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| A photo of an architect sketching |
“An Architecture of the Architect” is about that connection between the architect and their creation. It means a design that mirrors the architect’s own life, values, and experiences. The building becomes a reflection of the person behind it, their story told through form, space, and material. As Ludwig Mies van der Rohe once said, “Less is more.”
Louis Sullivan stated, “Form ever follows function.” And Zaha Hadid believed that “Architecture should be able to excite you, to calm you, to make you think.”
These statements show that architecture is shaped by the architect’s inner world; their environment, emotions, and beliefs. This is what I, Kakri, call the DNA of the Architect.
THE DNA OF THE ARCHITECT
Every architect carries within them a unique creative code; a kind of design DNA that shapes how they think, feel, and create. This DNA is not learned in a classroom; it is formed through years of experience, culture, memory, and emotion. The environment in which the architect grows up silently shapes their way of seeing space, material, and proportion. Childhood experiences; the play of light through a window, the feel of earth beneath one’s feet, the geometry of familiar streets; become lasting imprints that guide design choices later in life. Local climate and materials also become part of this inherited language. The texture of stone, the scent of wood, or the rhythm of a city’s soundscape all merge into the architect’s subconscious.
One of the famous African architect Francis Kéré’s work, for instance, reflects the warmth, resilience, and communal spirit of his homeland, Burkina Faso. His use of local materials and community participation tells the story of who he is and where he comes from.
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| A collage showing different landscapes, cultures, and materials influencing design |
As Kakri explains, “The DNA of the architect connects design to memory, culture, and personal experience.” It is through this inner identity that architecture gains authenticity and spirit. An Architecture of the Architect begins at this very point, where design becomes not merely a product of training but a translation of one’s personal existence.
Signature of Style:
Every architect, over time, develops a signature; a recognizable pattern that reveals their mind and soul. This signature of style is not about repetition but about identity. It emerges naturally from the architect’s consistent values, aesthetic preferences, and emotional language. Frank Gehry’s expressive curves, for example, show a fascination
with movement and freedom. Mies van der Rohe’s precision and minimalism embody clarity and restraint. Each one of these architects speaks through their own dialect of form, each project becoming an echo of their inner world. I notes that “An architect’s signature is the fingerprint of their soul on every project.” Just as handwriting carries individuality, architecture too carries the subtle rhythm of its creator’s thoughts.
A signature of style, therefore, is not a mark of ego but of continuity. It is what allows the viewer to say, “This could only have been designed by them.” It becomes the architect’s unspoken biography in built form.
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| Signature of Zaha Hadid; curvilinear forms. |
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| Signature of Zaha Hadid; curvilinear forms. |
The Architect and Culture:
Culture is the foundation upon which all authentic architecture stands. It provides the rhythm, symbols, and meaning that give form to design. When an architect draws inspiration from their cultural background, their work gains depth, purpose, and belonging.
Architecture that emerges from culture does not imitate tradition; it transforms it. It reinterprets inherited forms and crafts in a contemporary voice while preserving their soul. This is why architecture that forgets its cultural roots often feels empty or disconnected from place. When civilization was not yet widespread in Africa, traditional societies such as the Ashanti of Ghana had already developed sophisticated architectural systems that were deeply connected to their culture, environment, and way of life. The Ashanti built courtyard houses; spatial compositions that reflected their communal values, social hierarchy, and spiritual beliefs. Each courtyard served as more than an open space; it was the living heart of the home. It provided light and ventilation, but beyond its physical function, it symbolized unity, family, and continuity. It was a place where stories were told, disputes were settled, rituals were performed, and wisdom was passed from elders to the young. The courtyard was therefore both an environmental solution and a cultural statement; a physical reflection of how the Ashanti understood community and identity.
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| Traditional African courtyard architecture (Ashanti Courtyards in Ghana) |
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| modern reinterpretations |
An architect of today who comes from this heritage naturally carries that understanding within them. The memory of the courtyard; its purpose, symbolism, and harmony; becomes part of their architectural DNA. Such an architect instinctively knows the value of creating spaces that bring people together, encourage interaction, and connect interior life with the environment.
Kakri emphasizes, “Architecture that forgets its roots loses its voice.” The cultural memory embedded in materials, spatial habits, and building rituals is what makes design timeless. A building that understands its culture speaks to both the past and the future; reminding us that architecture is not just a shelter, but a story of people and their identity.
The Architect’s Values and Environment:
An architect’s environment and personal values define the moral and emotional direction of their work. The kind of world an architect believes in; whether one of harmony, progress, nature, or humanity; is reflected in every design decision they
make. Architects who value sustainability often design with humility, ensuring that their buildings coexist with nature rather than dominate it. Those who value human experience focus on comfort, interaction, and emotional well-being. The environments in which architects live; whether busy cities or quiet rural landscapes; further shape how they interpret proportion, rhythm, and space.
My observations, “The environment doesn’t only shape buildings; it shapes the builder.” This suggests that every design is a mirror not just of what the architect sees, but of how they see it. Their environment becomes their teacher, their conscience, and their palette. Thus, architecture becomes a physical record of the architect’s values; a reflection of what they hold sacred, and a response to the world they inhabit.
Emotion in Architecture:
Architecture, at its highest form, is not only seen but felt. It has the power to stir emotion, to comfort, to inspire, and to heal. The emotional essence of architecture arises from its sincerity; from the architect’s ability to translate feeling into material form. Light, proportion, and texture are the emotional instruments of architecture. The warmth of sunlight filtering through a narrow opening, the echo of footsteps on stone, or the cool stillness of concrete walls; all can evoke deep human responses.
When a space moves us, it speaks of the emotions that first lived in its designer. The architect’s emotional honesty becomes the bridge between their soul and the user’s experience. In that connection, architecture becomes truly human.
Architecture as a Language
Architecture communicates through silence. It speaks not with words, but with proportion, rhythm, and light. Each wall, window, and void is a phrase in an unspoken sentence that tells a story of purpose and meaning.
A courtyard invites community and gathering. A corridor directs and guides. An atrium lifts the spirit and fills the space with possibility. These gestures, though silent, are eloquent. They express identity, culture, and imagination without ever needing translation.
Architecture is a language of identity; every structure a sentence, every detail a word. Through this language, the architect expresses thought, belief, and emotion. To read architecture, one must listen with the eyes and feel with the heart.
The Evolution of the Architect’s Identity
An architect’s identity is never static; it evolves with time, knowledge, and experience. Every project adds a new layer of understanding, while every challenge shapes perception and maturity. Yet through all this growth, the architect’s essence, that original spark; remains unchanged.
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| A timeline image of different architectural works by the same architect showing style evolution. |
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| A timeline image of different architectural works by the same architect showing style evolution. |
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| A timeline image of different architectural works by the same architect showing style evolution. |
An “Architecture of the Architect” is not merely about structures or aesthetics; it is about the human story behind every line, curve, and space. Architecture becomes a form of autobiography; a translation of thought, culture, and emotion into form and matter. Each design is a portrait of the architect’s mind, revealing how they see the world and what they wish to leave within it. Buildings become living testaments of the architect’s journey; the silent language through which their spirit endures
To understand a building, you must first understand the soul that built it.”