Мeet the studio
Together, we shape landscapes rooted in simplicity and crafted with care.
Simon and Arnold Landscape Architecture Ltd is a Pan-African landscape architecture practice based in Kenya driven by a simple belief: the spaces we create should bring people closer to nature, not further away from it. We believe every landscape holds a story. Our role is to understand the character of a site, the people who inhabit it, and the forces that shape it, then translate these into spaces that are both functional and meaningful. We approach landscape architecture as a process of solving problems through design; balancing human experience, environmental performance, and the inherent qualities of the land.
SIMON GITONGA & ARNOLD GITAU
Mikaele here!
Founder of Minnaro, trained in interior architecture and product design in Milan and Copenhagen.
With over a decade of experience across Europe and Australia, I create spaces that are thoughtful, understated, and quietly personal.
My work has been recognised in international publications and design awards — but what matters most is how it feels to live in.
Our services
Design
We provide landscape architecture and design consultancy across a range of scales, from site planning and master planning to detailed design and construction documentation. We work collaboratively with architects, planners, engineers, and other built-environment professionals to create functional, contextual, and meaningful landscapes.
Build
We translate design intent into built landscapes through considered construction, planting, material selection, and site implementation. Our involvement extends from construction coordination to landscape establishment, ensuring that design quality is carried through to the finished environment.
Research
We investigate the relationship between people, nature, and the built environment to develop evidence-informed solutions. Our research explores environmental psychology, African landscape identity, ecology, materials, planting, climate-responsive design, and emerging approaches to landscape architecture.
Core Values
Our process starts with the first conversation and continues through move-in, guided by a deep understanding of client goals and site-specific opportunities
01. INTEGRITY
We design with honesty, responsibility, and purpose.
Integrity is fundamental to how we practice. We believe in being honest about the opportunities and limitations of every project, making considered decisions, and taking responsibility for their consequences. We respect the land, the people we design for, our collaborators, and the profession of landscape architecture. For us, integrity means creating work that is genuine in its intent, disciplined in its execution, and valuable beyond its immediate appearance.
02. IDENTITY
We believe in an African expression of landscape.
Africa is not a single aesthetic, but a continent of diverse landscapes, cultures, climates, histories, and ways of living. We seek to draw from this richness without reducing it to symbols or visual motifs. Our landscapes are informed by local materials, indigenous knowledge, ecological systems, cultural narratives, and contemporary African life. We strive to create places that are recognisably of their context—landscapes that belong to where they are.
0.3 INTELLIGENCE
We design through inquiry, evidence, and critical thinking.
We believe better landscapes emerge from better questions. Our practice is research-informed and evidence-driven, using observation, environmental psychology, technical knowledge, and interdisciplinary collaboration to understand complex design problems. We continually investigate new ideas, materials, technologies, and approaches, translating knowledge into practical solutions that are responsive, resilient, and relevant to the evolving African context.
The best builds start before the build
10+
200+
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400+
Awards
“Every project begins with questions and expectations. Our role is to listen, explore possibilities, and shape a built solution that responds with clarity and purpose.”