daring walls
Mingling aesthetics with what is supposed to be a waste material, Urban Kraft Studios has brought back to life the true pleasure associated with creativity. Urban Kraft Studios has adorned several spaces and carved its own style from natural surroundings and the creative minds behind it. And now, they are preparing to change everything about designing a building.
Stephen Akai, co-founder of Urban Kraft Studios, has had quite a journey in the world of design and is one of the artistic geniuses stirring up creative spaces. Working as a professional for over six years which paved the way to what we know as Urban Kraft Studios. Prestige Magazine decided to catch up with Stephen.
Tell us about you?
I am Stephen Akai, the creative director and Co-founder of Urban Kraft Studios (global) with a passion for lifestyle and innovative designs. An electronics engineering graduate
from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka with 6 years work experience as a project manager for a facade company and later a degree in product & facade design from TUNATECH Research & Development Center, Istanbul, Turkey.
Tell us about Urban kraft Studios
Urban Kraft Studios is a business with core capabilities in innovative design development, consultation, architecture and construction. We employ the world’s best designers and
architects to elevate your project to the next level. We thrive to provide a platform through which creative minds would spring up and develop themselves within the industry while
being exposed to international acceptable practices and standardization.
So, you were previously based in Uyo and then you moved to Lagos. What attracted you to Lagos?
Uyo is where I am from and it was important for us to start up there. We saw great potential in the area and an opening in the market for Urban development. Urban Kraft is about innovating lifestyle, whether in Uyo or Lagos we want to change the design landscape by creating not only beautiful but functional spaces, functional products and businesses. Uyo was a challenge in the sense that we were pushing the boundaries of the type of spaces (residential and facilities) that are found there and raising the standard. Lagos is for growth. To grow as a brand, you need to expand your business to reach out to a good number of people via commercial designs (space users, product users and entrepreneurs). Lagos is competitive and has given us the reason to keep pushing beyond. Our innovative public spaces are appreciated and functionally used. We are faced with the pressure to innovate out of the BOX spaces when we partner in any project…But so far, WE LOVE LAGOS!
When it comes to your design process, what are your choice of materials?
Wood and steel mostly. We like to be creative with things we see around. Even things people see as trash, to us any/everything good can come out of the things you least expect. So in our case, we are attracted to all natural materials; it may be from wood, metal, stones, aluminium, plastic and sand. Creativity can come from anything. A lot of our materials are locally sourced, “Made in Nigeria.” To us, it’s about using what we have and creating something beautiful. We use a lot of locally sourced wood. Historical significance often comes into play with fabric, we recently drew inspiration from traditional methods of colouring fabric like the unique indigo tie-dye patterns of the ‘ADIRE’, we plan to explore Nigeria more for history and significance of element, in different materials and areas of the country.
What inspires your design concept and working techniques?
As a product designer, I am inspired by my environment (people, culture and time). I see myself as a strategic artist with unrivalled enthusiasm and passion for designing.
What are some of the projects you have worked on?
We have worked on The Backyard, Z Kitchen, Circa Non Pariel, Navante Oil and Gas and Evans Industry Limited, residences and hotels.
Which would you say has been your most challenging project so far?
The restaurant Z Kitchen, because I wanted to give back to Lagos a world-class standard featuring the owners by musing architecture and food to create something wonderful. Knowing their dreams and expectations, it was important to create a space that could reflect their brand identity. It was a tasking project but yet very exposing and interesting. I was content not only because of the outcome of the project but also the trust owners put in me to execute the job.
How would you advice young people who are considering starting-up in your field?
Come in with an open mind. Do not be limited. Try to kill the fear of the unknown “the market is saturated.“ Nigeria as a market is very virgin, we are yet to explore half the creative solutions that we have to offer. I will like to advise the young people to come into the market planning long term and create their style to determine their niche.
