BE INSPIRED | FEATURE 15 KWAMENA BEECHAM
We're excited to share our latest feature - this time spotlighting Architect, Educator and Founder of +TwoThreeThree, Kwamena Beecham.
In this conversation, Kwamena reflects on what the housing industry gets wrong about feeling at home, and why we should design for the wider family rather than just the nuclear one. He also explains why his studio speaks plain English and never works for free.
Born and raised in Thamesmead, he now runs his own studio and teaches at the Leicester School of Architecture. His work shows that heritage can be part of a practice’s foundations rather than added as decoration.
WHO IS KWAMENA?
Tell us about yourself, who you are, your ethnic background and what you do.
My name is Kwamena and I am an Architect based in London, but first and foremost, I am a husband and father to two beautiful daughters. I was born and raised in Thamesmead, South East London and I am of Ghanaian heritage. Day to day, I run my own Architecture practice, +TwoThreeThree, and I also teach at the Leicester School of Architecture at De Montfort University. In my spare time, I’m either playing football, spending time with my family or planning (or on) a road trip somewhere interesting.
A CULTURE OF EXCELLENCE
You describe your route through architecture as practice, project management, teaching and now running your own studio. What did each of those different roles teach you that you now bring into +TwoThreeThree?
Interestingly, they all taught me fairly similar skills, with exceptions being specific to the industry. Broadly they taught me that who I am and what I stand for go a long way in guiding my decisions, both big and small, and that rigour and hard work are necessary to succeed. I work extremely hard at everything I do, and that has created a culture of excellence (even in Monopoly - my marriage is stronger because my wife refuses to play me at that game!).
Working in architecture taught me that it's okay to stand out and it's okay to not follow the herd. With project management, my eye for detail meant I was able to see problems and solve them well in advance. My teaching roles have taught me the importance of being a good example for the next generations coming through and making sure the door is kept open and opportunities are there for them. Running my own studio has strengthened my belief in creating beautiful things for all, regardless of the project cost.
HERITAGE IN EVERY PILLAR
How has your Ghanaian heritage influenced your practice at +TwoThreeThree?
The influence is pretty transparent and is a little on the nose, but the name is literally the dialling code for Ghana, +233. The idea was for it to be clear to those who realise that it is a Black-owned business, and for those who were not aware, it's just an interesting play on three numbers. The core pillars of the practice and every project are supported by 3 Ghanaian Adinkra symbols: ‘Akwaaba’ meaning welcome, ‘Aban’ meaning fortress, and ‘Nea Onnim’ which has a meaning rooted in wisdom through learning. I wanted my culture and heritage to be clear in every facet of the practice, but I was very careful not to be a caricature or a stereotype.
THE RACE TO THE BOTTOM
What do you think the architecture and housing professions currently misunderstand about what it means for someone to feel at home?
I don't think it is a current misunderstanding, but rather that other things are seen as more desirable and are prioritised. However you look at it, the commodification of all things means that feeling at home doesn't translate onto a spreadsheet based on the current way that projects are procured. Much of the housing stock up and down the country is designed largely in a vacuum, meaning lots of new developments feel similar and soulless, with nominal nods to their context such as colloquial street names or promises of community building assets.
Unfortunately, these assets tend to be low-hanging fruit and fall far short of their intended purpose of community building. For somebody to feel at home they fundamentally need to feel welcome and part of their community. If we create homes that encourage us to isolate, or are too small for our lives to grow and develop then, we will continue to have the race to the bottom in terms of feeling at home that we currently have.
Thankfully, there is a growing movement of built environment professionals like myself who are championing the experience of the end user in terms of sustainability, comfort and simply enjoying the spaces, so I believe things are changing for the better.
DESIGNING FROM IDENTITY
How does the question of identity translate into the actual design work at +TwoThreeThree?
Everyone has a unique identity and way of living, even if there are lots of similarities in a lot of what we do. This is where we drill into the end user profile early on in each project. When I sit down with a client, the first few conversations are simply just me trying to understand who they are and what makes them tick. I remember meeting with a couple who wanted a few internal changes to their property. They came prepared with their budget and Pinterest board of examples of what they wanted. It was only when we started talking, and I asked them about a typical day and their ideal weekend, that we all realised what they wanted was completely different to what they thought they wanted. It’s only when I truly understand what makes each client tick then I can create a truly bespoke solution that works for them and brings them joy. One unintended consequence of this is that I am able to quickly understand if I am not the right Architect for a prospective client, and I am okay with that. Our business identity is one that is based on wisdom and transparency, so I work very hard to make sure we do the best for our clients, even if that means we connect them with another practice that will be better suited.
BEYOND THE NUCLEAR HOME
Are there particular decisions, details, spaces or processes where you feel culture and lived experience become tangible in the architecture?
There are countless little decisions that are tangible, and if I was to list them all I could write a long book. One that springs to mind is how the family unit is viewed in the western world. More and more, the term ‘family’ tends to mean the nuclear family, with the extended family either optional or at arm's length. This is reflected in how we design modern homes. We no longer design spaces that are flexible and can serve a dual purpose, and instead focus on cookie-cutter examples that only work for a specific time frame of life. If we simply incorporate the wider family in our design decisions, we can create spaces that work day to day, and are also welcoming to visitors in a way that is not inconvenient to the primary user. It also gives the primary user the option to use the space in a myriad of ways. Instead of hosting extended family, they can create a decent workspace that can be treated as separate to their living space. This is just one example within another example, so just imagine how many more opportunities there are that are left on the table!
PLAIN ENGLISH, FAIR FEES
What aspects of the conventional architectural model do you find yourself challenging through your practice?
I’m challenging a couple of big-ticket aspects. First, as Architects we are subconsciously taught to only talk to other Architects and speak in a way that can be alienating to those who are outside of the industry. That ends up putting us on a self-propelled pedestal that keeps the general public away, and then we have the audacity to complain that we can't find clients!
Second, we are also taught to not talk about money, or more alarmingly, to work for free. We have been taught historically that our work will speak for itself and that we should just be thankful that we have the privilege of being called Architects. In order to combat this, at +TwoThreeThree, we speak in a language that the client understands: plain English. We also do not work for free, and are very clear about the deliverables at each stage of a project. If the project requires changes in scope or complexity then the changes in fee are explained and agreed before any new work is done.
NO TWO DAYS THE SAME
What has been the biggest difference between working within established practices and creating a studio where you have more control over the kind of work, clients and ideas you pursue?
The biggest difference I have found is that I am simply more aware of the world around me more of the time. While working within established practices, I had the luxury of compartmentalising my private life and leaving it at the door. During the working day I was Kwamena the Architect and then once I left the office I would be a regular guy again. In creating my own practice those lines have blurred. I am a lot more available for my family, which I love, and this has meant that I have to be very disciplined with my time. I have taken client calls on the way back from the school run, while in a supermarket and in the car park at Heathrow Airport after dropping family off. No two days are the same and I love the excitement of knowing that the business can go in any direction I want it to go in. That gives me so much flexibility and agility on the type of clients and ideas I engage with. Because of that I have got pretty good at evaluating an opportunity thoroughly in a few hours instead of days. It's not always sunshine and rainbows though, and there are many ups and downs that come with running a small business, but overall I am enjoying the challenge and looking forward to seeing the growth.
KEEP THAT CHILDLIKE BELIEF
What do you hope someone from a similar background sees as possible when they encounter your work?
I hope they see that anything is possible and that they shouldn't give up that childlike belief that they will be the best.
REMEMBER YOUR SAUCE
As a lecturer, what is one thing you would encourage architecture students from minority backgrounds to take with them on their journey into architectural practice?
Their unique perspective on life based on their heritage and culture. I say to my students to always remember their sauce and to wear it proudly like the honour it is. We are all wonderfully and beautifully made so we should celebrate what makes us unique!
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