Born and raised in Madrid, Urko Sánchez began his architecture studies in 1988. It took him ten years to complete his degree, largely due to his deep passion for travel. “Since I was very young, I’ve always loved to travel. I’ve been to over 40 countries,” Urko says. From Canada to Argentina, India to Africa, he has seen much of the world. As a result, travel has shaped much of his life and work—all the colors, art, people, and cultures he has encountered have helped shape his vision of what he wanted to build, both for himself and for others.
As part of his studies, Urko began participating in various architectural projects with NGOs in Spain and Nicaragua. “I had already started working before finishing university in 1998,” he explains, “volunteering on several projects. One of my first jobs was on the border between Somalia and Kenya. There was a lot of adrenaline in those early years.” He continued offering his expertise in conflict zones such as Bosnia, El Salvador, and Angola, where he spent two years. His work always centered around architecture—building camps, schools, and clinics.
Eventually, Urko traveled to an island off the coast of East Africa and fell in love. “Lamu was a completely peaceful break from all the conflict zones I had been working in,” he recalls.
Urko Sanchez Architects is an award-winning architecture studio based in Kenya, known for its excellence in design. The studio is deeply committed to environmental stewardship, and for each project, the team considers the cultural roots of the structure and the best way to integrate the building into its surroundings—taking into account the views, native materials, and the natural flow of the site.
Urko Sánchez’s work is distinguished by contemporary interpretations of traditional architecture, an ecological aesthetic that harnesses wind and solar energy and recycled water, and the use of natural architecture to highlight daylight and frame private gardens and open courtyards.
His projects vary widely in size, complexity, and function. However, the focus is always on the client and the context, with a tailored approach to each unique commission. His commercial projects include hotels, office buildings, industrial spaces, and residential developments, among others.