EO
Emeka Obi
Founding Principal
18 years leading the practice. Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Architects. Visiting critic at UCL Bartlett.
The Practice
Architecture with purpose.
Arcform Studio is an award-winning architectural practice founded in Abuja in 2007. We design buildings and places with rigour, intention, and a deep respect for the people who inhabit them.
Our Story
Eighteen years of deliberate practice.
Arcform Studio was founded in 2007 by Emeka Obi, a Nigerian architect trained at the Bartlett and the Architectural Association. The practice began as a single-room office in central Abuja with a singular conviction: that the built environment of West Africa deserved architecture of the highest ambition.
Over eighteen years, the studio has grown into a 60-person practice with studios in Abuja, Lagos, London, and Dubai. Our commissions span private residences, cultural institutions, commercial towers, urban master plans, and landscape installations.
We work at every scale — from the intimate to the civic — and bring the same rigour, curiosity, and craft to each project. Architecture, for us, is a long-form conversation with the future.
60+
Team Members
4
Studio Locations
The People
Our Team
AD
Amara Diallo
Design Director
Formerly at Zaha Hadid Architects and David Chipperfield. Leads all major design commissions.
KA
Kwame Asante
Principal — Urban Consultancy
Urban strategist with a decade of experience advising municipalities across West Africa and the EU.
SB
Saoirse Brennan
Associate — Interiors
Materials obsessive and spatial storyteller. Leads all interior planning and specification work.
TA
Tunde Akindele
Technical Director
Structural pragmatist. Ensures every design is buildable, safe, and delivered on programme.
NP
Nadia Petrov
Head of Visualisation
Leads the in-house CGI studio. Creates photorealistic renders and immersive VR experiences.
What We Stand For
Our Values
Clarity of Intent
Every decision we make is purposeful. We strip away the superfluous to reveal the essential — in structure, material, and form.
Rigorous Craft
Architecture is made in the details. We hold ourselves to exacting standards at every scale, from the master plan to the door handle.
Collaborative Spirit
Our best work emerges through dialogue — with clients, contractors, communities, and each other. We believe in the collective intelligence of a great team.
Responsible Practice
We design with awareness of long-term environmental and social impact — buildings that contribute positively to their context for decades to come.
Our Journey
Milestones
Studio Founded
Arcform Studio established in Lagos, Nigeria, with a focus on residential and cultural architecture.
First Major Commission
Awarded the design of Meridian Cultural Centre — a 12,000m² civic complex in Abuja.
International Expansion
Opened satellite studio in London, extending practice to European and UK markets.
Urban Consultancy Division
Launched dedicated urban planning arm following landmark master plan commission.
RIBA Recognition
Received RIBA International Award for Residential Architecture — a first for a West African practice.
Studio Rebrand & Expansion
Rebranded as Arcform Studio. New offices in Dubai. Team now 60+ strong across 4 countries.