My name is Zuzana Basandova and I am the founder of ZURI architecture. My travels are my biggest source of inspiration and energy. I use this inspiration to shapes my future projects. Countries close to the equator are especially close to my heart, with their colorful environment and passionate outdoor life-styles.

My dogs have taught me to actually spend a lot of time outside and observe life in gardens, fields, and forests. They taught me to respect the natural environment we live in and to utilize its beauty to benefit people.

Although I was born in the small central Europe country, Slovakia, for a long time I have been attracted to equatorial exotic countries, especially in Africa. In order to study architecture in combination with African or tropical environment, I decided to study my Masters degree at the University of Technology in Eindhoven in the Netherlands. As I found out during my studies, the Netherlands had various connections with Uganda where I took my field trip for my graduation thesis. This visit brought me many memories and valuable contacts which inspired me to continue with my thesis after I graduated. Uganda has a close economical relationship with its more developed neighbor, Kenya. In many ways Kenya is Ugandan’s source of inspiration. The capital city, Nairobi, is surprisingly much more developed than one would expect, and more attracted by foreign people. No wonder I have ended up in the real estate company, Lordship Africa, which is originally based in the Czech republic and Slovakia. After years spent abroad I returned back to my home country, but I still refuel in countries like Oman or Dominican Republic every few months.