House of ZKA is a multidisciplinary architecture consultancy founded by Zaid Kashef Alghata. Rooted in forward-thinking design research, the studio is committed to developing ecological and socially responsive architectural solutions. Since its founding in 2016, House of ZKA has brought together architects, designers, and planners to realize innovative projects that respond to today’s most pressing environmental and cultural challenges.
The practice pushes the boundaries of architectural thinking to enhance the quality of life and the environments we inhabit. With a focus on sustainability and technological innovation, House of ZKA operates at the intersection of architecture, culture, and emerging tools to produce adaptive and resilient design outcomes.
Guided by the belief that design not only shapes buildings but also the experiences of those who inhabit them—and the ecological systems they affect—the studio prioritizes creativity, sustainability, and collaboration in every project.
Over the years, House of ZKA has worked with a broad network of partners on projects ranging from large-scale urban interventions to intimate spatial installations. This collaborative ethos allows the studio to navigate complex challenges across scales and disciplines, always seeking to produce work that is both meaningful and impactful.
The studio maintains an ongoing partnership with the Hubei Province-based office ZCET, operating internationally under the pseudonym WEI+ZKA. This collaboration brings together expertise across geographies to deliver contextually attuned, innovative architectural solutions.
Zaid Kashef Alghata is a designer, researcher, and educator whose work operates at the intersection of built and natural environments. His practice emphasizes climate resilience, material culture, and the integration of computational design methods. He focuses on redefining architecture’s role in confronting global challenges, expanding the discipline to include non-civic structures, and promoting socially equitable design solutions.
His projects and research span diverse geographies and scales. His independent and collaborative work has been exhibited internationally, including at the Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture in Shenzhen, the Jai & Jai Gallery in Los Angeles, and the Museum of Modern Art in Bologna. His architectural experience includes contributions to projects with Gensler in Los Angeles and UNStudio in Hong Kong, encompassing cultural centers, mixed-use developments, and innovative urban strategies.
Zaid has held academic positions including the Favrot Visiting Professorship at Tulane University, where he served on the inaugural interdisciplinary Provost’s AI Committee on Research, and the Joseph F. Thomas Visiting Professorship at Carnegie Mellon University, where he initiated Architecture's Ecological Restructuring, a lecture series that convenes historians, theorists, researchers, and practitioners to challenge disciplinary boundaries. He has also taught at the Rhode Island School of Design, the Southern California Institute of Architecture, and Princeton University. His teaching integrates theoretical frameworks with applied methodologies, preparing students to engage contemporary challenges through innovative design practices.
Zaid’s academic and professional work reflects a commitment to bridging computational design and public engagement. He employs advanced geospatial analysis, machine learning pipelines, and participatory design techniques to develop accessible visualizations and resilient strategies for ecological planning. His recent projects address water resource management, urban resilience, and environmental justice—advancing his broader interest in architecture as a transformative agent.
He holds a Post-Professional Master of Architecture and a Certificate in Media & Modernity from Princeton University, a Bachelor of Architecture from the Southern California Institute of Architecture, and a Foundation Degree from the Architectural Association School of Architecture.