Hi Friends,
Today, I have the pleasure to invite you to the world of architecture through the lens of my favorite architect – my sister Kathleen. She calls architecture her form of art and her expression of creativity. Trained as an architect in Europe, she brings her talents to life in West Africa.
Kathleen explains: “Soulful architecture focuses on crafting spaces and structures that resonate deeply with our physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Great architecture doesn’t just exist; it nurtures the human spirit and interacts with us, shaping how we feel and how we perceive the world around us. Soulful spaces create a profound connection – both to our surrounding and to ourselves”.
Watching Kathleen at work, it becomes clear that soulful architecture is not just about grand gestures, but it extends to the details of daily life. A kitchen table bathed in natural light, for example, can transform the simple act of making tea into a sensory experience. These small, intentional details connect us to our surroundings, reminding us that beauty is not confined to aesthetics—it lives in the way spaces make us feel.Kathleen begins every project with a simple question: How do I want this space to feel? From there, she works backward, letting this intention guide her draft sketches and designs.
She believes every design can be functional and beautiful, practical and poetic. In the work process she uses her technical skills but also her deep sensitivity to the needs and dreams of others. She is a dreamcatcher. Her visionary architecture embodies comfort, beauty, and wellness.
Without further ado, I am excited to share my poem “The Architect”, a tribute to Kathleen’s art and her ability to create soulful spaces.
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The Architect
My sister’s art is architecture.She is an architect.She is a builder,working with earth, stone, sand, and water—air and light.
She conjures the mysteries of mathematics, crafting balance, style, and symmetry.Quietly she draws her plans,envisioning with precision,each line a whisper of possibility.
In heavy boots,she strides through muddy construction sites,teaching hands to gently balancethe raw elements into spacesthat float with light.
My sister is a dreamcatcher.She listens to the visions of others and shapes them into form.Her work is soulful, building homes that breathe, spaces where life unfolds.
Through her craft,she mirrors what I seek within myself—to sculpt balance and beauty,to fashion a home in my own heart, a space to hold both myself and others.
My sister is a Soul Architect.Her house, perched on a mountain crest, overlooks the restless ocean of the African West Coast. Wide open spaces,clear lines,windows that welcome the breath of the sea, cooling Sierra Leone’s tropical heat.
Her home is a symphony. At its entrance,a generous wooden door, twice my height,beckons to another world.Inside, the sitting room rises to a mezzanine that stretches into a ceiling of dreamy star lights.
Her home is art,soft with the signature of her soul,infused with her attention to detail.She shows that space can hold spirit,that walls can cradle light and love.
On her kitchen table, a glass of ruby-red tea glows, its colors a blend of Hibiscus, Moringa,Peppermint, Cloves, and Turmeric.
She says, “Good morning, Rose. Did you sleep well?”Her voice, warm as the teathat she pours and sweetens with local honey.The light from the ocean streams through the windows,catching the tea’s radiant blush.
This is soul work—a symphony for the senses.A masterpiece in every detail.
Prompts for reflection:
* What does your ideal living space look and feel like? How does it reflect your personality and values? What would you like your living space to say about you?
* If you could design a space that represents your dreams, what would it include?
* How can you bring more creativity into your everyday environment?
* What small rituals (e.g., making tea, reading by a window) bring you a sense of peace and connection to your surroundings?
Quotes:
“In a busy world, and as an architect working in Sierra Leone, West Africa, I find joy in creating spaces that invite you to experience calm and harmony – offering a sanctuary for the soul.” — Kathleen Jah-Davies
“Architecture should speak of its time and place, but yearn for timelessness.” — Frank Gehry
“Every great architect is—necessarily—a great poet. He must be a great original interpreter of his time, his day, his age.” — Frank Lloyd Wright
“All architecture is shelter, all great architecture is the design of space that contains, cuddles, exalts, or stimulates the persons in that space.” — Philip Johnson
“There is a deeply human desire to create spaces that reflect who we are, what we believe, and how we want to live.” — Bjarke Ingels
💛If this resonates with you, it will mean a lot to me if you subscribe to my newsletter, share it, or leave a comment further below.💛
Love 💛Rose
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