OUR STORY

Four decades of
design, shaping a skyline.

From a small balcony above a Nairobi garage in 1978 to a multi-disciplinary practice defining the East African horizon.

01 — ORIGINS

The unlikeliest
of places.

Our story began 45 years ago in the unlikeliest of places.

PLANNING Systems Services Ltd is a prominent architectural firm founded in 1978 in Nairobi, Kenya. Our expertise lies in architecture, land use planning, and urban design. We believe in the transformative power of design to craft captivating human experiences within sustainable and vibrant buildings and spaces.

Our approach is rooted in our clients' values and facility requirements — harnessing the unique opportunities of each project site while remaining mindful of practical considerations that drive project economies. This philosophy fosters ongoing dialogue and collaboration from initial concept to project realisation.

02 — MILESTONE MOMENTS

Underdogs who
redefined a skyline.

Over four decades, we have shaped Nairobi's skyline with iconic high-rise projects including the Kenya Commercial Bank Pension Tower, Lonrho House, and Investments and Mortgages Bank. Our hospitality portfolio includes internationally acclaimed projects such as the Four Points Sheraton JKIA, Mombasa Serena Beach Hotel and Spa, and Windsor Golf Hotel and Country Club.

In the residential realm, we are known for award-winning developments like Lakeview Estate, Imara Daima Housing Estate, and Komarock Phase I. We have a well-established track record of delivering quality projects, regardless of size, within budget and on schedule.

TIMELINE

1972

Serena Paraa & Chobe Lodges (Uganda)

Jim Archer designs award-winning, landscape-integrated lodges in Uganda's national parks, establishing the regional ethos of architectural conservation and sustainable hospitality.

1978

Founded in Nairobi

Jim Archer and Trevor Andrews open a small office on a balcony above a used-car garage in Nairobi's Industrial Area on 1st May.

1980

Lake View Estate

Win the architectural competition for the acclaimed residential development nestled in the trees of Spring Valley, Lower Kabete.

1988

PLANNING House

Relocate to PLANNING House on Lower Kabete Road — home to the studio for the next 35 years.

1990s

Fedha Towers & Lonrho House

First high-rise commission for the East African Building Society sets the template for landmarks that redefine the Nairobi skyline.

1993

Planning Interiors Limited

Launch a dedicated interiors practice to meet rising demand for specialised design.

2000s

Nation Centre & I&M Bank Tower

Take over Nation Centre from the late Henning Larsen and deliver landmark commercial towers alongside the Mombasa Serena Beach Hotel.

2012

World Design Impact Prize

The Community Cooker initiative is awarded the inaugural prize for waste-to-energy innovation.

2020s

Trade & Development Bank HQ

Three-sky-garden TDB headquarters on Lenana Road, Four Points by Sheraton JKIA and the Pangani Housing project mark a new era of resilient, mixed-income design.

2024

Zanzibar Coastal Resorts (Tanzania)

Complete landmark sustainable luxury hospitality projects on the Zanzibar coastline, including Bweju and Mangapwani developments.

Today

Third Generation

Led by Managing Director Henry Musangi across Nairobi and Mombasa, focused on resilience, climate-conscious design and urban transformation.

03 — OUR STORY TODAY

A third
generation.

Now in our third generation of leadership, under Managing Director Henry Musangi, we continue to expand our impact through our offices in Nairobi and Mombasa.

Our focus has evolved to meet the challenges of a changing world, with an emphatic focus on resilience, climate change, and urban transformation.

04 — PHILOSOPHY

Design that serves every community.

From large-scale master planning and the regeneration of the Nairobi Rivers to delivering dignified, low-income housing through projects like Pangani, we believe design can create sustainable, vibrant spaces for all socio-economic groups.

We remain dedicated to a philosophy that balances client requirements with a high regard for nature — ensuring every project provides the best possible value to the community.