AAK — Promoting excellence in the built environment

The Architectural Association of Kenya · Est. 1967

Promoting excellence in the built environment.

The umbrella professional body for Kenya’s built and natural environment, uniting eight chapters: Architects, Quantity Surveyors, Town Planners, Engineers, Landscape Architects, Environmental Design Consultants, Construction Project Managers and Interior Designers.

Join AAKWhat’s on
Delegates in a group photo in the main hall at the AAK Annual Convention 2026 in Diani
AAK Annual Convention 2026 · Diani
Save the date · 3rd DecemberRelease of the Status of the Built Environment Report & President's Dinner

Member registerAs of 28 Sept 2026

  • 5,513Registered members

  • 5,296Individual members

  • 217Corporate members

Origin01

Uniting experts across the built and natural environment.

AAK is established
1967AAK is established
Professional chapters
8Professional chapters
Regional branches
3Regional branches
Years of excellence
59Years of excellence
AAK now02

What’s happening at AAK

See the full calendar

“Shifting the Center: reclaiming Africa’s architecture and future.”

Nairobi Biennale of Architecture & Art, 2026 theme

Conventions, CPD sessions, site visits and more across the year.

View all events

Awards of Excellence 2026 · Winners

  1. The Agora, Best Student Project
    Winner

    The Agora

    Best Student Project

  2. The Bidi Bidi Music and Arts Centre, Best Empowerment and Social Equity Through Design
    Winner

    The Bidi Bidi Music and Arts Centre

    Best Empowerment and Social Equity Through Design

  3. Standard Chartered Bank HQ, Best Interior Environment
    Winner

    Standard Chartered Bank HQ

    Best Interior Environment

  4. Lady of Victoria Monastery, Best Religious / Monumental
    Winner

    Lady of Victoria Monastery

    Best Religious / Monumental

  5. Nairobi Waldorf School, Best Africa (Re)presentation
    Winner

    Nairobi Waldorf School

    Best Africa (Re)presentation

  6. Kigandani Industrial Hub, Best Student Project
    1st Runner-up

    Kigandani Industrial Hub

    Best Student Project

  7. Mombasa Ferry Terminal, Best Student Project
    2nd Runner-up

    Mombasa Ferry Terminal

    Best Student Project

  8. Ufi at Kahawa Soweto Settlement, Best Empowerment and Social Equity Through Design
    Runner-up

    Ufi at Kahawa Soweto Settlement

    Best Empowerment and Social Equity Through Design

  9. 16 recognised projectsSee every winner, runner-up and honourable mention
In the spotlight · Awards of Excellence

AAK – Basco DuraCoat Awards of Excellence in Architecture

Hosted by the Architects Chapter, the Awards of Excellence recognise outstanding architectural achievement across Kenya and East Africa. The 2026 cycle covers projects completed between 2020 and 2025 across nine categories, from Best Residential and Commercial to Best Student Project.

See the winning projectsAbout the Architects Chapter
The categoriesProjects completed 2020–2025
  1. 01Africa (Re)presentation
  2. 02Commercial Project
  3. 03Empowerment and Social Equity Through Design
  4. 04Hospitality Project
  5. 05Institutional Project
  6. 06Religious / Monumental Project
  7. 07Interior Environment
  8. 08Residential Project
  9. 09Student Project
Biennale03
Exhibitors and AAK members at the Nairobi Biennale of Architecture & Art 2026

7–12 September 2026 · Nairobi

Nairobi Biennale of Architecture & Art

Theme

Shifting the Center: From Fragility to Resilience

Venue

ASK Nairobi Showground, Jamhuri Park

Edition

Nairobi’s first Architecture Biennale

Biennale in pictures →
  1. A full audience for a talk in the exhibition hall at the ASK Showground
    Exhibition week · Talks
  2. The Nairobi Then & Now exhibition on a timber frame
    Exhibition week · Nairobi Then & Now
  3. Speakers and guests at the Nairobi Biennale 2026 photo wall
    Exhibition week · Speakers and guests
  4. A panel discussion in the central arena beneath the bamboo tower
    Exhibition week · Panels
  5. Artworks on display in the exhibition hall
    Exhibition week · Art
  6. A decorated matatu at the ASK Showground
    Exhibition week · Matatu art
  7. Participants gathered in a library for a Nairobi Biennale programme session
    Programme participants
  8. A participant presenting her work on screen at a Biennale session
    Presentations
  9. Two participants sketching together at a Biennale design workshop
    Design workshops
  10. A speaker addressing participants at a Biennale conversation
    Conversations
  11. A participant interviewed in front of the Nairobi Biennale banner
    Voices of the Biennale

Exhibitions, conversations and public programming exploring Africa’s built environment.

Explore the BiennaleEvent details on AAK
Initiatives04

AAK Initiatives

Long-running initiatives where our members put professional expertise to work for Kenyan communities.

Grow A Classroom initiative
01Professional CSR · Kenya

Grow A Classroom

Master plans, landscaping and classrooms built from mature on-site timber for under-served schools, paired with tree planting to grow national tree cover and carbon credits.

Explore the project

We shape the places where life happens, across every discipline of the built environment.

The association05

Umbrella association of eight professional chapters.

Experts across the built and natural environment disciplines, united behind technical excellence and sustainable development in Kenya.

  1. 01Architects
  2. 02Quantity Surveyors
  3. 03Town Planners
  4. 04Engineers
  5. 05Landscape Architects
  6. 06Environmental Design Consultants
  7. 07Construction Project Managers
  8. 08Interior Designers
The archive06

Work, events and award-winning projects.

A rolling record of what members are building, the sites we visit and the projects recognised at the Awards of Excellence.

Full albums from past events, from site visits and workshops to Grow A Classroom schools.

See the full media archive
Social07

Latest from AAK.

The newest posts and videos from AAK’s own accounts, as they’re published.

YouTube · latest videoSubscribe

Also on

Instagram · latest postsFollow on Instagram
X · recent postsFollow on X

Feature firm · ShowcaseMember firm

Founded by Robert Marshall in 1965, DMJ Architects is a Nairobi based firm renowned for exceptional design in sensitive environment landscapes such as the Serengeti National Park and the Kenyan Coast.

DMJ Architects receiving a plaque of recognition from AAK at the DMJ office
Receiving AAK’s plaque of recognition
  • Galleria Gardens

    Galleria Gardens

    Large Scale Residential · Successfully Completed

  • Swiss Chancery Nairobi

    Swiss Chancery Nairobi

    Architects Chapter · Award of Excellence

  • Buffalo Mall

    Buffalo Mall

    Naivasha, Kenya · Commercial Development

Your AAK08

Practise with the standing of a recognised professional body.

01

Become a member

Join the chapter that matches your discipline and access CPD, advocacy and professional networks.

Start application
02

Validate a certificate

Confirm that a practitioner's AAK membership certificate is genuine and current.

Check a certificate
03

Find a professional

Search the member directory for architects, surveyors, planners and engineers near you.

Open the directory

Find your fit

Which chapter, and which membership?

1. Your discipline
2. Where you are in your career

Pick your discipline and career stage.

We’ll show the chapter to join and the fees for your membership category.

Our partners