We, as the Designer Interviews ("DI") had the distinct pleasure and opportunity to interview award-winning, most creative and innovative Hermann Kamte ("HK").
Hermann Kamte is a young Cameroonian Architect, Chief Executive Officer and Founder at HKA | Hermann Kamte & Associates. He works as Creative Director. He recognized as a Young Talent of the Contemporary and African Architecture through major projects. One of which is ‘Lagos’s Wooden Tower | Abebe Court Tower, Lagos – Nigeria’ which enjoy series of international Awards and Famous Media coverage such as “The architectural Review” or “UK Financial Times”. Hermann Kamte is The Winner of several international awards including but not limited to American Prize of Architecture, Finalist of the World Architecture Festival 2017 and Winner (1st Prize Cultural Identity) of the Inaugural WAFX Prize, known as the world’s most forward-looking concept. He is exhibiting the research project “Lagos’s Wooden Tower” in London (UK) from 9th February to 19th May 2018 at Roca London Gallery under the theme: Timber Rising, as one of the new generation pioneering and innovative wooden Structure.. Hermann will be delivering a keynote talk at Architecture ZA 2018 organized by South African Institute of Architect in Pretoria from 3rd to 5th May 2018, under the Theme: “We The City: Memories and Resilience." Because A Better World Is Possible. HKA | Hermann Kamte & Associates is an award-winning Architectural firm based in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Our projects are based in Africa; including Nigeria; Niger; Chad; and Cameroon. We provide services including architecture, Design, Urbanism, Landscape, Education, Research and Development.
Hermann Kamte Designs
We are pleased to share with you original and innovative design work by Hermann Kamte.
Designer Interview of Hermann Kamte:
DI: Could you please tell us more about your art and design background? What made you become an artist/designer? Have you always wanted to be a designer?
HK : Team design is very young and several members start learning and studying art, especially architecture by their own choice. The most important is each person needs to make what they really like… You need to do something you like or something you can do for free with the same happiness because no one can really pay your time or your passion at its just value. This is a truth.
DI: Can you tell us more about your company / design studio?
HK : HKA | Hermann Kamte & Associates is a Small and Young Architecture Firm based in Yaounde, Cameroon. Founded and Led by Hermann Kamte, HKA works in the fields of architecture, Design, Urbanism, Landscape, Education, Research and Development. HKA believes the creative process is fundamental and at the basic of each project, because each one is unique. HKA vision is to bring a new dynamic into African Architecture before to investigate the worldwide community. We want to contribute to shaping the world by giving another appreciation, approach and subtlety. The challenge is difficult, the journey is long as we said, but we want to do it. For HKA, human inspired by all its destroying actions or not on the nature remains at the centre of our preoccupation; Its well-being is always and will always be important for us. Our pledge, our fighting of every day and everywhere across the world is, how to make it possible without destroying our beautiful nature, our planet?
DI: What is "design" for you?
HK : As a big subtlety, Design helps people feeling good. The world is going right because of design’s values. Design is a travel and research process which allows you to discover yourself and understand the world. Design is a subtle light touch which can transform the world or the perception of usual attitude or daily routines. .
DI: What kinds of works do you like designing most?
HK : As an engagement, Design Team would like to design for communities through the world who don’t have any access to dwelling, food, water, electricity, secure environment and basic facilities as school. Especially in Africa, facilities and equipment are growing slower than urban fabric.
DI: What is your most favorite design, could you please tell more about it?
HK : With a lot of values, Designs that create a strong experiential and emotional connection with nature and people are the most appreciate. Pieces need to have big and bold concepts and processes.
DI: What was the first thing you designed for a company?
HK : An Experimental Wooden Structure for David Salisbury, In 2014 an International Competition was launch to reinvent conservatory. Team finished on the nine shortlisted entries with the project "Ellipsoid Conservatory".
DI: What is your favorite material / platform / technology?
HK : Wood is the most like, but team work with several appropriate materials, platforms and technologies to always create a good experience for clients and users.
DI: When do you feel the most creative?
HK : When, they work with a range of designers coming from several field of the industry. Each Team member can add it value on the enhancement of projects.
DI: Which aspects of a design do you focus more during designing?
HK : Who is the Client? What they want? What is the best way to make it? are the most important.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when you design?
HK : Always Feeling good, each design has its own challenge to attempt.
DI: What kind of emotions do you feel when your designs are realized?
HK : Always a great accomplishment for design team to seen her design realized.
DI: What makes a design successful?
HK : A successful design has a unique subtle expression.
DI: When judging a design as good or bad, which aspects do you consider first?
HK : A good design is at the same time functional and aesthetic, but its most powerful expression is the moment where you can see this expression on audiences ‘Wow, Who make this design? How does it make it? I want to get one.’ Now, you have changed people environment and experience.
DI: From your point of view, what are the responsibilities of a designer for society and environment?
HK : Designers have great social and environmental responsibilities. The industry of design has bad aspect to sometimes destroy environment with pollution and other kinds of disaster, and these one become a challenge for the whole society. Designer has to be a model for young generations; He has to create a safe and secure environment for people with sustainable project. Another aspect of the social engagement of Designer are theirs investment into social projects aside private commission for the richest.
DI: How do you think the "design field" is evolving? What is the future of design?
HK : Design field involving very well, The Future seems interesting with appearance and influence of new technologies.
DI: When was your last exhibition and where was it? And when do you want to hold your next exhibition?
HK : The last international exhibition was at Tirana in October 2016 at Destil Hostel, when they won Tirana Architecture Week 2016 - TAW 2016 (International Competition) on the theme "Transformation That Matter". Team want to hold the next exhibition, this year.
DI: Do you have any works-in-progress being designed that you would like to talk about?
HK : Design team are currently work on an industrial complex, the project is yet confidential, but it is an exciting experience.
DI: How can people contact you?
HK : People can contact us trough; email : info@hermann-kamte.com website : www.hermann-kamte.com facebook: @HermannKamteAssociates twitter: @hka_associates instagram: @hka_associates