Urko Sanchez

Pairing Materials IQD 82

BIOGRAPHY

Born in Madrid, Spain, Urko Sanchez is a Spanish architect whose international career spans Europe, Africa, and beyond. He studied architecture between 1988 and 1998, developing early on a strong inclination toward travel, which has profoundly shaped both his life and professional approach. During his formative years, he travelled extensively across more than 40 countries, often collaborating with NGOs on architectural and humanitarian projects in regions such as Nicaragua, Bosnia, El Salvador, and Angola, contributing to the construction of schools, clinics, and camps. He first arrived in Kenya in 1993 and, in the early 2000s, settled in Lamu, where he launched his first independent project, the Lamu House Hotel (2001–2004). This experience marked the beginning of a long-term engagement with Swahili architecture, which became central to his work through a sensitive combination of local traditions and contemporary design strategies. After several years in Lamu, Sanchez moved to Mombasa, where he expanded his professional activity and obtained registration as an architect in Kenya. He subsequently founded Urko Sanchez Architects, an award-winning practice operating between Kenya and Spain, focusing on architecture, master planning, and construction management.

PAIRING MATERIALS

His work gained international recognition with projects such as the Red Pepper House in Lamu and the Vipingo Club House, the latter receiving accolades at the International Property Awards, while other projects have been acknowledged by institutions including the Architectural Association of Kenya and the French Association for Young Architects in Africa. Since 2015, he has been based in Nairobi, while maintaining offices in Mombasa and Spain. His projects have been widely published in international media and exhibited across Europe and Africa. His architecture is characterized by a strong contextual approach, integrating local materials, passive environmental strategies, and sustainable principles, with particular attention to natural ventilation, solar energy, water management, and the reinterpretation of vernacular building traditions in contemporary form.