Associate
MSc ETH Arch.
Associates
Thomas Sonder
Photograph by Frederic Aranda ©
Thomas has extensive experience across residential, cultural, hospitality, and transportation typologies from early design studies through to construction and completion. He has contributed to major projects, such as the King Abdullah Financial District Metro Station in Saudi Arabia, the Romeo Roma Hotel in Italy, Studio City Phase 2 in Macau, and the Fornebu Central Metro Station in Norway. His work explores free-form structures and modelling. aligning geometry, materiality, and fabrication methods.
Photograph by Virgile Simon Bertrand
Featured Projects
From the world’s first free-form high-rise exoskeleton to a metro station designed to prioritize connectivity, discover highlights of Thomas' notable projects at ZHA.
Photograph by Hufton + Crow
Thomas completed his Master of Science in Architecture from ETH Zurich.
Born and educated in Switzerland, Thomas is influenced by the Swiss approach to precision, simplicity, and clean aesthetics. Outside of work, he is passionate about Muay Thai and has been training for many years.
Projects
Explore a selection of projects Thomas has contributed to since joining ZHA.
Photograph by Julian Faulhaber
Education
Offices
KAPSARC is a non-profit institution for independent research into policies that contribute to the most effective use of energy to provide social well-being across the globe. KAPSARC develops policies and economic frameworks that reduce the environmental impact and overall costs of energy supply and enable practical technology-based solutions to use energy more efficiently.
Photograph by Chris Dalton, Courtesy of Romeo Collection
Bistro
Hospitality
Heritage + Regeneration
From the beginning of her career, architect Zaha Hadid sited her buildings in the air, floating buildings on shadow, light, and seams of space that lifted volumes above the ground, relating her work to another tradition—Rome’s. In designing the hotel conversion of the Palazzo Capponi, Hadid and her team at ZHA started where Baroque architects ended their palimpsest - at the vaulted ceilings.
Courtesy of ZHA
Residential
The client explained to the architect, “I want to wake up in the morning and just see blue sky”, to which Zaha replied, “You realise you have to be above the trees?” The form of the residence is defined by its natural topography with fluid geometries emerging from the landscape and remaining partially embedded within the hillside.
Photograph by Xue Liang 薛亮
Hospitality
Located in the Cotai district of Macau adjacent to the Lotus Bridge crossing with mainland China, the Hollywood-inspired Studio City resort has welcomed guests and visitors to the city since 2015.
Photograph by Jacopo Spilimbergo
Milan Store, September 2013
Retail
The 3,000-square-foot Milan flagship store is a playful dialogue of geometries; creating a rhythm of folds and recesses that have been shaped further by functional and ergonomic considerations. The store’s central display units have been designed to showcase the Stuart Weitman collection and also provide seating.
Photograph by Virgile Simon Bertrand
Hospitality
The world’s first free-form high-rise exoskeleton optimises the interiors by creating spaces that are uninterrupted by supporting walls or columns. Three horizontal vortices generate the voids through the building and define the hotel’s dramatic internal public spaces.
Photograph by Hufton + Crow
Transport + Infrastructure
KAFD Metro Station will serve as a key interchange on the new network for the Blue Line (Line 1) with the terminus of the Yellow Line to the airport (Line 4) and the Purple Line (Line 6) as well as a skybridge connecting to the local KAFD monorail.
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