2017), the Arctic Perspective Initiative (2015), the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat (2011), and at several local and international platforms.
| Opportunities
Closed
This section will be updated soon.
| Contact
Department of Architecture, National College of Arts, Lahore
For general inquiries: [email protected]