ABOUT US

Redefining Luxury

Luxury is not about opulence, possessions, or flashy trends. Luxury is about creating a space that connects nature, respects the land, and enriches your daily life.

We design spaces that thoughtfully blur the boundary between indoors and outdoors, so you can reconnect with nature and reawaken your senses.

We’ll help you create something you’re proud of.

At BY SOMA, we design residences that tell a story, harmoniously connect to nature, and respect the land.

Redefining luxury lies at the heart of our practice. We seek to create spaces that are more than just beautiful to look at. We move beyond expensive facades and exorbitant materials. Most importantly, we listen. We listen to your story or your team’s vision to create something that is unique to you or the people who inhabit our spaces.

We understand planning protocols and building regulations and are experts in BIM and innovative architectural technology. Skilfully blending commercial, environmental and creative factors allows us to go above and beyond the codes and design residences that are beautiful, maximise your investment, and raise the bar for residential design.

We’re a small and nimble team with big-firm experience. We can move quickly and efficiently. We bring a positive mindset to every project. We like to laugh and make jokes. We want you to enjoy the ride.

We genuinely enjoy working with inspired clients and boutique property developers who share our vision to redefine luxury and enhance the day-to-day lives of residents.

We are sophisticated but not pretentious. We believe true luxury is about creating timeless spaces that tell stories that transcend generations. We listen to you and your story so we can design a space that reflects you and your vision, hopes and lifestyle. And ensures your design will never get old because it was created to tell a story. Your story.

Why Work with us

We are passionate and genuinely care about the people who inhabit our spaces.

We’re not in it just to win awards. Instead, we create empathetic connections and make sure you genuinely enjoy the design journey. We guide and support you every step of the way as we create a visionary project—one that has the power to transform the emotional and practical lives of those who reside in our buildings.

We understand the importance of commercial viability and budget constraints.

Our personal interest in property development, combined with in-depth knowledge of local planning, regulations and building methodologies, means we know how to add value by maximising the potential of your investment. We always consider your budget and balance it with your vision.

We’re experts in technical innovation and architectural technology.

Our team has experience collaborating on some of Australia’s most complex building projects delivered using BIM (building information modelling). We use the latest architectural technology to bring your design to life right from the beginning so we can explore and perfect your design options. Being technically savvy means you can see what you will get drawn and communicate efficiently and accurately.

We surround ourselves with like-minded people.

You can’t deliver a visionary building alone. That’s why we bring together qualified and experienced professionals—from builders and consultants to suppliers—who can provide invaluable support and advice that will enhance our vision to a point beyond the industry standard. It's relationships like these that help you stand out.

Sohail Masoudi

Sohail Masoudi founded BY SOMA to create unpretentious, elegant and timeless spaces that redefine luxury. Sohail has a personal passion for property development and is an expert in technical innovation and building information modelling. He balances design and budget by setting a realistic vision right from the start.

As the director of an emerging design studio, it’s important to be great at design and also have a deep understanding of the delivery process, the latest technology and the tools that could maximise the potential of a design and help go from a concept to delivering a visionary building.

It’s rare to find an architect who has a creative vision; understands the commercial realities of residential development; is an expert in project management, BIM and architectural technology; and genuinely cares about serving others.

Before he founded BY SOMA, Sohail worked in some of Australia’s most reputable architecture practices managing complex projects for global corporations. Starting his practice has given Sohail the creative freedom to push boundaries and explore the possibilities of architecture.

Sohail is serious about the quality of his work, and is known for his unwavering integrity, empathy, and ability to remain calm under pressure. He believes everything can be resolved with patience and an open mind.

Philosophy

It’s not about the material things in life. It’s about experiences. It’s about stories. It’s about connecting with nature.

We are spending more time in virtual spaces. That's why we believe a connection to nature and the outdoors is more essential than ever. We want to create spaces that blur the boundaries between buildings, gardens and natural panoramas. We want to create spaces that slow down time, and prompt residents to celebrate the tiny moments that unfold each day. We want to redefine luxury.

Our projects begin and end with stories—from you, the end user and the community. It is our job to distil these stories into beautiful, functional sanctuaries.

Services

Our Services Include:

Architecture

Interior Architecture

Design, Architectural Technology and BIM Consultancy

Design Management

Approach

to people

Our approach is collaborative. We listen to your brief and your story so we can design spaces unique to your lifestyle. We value the input, knowledge and experience of others. We draw on our network of allied professionals and assemble great teams with like-minded people.

to technology

Innovation and technology are non-negotiable in our design process. It allows us to improve the quality of the building, the lifestyle of the end user, and the wellbeing of our planet. We are across the latest design and delivery technology. We use sophisticated BIM technology to calculate building loads and analyse climate and weather, solar strategies, and the most suitable materials.

to the land

We consider the wider context, landscape and history of the land. Through empathic, smart and thoughtful design, we assess what is already there and undergo a process of creative exploring to find a solution that will elevate architecture and landscape together. Blurring boundaries between buildings and gardens, inside and outside, our designs support and enhance the resident's access to nature and overall wellbeing.

Process

We keep you informed throughout the journey, so you can feel confident and empowered to make the right decisions.

We listen to understand what you need

We dig deep. We seek stories. We ask the right questions. What do you need to achieve for this project to be a success? What are your limitations? What do the end users really want? What matters to them practically and emotionally? How do you envision raising the bar in residential architecture?

Above all, we listen intently.

We investigate to unlock the potential of your project

We translate what we’ve heard into opportunities. We overlay our creative ideas on the practicalities of the project (including commercial realities, regulations and codes) and deliver you a neat plan showing what is possible. We’ll help you get planning approvals by putting together a team of the best in the industry.

We ideate to conceptualise, challenge, plan and design.

We carefully consider planning and building controls to assure compliance right from the beginning. We use the latest innovative digital tools and BIM technology to ensure we get the design right at the start of the project. We focus on harnessing natural light, utilising ventilation, and emphasising function to ensure our buildings are timeless.

We collaborate to develop and document

We refine our initial design and ideas. We incorporate feedback from clients, council, authorities and consultants so we can develop and document the building into beautiful, buildable spaces. Our extensive experience in BIM and architectural technology means we can develop our design into a fully coordinated and ready-to-build digital model in both 2D and 3D. We will work with your preferred contractor to develop details in a way that suits them to ensure no time is wasted developing or interpreting unnecessary details

We deliver your visionary project

We deliver buildings that raise the bar in thoughtful design and quality. We stay involved throughout the process to make sure your vision is delivered onsite as intended.

Want to discuss a project? Get in touch.