Hanif Kara
Encyclopedia
Hanif Kara is design director and co-founder of London-based structural engineering practice Adams Kara Taylor
(AKT II). He has taught design internationally, is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Architecture Foundation and was a commissioner for CABE from 2008-2011 (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
). He is currently a visiting professor of Architectural Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and teaches design at GSD Harvard.
. Following his graduation in 1982, Kara worked for a structural engineering company Allot and Lomax, where he designed tension structures, roller coasters, offshore platforms and power stations. Kara then joined Anthony Hunt in London from 1994–1996, before launching AKT in 1996 with Albert Williamson-Taylor and Robin Adams.
In 2008, Kara was appointed as a commissioner for British Government watchdog Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
, becoming the first structural engineer to be appointed to this position. At CABE he has chaired the design review panels and has been instrumental in raising the importance of engineering through chairing the Inclusion by Design Group and Energy for Waste Facilities Group.
Kara was also appointed a member of Design for London Advisory Group to the Mayor of London, 2007–2008 and currently is on the Design Surgeon Panel for the London Development Authority. In 2010 he was appointed as a Board of Trustee for the Architecture Foundation.
Kara is a visiting professor of Architectural Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm in Sweden and teaches design and engineering at GSD Harvard as the Pierce Anderson Lecturer in Creative Engineering. He has a quarterly column in the RIBA Journal on issues that affect the industry and has written in many technical journals and books relating to Engineering and Design.
He is a fellow member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
, the Institute of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Structural Engineers and the Royal Society of Arts
. Kara was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2004. In 2009 he was curator for the first-ever solo exhibition of the work of AKT at the Architectural Association in London.
In May 2011 the Association of Consulting Engineers awarded him the Engineering Ambassador award for his contribution to design consultancy and engineering.
Adams Kara Taylor
Adams Kara Taylor, also known as AKT and AKTII, is a London-based firm of structural and civil engineering consultants.-Company:AKT was founded in 1996 by Hanif Kara, Albert Williamson-Taylor and Robin Adams...
(AKT II). He has taught design internationally, is a member of the Board of Trustees for the Architecture Foundation and was a commissioner for CABE from 2008-2011 (Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment was an executive non-departmental public body of the UK government, established in 1999. It was funded by both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Communities and Local Government.-Function:CABE was the...
). He is currently a visiting professor of Architectural Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm and teaches design at GSD Harvard.
Career
Kara was born on 26 August 1958 in Bombo, UgandaBombo, Uganda
-Location:Bombo is located approximately , by road, north of Uganda's capital, Kampala. The coordinates of the town are:00 34 40N, 32 32 42E .-Municipalities in Luweero District:Bombo is a municipality in Luweero District...
. Following his graduation in 1982, Kara worked for a structural engineering company Allot and Lomax, where he designed tension structures, roller coasters, offshore platforms and power stations. Kara then joined Anthony Hunt in London from 1994–1996, before launching AKT in 1996 with Albert Williamson-Taylor and Robin Adams.
In 2008, Kara was appointed as a commissioner for British Government watchdog Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment was an executive non-departmental public body of the UK government, established in 1999. It was funded by both the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Communities and Local Government.-Function:CABE was the...
, becoming the first structural engineer to be appointed to this position. At CABE he has chaired the design review panels and has been instrumental in raising the importance of engineering through chairing the Inclusion by Design Group and Energy for Waste Facilities Group.
Kara was also appointed a member of Design for London Advisory Group to the Mayor of London, 2007–2008 and currently is on the Design Surgeon Panel for the London Development Authority. In 2010 he was appointed as a Board of Trustee for the Architecture Foundation.
Kara is a visiting professor of Architectural Technology at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm in Sweden and teaches design and engineering at GSD Harvard as the Pierce Anderson Lecturer in Creative Engineering. He has a quarterly column in the RIBA Journal on issues that affect the industry and has written in many technical journals and books relating to Engineering and Design.
Awards and honours
Kara was the first structural engineer to be selected for the Master Jury for the 2004 cycle of the Aga Khan Awards for Architecture.He is a fellow member of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
, the Institute of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Structural Engineers and the Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
. Kara was made an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 2004. In 2009 he was curator for the first-ever solo exhibition of the work of AKT at the Architectural Association in London.
In May 2011 the Association of Consulting Engineers awarded him the Engineering Ambassador award for his contribution to design consultancy and engineering.
Adams Kara Taylor
AKT is a structural engineering company based in central London. The company was founded in 1996 by Hanif Kara, Albert Williamson-Taylor and Robin Adams. AKT is famous for its combination of engineering and design processesSelected projects
- (TBC) Zayed National MuseumZayed National MuseumZayed National Museum is a planned museum, to be located in Abu Dhabi, UAE. It will be built on Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi...
, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Architect: Foster + Partners - 2010 UK pavilion at Expo 2010, Shanghai, China. Architect: Thomas Heatherwick
- 2010 Masdar Institute of Science and TechnologyMasdar Institute of Science and TechnologyThe Masdar Institute of Science and Technology is a graduate level, research-oriented university which is focused on alternative energy, sustainability, and the environment...
, Abu Dhabi, UAE. Architect: Foster + Partners - 2010 Ravensbourne College, Greenwich, UK. Architect: Foreign Office Architects
- 2009 Hunsett Mill, Norfolk, UK. Architect: ACME
- 2008 Highcross Quarter, Leicester, UK. Architect: Foreign Office Architects
- 2007 East Beach CaféEast Beach CafeEast Beach Café is a cafe in Littlehampton, West Sussex. It is owned by Jane Wood and Sophie Murray, who commissioned designer Thomas Heatherwick to create an iconic building for the seaside town of Littlehampton...
, Littlehampton, UK. Architect: Heatherwick Studio - 2005 Phaeno Science Centre, Wolfsburg, Germany. Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
- 2005 Blizard BuildingBlizard BuildingThe Blizard Building is a building in Whitechapel in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. It was designed by Will Alsop and completed in March 2005. It houses the Institute of Cell and Molecular Science, part of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry...
, London, UK. Architect: Alsop Architects - 2004 Cadogan HallCadogan HallCadogan Hall is a 900-seat capacity concert hall on Sloane Terrace in Chelsea / Belgravia in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, London, United Kingdom...
, London, UK. Architect: Paul Davis & Partners - 1999 Peckham LibraryPeckham LibraryPeckham Library is a library and community building situated in Peckham in south-east London. It was designed by Alsop and Störmer and won the Stirling Prize for Architecture in 2000....
, London, UK. Architect: Alsop & Störmer
External links
- Adams Kara Taylor
- Harvard GSD
- Hanif Kara's Christmas Charity Single
- “Red Eye Rewards” Hanif Kara, London 2009. Published in: RIBA Journal, June 2009
- “Credit packs a punch” Hanif Kara, London 2010, Published in RIBA Journal, December 2010
- “Expand your Mind” Hanif Kara, London 2009. Published in: RIBA Journal, October 2009