We are designers and builders collaborating to create ecological architecture in East Africa. Motivated in equal parts by idealism, pragmatism and professionalism, we have assembled a closely-knit team of professionals who together are committed to advancing green architecture in theory and in practice.
Localworks began in 2013 as Studio FH Architects, an architectural practice with a big idea: that good design, rooted in place and built with skill, can improve lives without destroying nature. Over time, like-minded professionals of a multitude of disciplines – landscape and interior designers, civil/structural and mechanical/electrical engineers, quantity surveyors, project managers and builders of many trades – joined the team. Today we are a team of over 50 people, working 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 naturalmaterials under our feet. We combine traditional knowledge with experimentation, low-tech common sense with engineering ingenuity, to make buildings that belong. We like buildings as spatial organisms rather than iconic sculptures, performing many more roles than can be captured by a glossy photograph in a coffee table book. We enjoy working in a collaborative and non-hierarchical space, and our aim is to approach each project with no preconceived answers, no off-the-shelf solutions and no signature style. To us, every client, every design brief and every location constitute a unique blend of requirements calling for an individual, tailor-made response.
We work through four interconnected principles:
Exploring local climates, materials, skills and economies to find climate-responsive, economical, technically sound solutions.
Creating functional and imaginative buildings that grow from their locality.
Working with our associated craftspeople, 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.