As the co-founder of renowned structural engineering firm AKT II, Kara has been a leading advocate of interdisciplinary collaborations and approaches to the built environment, as well as realising some of the most recognisable architectural projects across the globe.

Since 1996, Hanif Kara has played a significant role in the design of four Stirling Prize-winning buildings: Peckham Library, London (2000); Sainsbury Laboratory, Cambridge (2012); Bloomberg’s European headquarters, London (2018); Kingston University London – Town House, London (2021). Other notable projects include Apple Campus 2 in Cupertino, Google’s London HQ, and currently the new London Museum, soon to open in Smithfield, London’s former Victorian meat market. In realising these projects, Kara has worked alongside globally acclaimed practices such as Zaha Hadid Architects, David Chipperfield, Herzog & de Meuron and Norman Foster and Partners.

A man stands in front of a podium with a small microphone, and a red screen behind him. He is wearing a suit and smiling.

Kara’s practice draws on expertise across engineering, design and architecture, challenging the traditional role of a structural engineer to find solutions to the most complex problems, from building in the face of the climate emergency to the engineering of gravity. A desire to preserve and build for re-use is now at the core of Kara’s work as he looks to new, innovative materials and techniques to mitigate, and in some cases reverse, the environmental impact of construction.

Alongside his practice, Kara is widely recognised for his sustained commitment to education and mentoring. Kara has supported numerous early-career artists, architects and engineers through the experimental stages of their work, while also holding teaching positions at institutions across the world, including the Architecture Association, KHT Stockholm and the RCA. Following the publication of his book Design Engineering: AKT (2008), Kara took up a post at Harvard’s Graduate School of Design, where he is currently one of the longest serving professors.

This year, the Soane Medal Lecture was hosted at the Royal Academy of Arts for the first time. You can watch Hanif's full lecture below.