Rooted in Heritage

First posted On the Website & Full article at The Magazine

This is what happened exactly.

Person A: I really want my new house in Rwanda to have that Bali-inspired vibe—open spaces, natural light, and beautiful wooden details.

Me: That sounds nice, but have you considered that Bali architecture is designed for its specific climate and culture?

This was my response in my head. But truly, it’s interesting how often our architecture gets dismissed to styles from foreign lands. When people describe it, they tend to think of Bali or California housing designs instead of looking at what we have right here. This happens because we haven’t really embraced local architecture that truly represents our land. Why should we bring in those outside influences without understanding why those styles were created in the first place?

The homes you see on Instagram/Pinterest that you admire so much have their own stories tied to the local materials and climates of their regions. It’s the unique characteristics of those places—like the weather and the richness of the land—that shape their architecture. When we use our own resources wisely, we can create something just as beautiful and meaningful.

African interiors have so much to offer! If we explore them properly, they can lead to amazing designs. Sure, you can mix and match styles, but let’s not forget that our own soil has architecture that’s just as inspiring and unique as anything from other continents. Let’s celebrate what’s ours!

I am sharing different African Architectural Unique Styles: read more here