Long before he knew it himself, Selomi Nganga’s family and friends knew he would be an architect someday. He began sketching – first Disney characters, then cars and buildings – at the age of 5 and hasn’t stopped since.
Selomi was born and raised in Angola but moved to South Africa in 1999, during a period of major fighting in the country’s civil war. He graduated from Tshwane University of Technology in South Africa with a bachelor’s degree in Architectural Technology in 2008 and a Master of Architecture in 2010. His Master’s thesis designed a community center and kindergarten to promote economic independence for women and prevent domestic violence.
Selomi practiced as an independent licensed architect in Angola for nearly a decade – designing buildings at every scale from single-family homes to university facilities – before moving to the United States with his family. He joined Kaplan Thompson Architects in 2021 and dove headfirst into learning cold-climate building science (and enjoying a proper, snowy winter!). From sketch to BIM model to final construction, he integrates the principles of variety, richness, and harmony into his work and recognizes the strength of a gentle touch.
Selomi believes deeply in creating democratic spaces that maximize the degree of choices available to users. ”Design should be fun and focused on those we design for, people. Buildings – regardless of their size or function – must be responsive to a user’s needs and offer enrichment through new opportunities.” Fundamental to a building’s ability to serve people now and in the long term, he further asserts, is environmentally-conscious design. “Sustainable architecture minimizes the negative environmental impacts of buildings by enhancing efficiency and moderating the use of materials. The result is something that improves the standard of living of its occupants, provides the desired level of comfort, and reduces the costs of living in and maintaining the building over time.”
The level of care Selomi brings to his professional endeavors mirrors his personal life, where he spends as much time as possible with his wife and two children, Zenden and Kathleen. He loves practicing his faith, as well as fishing, cycling, and getting outdoors with those he loves.