“Designing in nature makes us happier” - Katendi Kamuhuza’s experiences and projects after Architecture for Landscape
“Designing in nature makes us happier” - Katendi Kamuhuza’s experiences and projects after Architecture for Landscape
Hello Katendi, and thank you for participating in the interview. After attending the course in Architecture for Landscape at YACademy, you have created your own website called “The Black Architect”. Could you tell us more about it? How did it originate and what is the idea behind it?
Link to website: https://blackarchitect.design/home
Hello YACademy team! Thank you for inviting me to participate in this interview for the blog. Every day I find myself longing to swap my flat white with a quick and tasty macchiato. How I miss Bologna!
Let's rewind back to 2019. Amidst the onset of the Pandemic, I was among the many who lost their jobs during the pandemic's peak, which left me feeling anxious and uncertain about the future. I was in Cape Town, South Africa. This was when I decided to apply for the YACademy course, Architecture for Landscape, hoping to alter the course of my next steps in my career path. Following this application, I began with the initial concepts of my platform, the Black Architect. The website was launched soon after in 2020.
Through a stroke of luck and a lot of determination, I was accepted into the Architecture for Landscape course. However, due to the pandemic-related border closures, my attendance had to be postponed until 2022. Nonetheless, the acceptance and the prospect of this opportunity pumped me up, leading me to invest more time in making Black Architect more compelling and informative, showcasing personal growth, and expanding my interests to attract a broader audience. The student photos done from the YACademy course served as a brilliant self-image that I use now on all my platforms like LinkedIn - I mean, don't I look like an excited professional!
I envision Black Architect as a potential studio practice and I officially registered it as a business this year! While acquiring clients hasn't been easy (a struggle many of us are familiar with), the platform serves as a reflection of my skills and design passions - which are constantly evolving with time and life experiences.
What kind of content do you share on “Black Architect”? Is there a project that is dear to you and that you would like to talk about?
Link to images above on website: https://blackarchitect.design/yacademy-course
I share my thoughts under the "Art and Storytelling" tab, where I discuss Africa, design, freediving - a newfound passion while I was living in Grand Cayman - and my experiences such as the YACademy course. I essentially use the platform as a professional diary. The site serves as a platform to sell prints of my drone shots and a recent photo book named “Chasing Paradise in Grand Cayman” which sold out at the end of 2023. Obviously, it’s also the best platform to keep up-to-date with my architectural projects, including my latest endeavor—completing my Master in Architecture at the University of Cape Town (UCT).
Link to shop on website: https://blackarchitect.design/house-plans
Link to page for Masters: https://blackarchitect.design/m-arch-sacred
My Master in Architecture marks the culmination of a long journey toward becoming an architect. Returning to complete it after six years of professional work has provided the perfect blend of experience and knowledge to explore my interests. My primary focus is on Architecture in Landscape, particularly Biophilic design, which I was most drawn to during the YACademy course. Biophilic design seeks to create a profound connection between occupants and the natural environment, significantly enhancing well-being. My dissertation, titled "Sacred", delves into how architecture, centered around nature, can create spaces of restoration, rejuvenation, and promote a sense of well-being. This will of course turn into a two-volume book collection for the public’s perusal.
Link to page for Master Thesis: https://blackarchitect.design/m-arch-sacred
I am particularly fascinated by the mimicry of nature in architecture and its positive psychological impact on humanity. Seeing the built environment embody natural patterns and processes could help reintegrate man-made objects with nature. This interest stems from our overstimulation by screens, notifications, and urban life, which has made us forget humanity's role in nature. I believe we need more confidence in designing curves and organic forms, and I intend to exercise this design approach in my master's program this year. The first exploration model so far is inspired by the logarithmic spiral.
There is much more to discuss, and I’ve done so in my thesis, which I partly released on my platform. Although for fun a recent precedent study I am obsessed with in its execution, style, and program is the Azulik Uh May in Tulum.
Did you find any particular project more challenging than others? If so, what was the major difficulty?
Hmmm... that's a tough question. I believe my most challenging projects have been the Serpell and Wolf residences, both of which are currently under construction. These were difficult because they were my first major projects to take from the concept phase through to the approval of the building plans. This process was very exciting but also extremely demanding, with many learning curves and beginner mistakes.
Both homes are completely off-grid, which required collaboration with electricians to specify solar panels that are low-maintenance and user-friendly over the long term.
Additionally, both residences include cisterns for water storage, necessitating numerous calculations to estimate the storage capacity based on purchased water and rainfall projections. Another significant challenge was ensuring that both homes meet hurricane requirements, as they are located in hurricane-prone regions. This involved working closely with the structural engineer to understand and implement appropriate concrete thicknesses and to find ways to reduce the thermal properties of concrete in humid regions, ideally without requiring a high yield of electricity.
The Architecture for Landscape course focuses on the relationship between nature and architecture. What is your vision on this aspect and how does it impact your work?
This is the best question ever! It aligns perfectly with what I learned from the course and what I am doing now. When we visited the Grotto site in Salerno, I was humbled by the protected landscape and the richness of the site. It may have been somewhat daunting to visit at the beginning of winter, but the rain and misty atmosphere enhanced its natural beauty, emphasizing the importance of rain for the lush greenery and the movement of water.
This experience, followed by the challenge of designing something in this park, ignited my interest in creating beautiful spaces that celebrate nature. I believe this represents a significant shift in my understanding of the type of architect I want to be and where my interests lie. My emerging style can be characterized by curves, organic forms, and a focus on spiritual programming that encourages physical movement - because exercising in nature makes us happier…
How do you envision your future in a few years? What are your goals and what do you wish to achieve?
Link to projects on the website: https://blackarchitect.design/work
In the next five years, I envision designing an installation or being chosen to design the Serpentine Summer Pavilion. I am aiming to design and build something that embodies biophilic design, showcasing biomimicry in form and geometry, and incorporating a program that encourages movement. I mean, it seems hard these days to get clients who believe in your dream and provide the investment, but imagine an olive farm in southern Italy, renovated to function entirely off-grid while blending the traditional villa with organic forms and a sacred program. This project would serve as a unique destination, distinguished by its innovative design and connection to nature. I find I get very inspired by the place, and so, while I was in Bologna and Italy at large, I fell in love with the particular emphasis on good food and cultural connection. It would be a dream to create a space that allows me to contribute to a rich heritage while applying all my acquired skills.
Link to projects on the website: https://blackarchitect.design/work