How Mekon Arch Consult Ltd uses art to visualize ambitions of customers

Mekon Arch Consult Limited (MACL) has taught us one thing in the world, passion is key towards prosperity.

They started from the very bottom to become a credible, trusted and an accomplished firm in the construction industry.

A company is with rare experience of the Top 100 survey, however, they are determined to continue leave a mark in the design and building fraternity.

The group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Moses Mkony today shares the secret behind the rise of the company, sector’s status and Top 100 insights.

About the company

Mekon Arch Consult Limited (MACL) is a diversified architectural firm founded in 1986 and incorporated in Tanzania as Limited Company in 1991.

From this period 21 years of its operation MACL has expanded and progressed to all major areas of architectural consultancy and has implemented more than 70 projects in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar.

Sponsors of these projects include international organizations such as The World Bank, SIDA, ADB, PLAN INTERNATIONAL, Private sector cooperations, Parastatal organizations, Institutions, NGO’s and the Government of Tanzania.

The MACL approach to delivering technical and Project Management Services reflects its awareness of the ways in which policy reform, economic growth, and individual welfare are related.

MACL has a reputation for designing buildings which fully satisfy client requirements, offer commercially viable solutions on difficult sites, integrate successfully into their surroundings and are appreciated by building users, the general public and local authority, planners and alike.

The group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Moses Mkony attributes company’s rise to the passion, a scrap of his own family background. He was inspired by the sudden loss of his parents and eagerness of not wanting to lose in real life.

What is it hard to design in architecture?

Nothing hard to design unless you don’t have a clear picture of what your client want. A project with just limited budget can be hard to implement in terms of cost but not beauty. Architects use art to realize client’s dream into a space and then transform sketch on the board into physical aspect and thus what we do here at Meckon Arch Consult Limited.

How do you see the construction sector? Any potentials for its growth?

Construction industry is the determinant of the country’s economy. If construction is stagnated, that means seeing buildings with no roofs or incomplete, people can’t afford to purchase houses, just no progress, then something should be wrong with an economy. The sector has traversed from micro to mega construction, translating into extensive funds reallocation to mega construction such as railways, road systems, bridges etc. The worst part of this fast-forward transformation is that, it has occurred while majority of the people still hinge on micro construction to date. To our surprise, mega constructions in this country have not induced longed-for impacts compared to the underrated micros, take a look at Mlimani City project.

Why do Mid-sized Companies need events like Top 100?

I view Top 100 as the crusade to encourage entrepreneurs. There are number of promising entrepreneurs who are shrouded in misunderstanding despite the fact that they are doing well in their activities. Attention has been directed to the large companies with having all of the media platforms aired advertisements, that atmosphere overshadow the existence of these Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and role they play in the nation building. You would certainly start arguing that advertising industry is not fixated on growing SMEs the way things move on and set.

What should be done to improve the Top 100 survey?

To make it more captivating and flourish, don’t squeeze these Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) dry, terms and conditions to apply for entry should be stringent. Organizers have to find ways to make it as a progressive platform as possible because one will question the value of the survey if it all ends after that night. The next morning, we don’t hear anymore of those Mid-sized companies that can’t afford to advertise in the media. I see a valid reason to fund for those companies that have no other platform to sell their names except in Top 100.

How did it go with your participation on the survey?

Unfortunately, I didn’t attend this year, however, I can admit that, I enjoy sharing the same stage with other Mid-sized companies. Last time, I was surrounded by the younger faces especially ladies making me feel so juvenile, this was best moment in the survey.

What are sort of things you are proud of as founder and CEO of MACL?

I thank God that I leveraged on opportunity came in a way to create many buildings in this world through my prowess, an estimate of 100 buildings. And I am very proud to enter this sector’s space, with a lot of investment and my visual realities are seen in the number of the projects such as TANESCO Office at Station, Posta, University of Dodoma Administrative block, Tourism College at Posta etc.

The other achievements is that as father, I paved the way for my siblings to follow my footsteps. Many people would think this was my succession plan, but never, my children grew up knowing that the only job in this world is architecture as my office was located at home. They were gradually captivated to passionately learn about models and designs by themselves and find it interesting to date. Therefore, I am very happy that my three children are architects (two girls and one boy), so even if I die I know there are people who are going to cover my place perfectly.

What are missing gap in architecture?

If you can’t secure any project in the world of architects regardless how good you are, you are gone. In professional etiquette, architectural companies are not supposed to advertise but in real world, sector’s survival is on the hands of marketing. Therefore, I see a challenge of how to market in this field.