Almost four decades of Capital investment
Behnam Afshar of AMA Homes tells Kirsty Mcluckie about his 38 years of residential development in Edinburgh
J“Pure architecture is beautiful whichever era it is from. The secret is to design buildings that engage with their surroundings and leave a legacy”
ob title I am the group marketing and sales director of AMA Homes. The company was founded by my two older brothers, Ali and Mike Behnam Afshar, and – together with my third brother, Behzad – we have been operating AMA as a family property development company for more than 38 years.
We are based in the heart of Edinburgh’s West End at Coates Crescent.
What is your family background?
I was born and raised in Tehran, Iran, and came over to Scotland to start my formal studies at Rannoch School in Perthshire. I then went on to the Scottish College of Textiles and Aberdeen and Napier universities.
Ali, my eldest brother, a structural engineer, together with Mike, a quantity surveyor, formed AMA after leaving their respective professional careers. Behzad and I joined them a few years later after our own stints in the industry.
How did you get started? While at university in the 1980s, I worked with Ryden’s, marketing high-end quality homes. I saw first-hand what was being offered then, and I wanted to be a part of the changing face of this residential market.
Our magnificent city of Edinburgh has always provided a variety of accommodation – some good, and some not so good.
In the mid1980s, and due to changes in the economy, there was suddenly an overwhelming number of traditional Georgian blocks, which were being sold as they no longer were fit for their original purpose.
A substantial number of these were converted to offices but, at the other end, small developers bought these beautiful large townhouses and converted them to city centre apartments.
My love for property started then and it has never wavered.
What is your typical day like? It starts at 7.30am with a short drive to the West End from my house on the Southside of Edinburgh. Mornings are mostly dedicated to answering emails and catching up with any mail that has come in overnight.
There is not really a typical day. We are all pretty hands-on, visiting our various sites and dealing with the many meetings associated with our developments, seeing selling agents and co-ordinating efforts to best market our stock to potential clients.
What is your most memorable
client or job?
I have dealt with almost all our clients over the last 32 years at AMA. It is very important to listen to their requirements and match their needs to a property that would be a home for them.
I learnt very early on to be empathetic and not at all judgemental!
There have been many AMA developments, but for me Succoth Heights was our best ever. This magnificent contemporary development in Murrayfield was the impetus Edinburgh needed in designing and building decent residential apartments.
To this day, I still get a thrill when I go and see one of the flats there.
What is your favourite type of property?
Pure architecture is beautiful whichever era it is from. The secret is to design buildings that engage with their surroundings and leave a legacy.
In a lifetime, we [as a society] seldom get more than one opportunity to develop a particular site. Land is a scarce resource and we must do all we can to design the most decent design for that site.
Where do you live? In the Grange in a Georgian cottage. It is a combination of simple Georgian design and new contemporary internal additions.
It has been big enough for my family when we needed the space, and small enough just for the two of us – my wife, Amanda and me. What was your first home? The first flat, which I bought with my wife, was on Torphichen Street.
Back in 1989 this was not such a salubrious location, even though it was situated in the West End of Edinburgh. But this drawing room apartment featured all the magnificent detailing you would find in the New Town, except that it cost half the price.
It proved to be a real labour of love as we worked night and day, honing our DIY skills, building, painting and tiling this place.
It was up for sale two years ago and, when I went to see it, I couldn’t believe that it was still exactly the same as how we had left it all those years ago.
Does your job affect your social life?
I have always worked weekends, on and off. It goes as part of the job I chose. My clients become acquaintances, and a good deal are now very good friends.
What advice would you give someone wanting to work in the industry?
Be adaptable – developers are, housebuilders usually not so. Be accessible and passionate for your brand.
Also, be as kind as you can be to people. It never pays to be arrogant. Try to be humble.
How is the market in 2021?
Asa small developer, our activities are limited to about 30 apartments per year. Covid hampered this rollout somewhat last year, but I am delighted to say that despite the lockdown we still managed to make our sales off-plan.
Our market is primarily Edinburgh, and our clients are all well aware of our products and the high quality and specification we offer to them.