Who We Are

Rhizome is a collective of architects and designers that recognize the social responsibility that comes with our architectural projects and create versatile, customizable spaces that deliver on the end-users’ ever-changing needs. Rhizome (“ry-zum”) is the mass of horizontal roots that forms the foundation of plants and is symbolic for our teams’ foundational approach to each and every project.

We are caringcreativebold, and persevering.

Meet Our Founder

Atousa Honari

Atousa Honari, the founder and managing partner of Rhizome Designs, has worked on designing retail, restaurant & bar, hospitality and residential spaces on a global scale. Her ability to design at many scales has allowed her to lead a large range of hospitality projects from independent restaurant bars to multi-story full scope hotel projects. Atousa has worked on concepts that have become identifiable brands, like for instance the Solage Resort & Spa in Napa.

Her strong purpose-driven experiential design methodology allows her to create innovative concept narratives, which are in turn reinforced by her detail-oriented approach which unifies all the components of the space. She truly recognizes the people component of the industry by cultivating client relationships and leading design teams in efficient ways. She encourages all stakeholders to share ideas while fostering collaboration, understanding that two heads are better than one. Atousa pushes the envelope of the hospitality-design industry by efficiently tackling obstacles of budget, tight time frames, and site conditions. She sees these factors as tools for decision making, rather than as restrictions.

Background:

  • Master of Fine Arts in Interior Architecture & Design @ Savannah College of Art and Design, USA

  • GA Bachelor of Interior Architecture @ Northumbria University, UK

Relevant Experience:

  • Solage Resort & Spa - upscale hotel & spa resort - Napa, California

  • WWII Museum Hotel - 230 room luxury hotel - New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Mandarin Oriental Hotel & Spa - 164 room hotel - Boca Raton, Florida

  • Al Riggah - 12 storey privately operated hotel & spa - Dubai, UAE

  • Guanfang Hotel, Hilton - Kunming, China

  • The Bungalow Kitchen Dallas - Dallas, Texas

  • Park Tower Residence Penthouse - Miami, Florida

  • Luxury hotel - Paradise Land, Bahamas

  • Balboa Bay Club House & Spa - Newport Beach, California

  • California CPII Business Center - Del Mar, San Diego, California