BE INSPIRED | FEATURE 11 TAMUNOKURO KRUKRUBO
We're excited to share our latest feature - this time spotlighting Spatial Practitioner and Content Creator Tamunokuro Krukrubo.
Tamunokuro's work spans beyond traditional practice. His journey runs from Nigeria, to the UK, moving between architectural design, digital media and culture, and shaped by curiosity, honesty and a refusal to be boxed in. In this conversation, he reflects on questioning whose knowledge architectural education passes down, the unfiltered reality of architecture school, and why there is no single route to building a career in the profession.
WHO IS TAMUNOKURO?
Tell us about yourself, who you are, your ethnic background and what you do.
My name is Tamunokuro Krukrubo, and I am a spatial practitioner and content creator based in the UK. I grew up in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, and this cultural background deeply influences how I view community and the built environment.
I hold an undergraduate degree from the University of Lincoln, where I was part of a research
team investigating hidden architectural voices. I just completed my master's degree at Central
Saint Martins.
My practice sits at the intersection of architectural design, digital media, and culture. On the
physical and research side, I recently co-designed and built a public pavilion at Navigator
Square in Islington. Alongside this, my master's research explored converting old petrol stations into community recycling centres by examining the links between oil production, fast fashion and waste.
On the digital side, I run an online platform and host the 'Why Architecture' interview series,
conducting interviews across the sector, speaking with individuals ranging from students to the RIBA President. Through these conversations and my video content, my goal is to demystify architecture school, break down industry barriers, and show students that there are alternative paths within the profession.
NOT BOUND BY THE RULEBOOK
How do you feel in traditional design spaces and how has that affected the way you have approached architectural education?
Having grown up in Nigeria, I am not naturally connected to UK architecture traditions. Therefore, I do not see myself reflected in traditional UK design spaces. This is not necessarily bad or intentional, but it means I do not feel bound by a strict rulebook. This perspective drives me to constantly question architectural education. I find myself asking why we learn certain things and whose knowledge is being passed down. My time at Central Saint Martins has nurtured this critical approach, encouraging students to unpack what is deemed 'tradition'. Realising that the traditional UK design space was not built for me is both scary and comforting. It requires intentionality to carve out my own space, but it is incredibly freeing.
THE UNFILTERED REALITY
You've built a digital community through TikTok and YouTube around the reality of architecture school. What did you notice students were struggling with that you felt wasn't being talked about openly enough?
When I started looking for information about architecture online, everything was presented strictly from the institutions' perspectives. Everyone was putting their best foot forward. While that is expected, there is a challenging side to studying architecture, and I like knowing the whole picture so I can prepare. I felt a strong need to give students the unfiltered reality. I wanted to talk openly about hidden costs and how to confidently communicate your work. More importantly, I wanted to show people that there are many different ways to succeed. You do not have to fit the standard mould. It is completely valid to approach your education in your own way. Architecture is a subjective course, and there is no single set plan to the finish line. As long as you are doing the work and finding a process that suits you, that is what matters.
IT'S FINE NOT TO FIT IN
What do you wish someone had told you earlier about studying architecture and figuring out your place within the profession?
I wish someone had told me it is perfectly fine not to fit in and to want something different from the traditional path. Knowing that from my first year would have given me much more clarity on the direction to take. The profession often presents itself as very strict at the beginning. Everyone assumes they must follow the exact same route: three years of undergraduate study, a placement year, a two-year master's, another placement, and then Part 3. However, that is simply not the reality. There are many different routes you can take, but you often do not realise this until you are already deep within the system. By that point, you might feel trapped on a path that does not actually work best for you. I wish I had known earlier that there are countless ways to practise architecture. You do not have to strictly follow the standard route to build a successful career in this industry.
WHY ARCHITECTURE?
What have the conversations in your ‘Why Architecture’ series revealed to you about the different reasons people enter architecture and the different ways they experience the profession?
The conversations in the series have been incredibly eye-opening. I have realised that, at the core, everyone is in this field to make the built environment better. However, the ways people find their way into architecture are vastly different. Some guests were encouraged by their parents and felt it was an honourable path to take. Others wanted to study art but worried it was not financially viable. Many students liked maths and science just as much as art, so architecture felt like a logical middle ground. Yet, despite these different starting points, studying the course leads most people to the same shared goal of improving the spaces we live in. It has also been fascinating to see where people choose to focus their energy. Ultimately, all these different niches complement each other and work together to make the built environment a better place for everyone.
LEARNING BY SHARING
How has building a platform where people can question, explore and understand the profession changed your own relationship with architecture?
Building this platform has been a highly positive experience. It has given me a clear avenue to see how other people practice architecture in their own unique ways. Exploring those alternative paths allows me to constantly assess my own journey, figure out what I genuinely enjoy, and learn from my peers. It also drives me to be a better student and practitioner. Since I am sharing information with a wide audience, I want to be certain I am not leading anyone astray. This responsibility pushes me to research and study more thoroughly, which makes me much more knowledgeable in the process. Also, the act of putting myself out there has directly improved my architectural skills. So much of our education involves pitching our designs. Creating videos, organising outreach, and securing interviews use those transferable skills. My digital work has significantly strengthened my communication abilities and given me the agency to simply go out and get things done.
TWO SIDES OF ONE PRACTICE
How do those two sides of your work - architectural design and media - influence each other?
At first, I thought the design and media aspects of my work were completely separate. However, as I continue my work, I realise they must work together, especially in this highly digital age. A significant part of architecture is communication. To properly convey my design ideas, I need to know how to communicate effectively. Since I have decided my practice might not sit fully within traditional boundaries, my media work provides an alternative way to share my work and see how it resonates, as well as building a community around projects that I am passionate about.
ARCHITECTS AS CARETAKERS
What does the role ‘architect’ mean to you now, and how different is that from the version of an architect you imagined when you first started studying?
My definition of an architect has definitely evolved. When I first started studying, I viewed the architect as an all-knowing figure whose word on a building was final. This was a narrow view, heavily influenced by the 'starchitect' culture. Now, I realise an architect is much more than that. It is not about knowing everything perfectly, but rather having a solid understanding of various industries and skill sets, and weaving them together. I prefer this definition. An architect designs for everyone and every discipline. To build a good hospital, you must understand how doctors work. To build a good school, you need to understand the interactions between teachers and students. It is about the experience within the spaces, not just the physical building. In a way, I see architects as caretakers of society, using their broad knowledge to shape the built environment and make society a better place.
FOLLOWING A NORTH STAR
What have you learned from putting yourself out there while still figuring things out?
Honestly, I have learned that you cannot really go wrong. The worst that can happen is someone says no, and if you have ever looked for a job, you are already used to hearing that. The more you put yourself out there, the higher your chances of rejection, but that does not mean your work is bad. It just means you are doing more. Five years ago, I was still stuck in a very traditional mindset. I would never have believed I would be doing this kind of work today. I am definitely still figuring things out, taking each day as it comes, making sure not to repeat the early mistake of putting myself in a box. I do have a North Star though: ensuring whatever I put out, whether it is advice for students or a physical project, is genuinely beneficial to people. The exact route is still foggy, but I am happily taking it one step at a time.
FIND YOUR PEOPLE
If someone reading this is currently sitting in a studio feeling like they don't belong, second-guessing their abilities or wondering whether architecture is really for them, what would you want them to do next?
If you applied to study architecture, some part of it is definitely for you. I know the learning
experience can be incredibly tough, but five years of study is just a small blip in a career that
could span over fifty years. Think long-term about what you can do with the knowledge. Try to
find a way to make it enjoyable by adding external elements to your university work. Regarding the feeling of not belonging, it is obviously difficult to feel like an industry was not built for you.
However, it is equally exciting. It means the space you want does not exist yet, and you have
the opportunity to build it. Find other peers who are thinking on a similar wavelength. Do not
force yourself into a mould where you do not fit, as that will only build resentment. Instead, steer your own path, find your people, and test out ideas together.
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