One team of architects, engineers and builders, shaping regenerative architecture with local climate, landscape, materials and craftsmanship - from concept to construction.
We are architects, engineers, builders and collaborators, working together in Kampala and across East Africa to create buildings that give more than they take.
Localworks began in 2013 as a architectural practice with a big idea: that good design, rooted in place and built with skill, can improve lives and protect the environment. Over time, like-minded engineers, project managers and makers joined the team. Today we work under one roof - part studio, part workshop, part outdoor lab — where ideas move easily from sketch to prototype to building.
Our work begins with what is available: the climate, the land, the skills, the natural materials under our feet. We combine traditional knowledge with experimentation, low-tech ingenuity with durable systems, to make buildings that belong. It is a practical, forward-looking response to the carbon cost of construction and the realities of building in our region.
We work through four interconnected principles:
Exploring local climates, materials, skills and economies to find climate-responsive, economical, technically sound solutions.
Creating buildings without a signature style, letting each project grow from its locality.
Working with our own craftspeople (artisans?), closing the gap between drawing and making, and ensuring quality through to the last detail.
Opening our process and knowledge to others through talks, collaborations, and partnerships.
For us, the how matters as much as the what. We see each project as a partnership with our clients, community and environment. Success is not only the finished building, but the process that made it possible.
We are Green Masterbuilders.