When you meet Lise Isaro Katangulia, two qualities immediately captivate you: her brilliance and calm demeanour. However, don’t be fooled by her tall and slender, model-like appearance, for she is also a young female architect who effortlessly manages projects far exceeding her petite stature.

If you meet her at Norrsken Kigali House, the largest hub for entrepreneurs in Africa, you might easily assume she is one of the young and dedicated entrepreneurs who frequent the Nyarugenge-based start-up hub, tirelessly working on their innovative ideas and crafting solutions.

Her mission at Norrsken is well underlined—overseeing the creation of what is known as Phase 3 of Norrsken Kigali House, a multi-storeyed building whose construction began in March.

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From its inception, the hub, under the guidance of Managing Director Pascal Murasira, has been diligently recording its achievements, showcasing not only rapid progress but also a strong commitment from both the client and the executor to adhere to their designated timelines.

However, behind the scenes, Isaro, a 29-year-old architect, has the responsibility of ensuring that the strict deadline, design perfection, and high expectations for the state-of-the-art four-story office building are met. Her role is to ensure that the final result aligns with the initial vision and meets all expectations.

Isaro is currently the lead architect at Atelier, which is responsible for the project in collaboration with Hygebat, another local construction firm, with a deadline to deliver by November this year.

The young architect who is also the founder of African Female Architects is making major moves in a male-dominated sector, and she has also been behind some of the most beautiful buildings in Kigali, including the new headquarters of CSS Zigama, located in town.

Isaro says her passion for architecture goes way back to high school, even though her childhood dream was to become a medical doctor.

"Initially, I wanted to be a doctor, but then I changed to animation. I was introduced to architecture at the age of 11. We had a family member who was an architect. I had never heard of architecture, honestly,” she recalls.

She never looked back. Engrossing herself in research and exploring the field of architecture, it quickly became evident that this path was the perfect fit for her. With her existing love for art and some knowledge of math, architecture seemed like the natural and ideal direction to pursue.

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At the time, she was studying at Kigali International Community School (KICS)—that was in 2010. She also drew inspiration from her hardworking and determined mother, even though she is not an architect, she is a woman who knows what she wants and goes after it.

Upon joining the industry, she noticed the gender gaps, with men dominating the sector, but today, she is noticing more women joining the erstwhile male-dominated sector, sitting on the decision-making table, and taking on big projects.

The world of architecture

Seniority holds significant value in the architecture industry, as it directly correlates with increased opportunities and respect. Isaro firmly believes that if experienced professionals can mentor and empower emerging female architects, it would have a profound impact.

"I believe the best way for those leading the field already for a long time is to give the opportunities to younger female architects, encourage them while they are still young, and change narratives about architecture or STEM-related careers,” she says.

Without deliberate effort, inclusiveness in male-dominated fields such as architecture and engineering can never be achieved. In her case, she has worked with male colleagues and employers who fully trust her to deliver the very best.

She, however, says those who fully understand that someone can deliver regardless of their gender are few, and, in her case, she has been able to prove that delivering is not based on gender but rather on one’s capacity, intelligence, education, and skills.

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Isaro has been put to the test several times to prove her capacity, but she believes it is not because she’s a woman, but rather these are challenges that come with most professions where clients put you to task to deliver the very best.

"I also do believe every career brings its own challenges, just like any other field. You have to persevere. So, one word is to keep persevering and prove them wrong,” she says, adding that on a personal note, her biggest challenge was finding female mentors in her field.

"There is a difference between having you lead as a woman and having someone who has mentored you, who has seen those issues and understands how to navigate them. The lack of mentors who are women in the field definitely affects us,” Isaro says when asked about the challenges she has faced thus far.

It is the same reason she established the African Female Architects network, to bring together women in the field to share ideas, and this has helped her and many others in many ways.

Through the network, she was able to connect with many female architects in Rwanda and on the continent, including the likes of Tosin Oshinowo and Mariam Issoufou Kamara from Nigeria, whom she looks up to.

"Creating this network has helped us encourage each other, learn from each other and it’s a different perspective, it’s a different area of encouragement and mentorship from woman to woman,” she says, adding that through the network she has met women doing great things across the continent.

Biggest achievements

Leading Phase 3 of Norrsken Kigali House and also being among the architects of CSS Zigama are so far her biggest projects, but it is just the beginning.

The two construction projects which are coincidentally close to each other, have not just inspired her but they have also given her the know-how to be where she wants to be.

Being the lead on the Norrsken project is particularly challenging because the expectations are very high. The hub is known to have well-curated artistic buildings with special features, and as the architect and design lead, it is her duty to see that every dot connects.

She is determined to face the challenge and deliver as expected, but she believes the pains and challenges she has to endure are the same as those faced by men. As an architect, the dream is always to hand over the project to a client, complete and on time.

In a sense, it is what drives her because not delivering as expected in architecture can be a major failure. The pains and fear turn into joy and the ultimate reward when you complete a project with high expectations.

Other challenges that come with being in the position she is in include procurement of the right materials and creating adaptive solutions.

Isaro considers herself as someone who has the calling to answer all the questions the world is asking today, whether it is places for people to live or work, in a more conducive environment, and as an architect, her job is to find answers through the designs she makes.

"I see that as a purpose of being in the field, improving lives through architecture, through sharing knowledge, through elevating people’s lives,” she says, adding that this can be achieved through early training of future architects.

Her mission is to teach and empower more women and girls to join the field of architecture. For young girls looking to venture into architecture, Isaro says it is a fun field and they shouldn’t fear.

"When you put your mind to it, you can do it, particularly in architecture. It’s a really fun field. It’s interesting and you have the opportunity to create more than you can think of, and create things that you can imagine.

"It’s not about math or the mystic things they say about this type of field. So, please go for it,” she says, adding that girls can go to whichever field they want and excel.

In 10 years, Isaro hopes to have her name written on Kigali’s skyline, call her ‘Rwanda’s Zaha Hadid’ if you wish, but that is the kind of impact she wants to create.

"I see myself leading life-changing projects, shaping the skyline of the country and the skyline of the continent,” the architect says, adding that she also hopes to grow her own firm or even work on a venture with others.

"This is a field that I’m very much willing to explore and push the limits, regardless of the boundaries there, I want to keep going. I want to keep pushing while being an architect,” she says.

Her advice for women is to give back by sharing their skills and resources with fellow women, as well as their communities and families. By doing so, people are empowered and have the opportunity to learn from one another.