We are an architecture studio based in Cotonou, developing architectural projects across West Africa.
Our vision is based on 5 fundamental principles that guide the design of our projects: sustainability, simplicity, rationality, flexibility and authenticity.
“ko” (pronounced: côh) is the Yoruba word for “to build”. Yoruba is spoken in several West African countries.
Depending on its pronunciation, the word also means “to write”.
In Fongbe, a Beninese dialect, the same word means “earth”.
This word resonates with our ambition to develop a new architectural language for contemporary Africa, through its materials and by grounding our design choices in local realities.
Our principles.
Rationality.
Architecture that puts constructional thinking at the service of use. Conceiving architecture through service spaces that organise the heart of the project. A search for meaning in the approach to construction and the pursuit of architectural quality.
Sustainability.
Climate-responsive architecture designed to maximise natural ventilation and daylight for optimal thermal comfort. Architecture that fits into and respects its environment through the use of local materials.
Authenticity.
Authentic, modern architecture that draws inspiration from local culture and ways of living, and develops in harmony with nature.
Simplicity.
Architecture that provides simple, clear responses to the constraints and the brief. A search for beauty in simplicity and the elegance of details. Minimalist, functional architecture that uses and celebrates the raw, the simple and the natural.
Flexibility.
Architecture that connects indoors and outdoors by adapting to local realities: different times of day, thermal comfort, tropical climate variations, social practices, security concerns, insects and more.