“The Creative Spirit” is what Drives Morphosis Architects
Morphosis is one of Kenya’s architectural firms at the forefront of fine concepts and designs across the country’s buildscape. The consultancy was created in 2005 when three creative individuals, Adnan Mwakuloba, Leonard Mcharo and Yasir Brek decided it was time for a new discourse on architectural thought within the region. The quest for a ‘change’ in the architectural landscape was the main reason behind the adoption of the name “Morphosis”.
Morphosis is registered by the Board of Architects and Quantity Surveyors of Kenya (BORAQS) and is also a member of the Architectural Association of Kenya (AAK).
Staffing, Management and Managerial Structure
Morphosis operates using the Holacracy system of management. It has no hierarchy in management; it is inward looking and operates through circles of creative individuals who are empowered to make independent decisions but grounded on the Morphosis Credo “the Creative Spirit” while at the same time reflecting on the fusion of contemporary African Architecture.
The firm has a total of 10 Architects, 4 Interior Designers, 1 Project Manager, 6 Technicians, 3 Administration and Finance personnel, 2 Model Making and CAD Renderer’s and 1 IT staff.
The three partners at Morphosis are all highly trained architects with impressive academic and professional credentials.
Adnan Mwakulomba graduated in 1995 from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and later in 1998 with a Masters Degree in Design from the University of London. He is registered with the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors in Kenya and is a member of the Architectural Association of Kenya. Adnan is also a lecturer at the Department of Architecture and Building Science, University of Nairobi.
Leonard Mcharo graduated in 2001 from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture. He is registered with the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors in Kenya and is also a member of the Architectural Association of Kenya.
Yasir Brek graduated in 2001 from the University of Nairobi with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture and later with a Masters Degree in Business Administration at the United States International University, Nairobi. He is registered with the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors in Kenya and is also a member of the Architectural Association of Kenya.
Services Provided
MORHOSIS provide services for all aspects of architectural projects. These include feasibility studies and surveys through design, project management, construction management and supervision. In the course of providing these services, the company will recommend where appropriate, specialists who form part of the design team, including consulting engineers and quantity surveyors.
MORPHOSIS does not restrict itself to particular areas of architecture such as commercial or residential projects but rather deals with all aspects of design ranging from furniture to building design.
Projects Handled
Major projects accomplished by MORPHOSIS include various office blocks in Nairobi, Mombasa, Dar es Salaam and South Sudan; hotels in Nairobi, Eldoret, Watamu and the Congo; various housing projects in Mombasa, Nairobi and Dar es Salaam as well as interior fit-outs to offices and banks across the country.
Of these numerous projects, MORPHOSIS takes most pride in the replanning and redevelopment of Faza Island within the Lamu Archipelago, along the Kenyan coast. When fire razed down Faza, a 50-acre island within the Archipelago on September 5, 2009, Morphosis was among the first teams to get to the ground to assess the damage and restore the town.
“We set to improve the island by mapping out all the buildings, doing a master plan and designs of houses, mosques, hospital theatre and other social amenities”, explains the management of MORPHOSIS. “The points of focus were environmental concerns, use of local materials and resources, rain water harvesting, fire protection, circulation, cultural and religious considerations.”
Future
Unlike some architectural studios that have diversified and ventured into other related sectors such as property development, MORPHOSIS partners have resisted this temptation and decided to stick to their profession. “MORPHOSIS concentrates on design for design’s sake and has therefore resisted the temptation of venturing into other areas of business”, they say.
The firm’s goal is to become the leading architectural firm in the region in the years ahead.
Industry Perspectives
“With the global economy coming out of a recession, the African continent has once again become the centre of attention for investors”, observes MORPHOSIS management.
“Kenya is central and pivotal in offering investors a good climate for them to operate in and in so doing there has been a mushrooming of projects within the region. Architects and professionals in the building industry are becoming busy and in a way focus has shifted from excellence in design to surpluses in profits. As architects within the local field, it becomes our duty to define the direction the country will take in architectural thought otherwise an opportunity will be lost in establishing our cultural values within our built environment,” they conclude.
