Architect & Urban Planner

Building better cities and healthier communities across emerging markets.

The built environment shapes lives in meaningful ways. For twenty-five years I have been putting that belief into practice, delivering complex projects across Africa, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and Europe for development finance institutions, governments, international consultancies, NGOs, and private foundations.

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Architectural masterplans pinned to a building wall on site in Africa
Mark Warren
About

An architect with a global practice in development.

I am a licensed architect and urban planner with over 25 years of experience working across sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. My work focuses on the intersection of design, development finance, and sustainable impact — delivering projects that matter in places where they are needed most.

Throughout my career I have worked on complex, multi-stakeholder programs — both leading multidisciplinary teams and providing independent technical expertise — for development finance institutions including Swedfund, KfW, the Green Climate Fund, and UNEP, as well as for international consultancies, governments, and NGOs. My projects span healthcare facility planning, urban and regional planning, affordable housing, and climate-responsive infrastructure.

I bring a rare combination of design expertise and project management rigor — from concept and feasibility through to implementation, working with clients across the globe.

Licensed Architect State of California, USA
Member Royal Town Planning Institute (RTPI)
MSc Infrastructure Planning and Sustainable Development Oxford Brookes University
Master of Architecture Catholic University of America
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Services

Areas of expertise

I work as a technical expert and project lead, embedded within project teams or engaged directly by clients across the full project cycle.

Healthcare Facility Planning & Design

End-to-end advisory for hospitals, clinics, and specialist facilities — from feasibility and right-sizing through preliminary design and procurement support.

Urban & Regional Planning

Urban planning, urban design, and the strategic frameworks that translate complex goals into implementable outcomes for cities and regions.

Sustainable Development & Climate Resilience

Climate-responsive design strategies, sustainability assessments, and climate finance project development including funding agency application support.

Social & Affordable Housing

Housing program design, land readjustment strategies, help-to-own models, and delivery structure advisory for affordable housing programs.

Feasibility Studies & Investment Preparation

Pre-feasibility and full feasibility studies, capital cost analysis, funding proposal development, and project preparation for funder financing.

Project & Program Leadership

Multi-disciplinary team management, client liaison, stakeholder engagement, and delivery oversight for complex, multi-partner programs.

Selected Projects

A track record across sectors and regions

The following projects represent a selection of work spanning healthcare, urban planning, housing, and infrastructure across Africa, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia.

Urban & Regional Planning Kigali, Rwanda

Green City Kigali

Led the planning and design implementation program for a 600-hectare green city development, including a 16-hectare mixed-use affordable housing pilot of approximately 1,700 units. Managed all technical workstreams from feasibility study and urban design framework development through an international design competition conducted in partnership with RIBA, and full tender documentation. The concept masterplan was awarded the World Architecture Festival Future Project Masterplan Award, 2023.

Client: Sweco Group / FONERWA / KfW / Green Climate Fund
Urban & Regional Planning Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Green Riyadh — Zone 3

Project Director for one of the world's largest urban upgrading programs. Led the landscape design and engineering of 22 neighborhood upgrades across west Riyadh — an area the size of Amsterdam — managing a multidisciplinary team of 50+ staff and coordinating with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

Client: Sweco Group / Royal Commission for Riyadh City
Healthcare Cahul, Moldova

Cahul Regional Hospital

Technical advisor to project financier for the development of an approximately 200-bed tertiary hospital including radiotherapy and oncology facilities. Advisory scope includes feasibility study, concept design, and financial viability studies. Financed by Swedfund and the European Investment Bank.

Client: Swedfund / Ministry of Health Moldova / European Investment Bank
Urban & Regional Planning Al-Jouf, Saudi Arabia

Al-Jouf Regional Planning

Technical and project management expert on a regional and local planning initiative covering five governorates with a population of approximately 600,000. Advisory scope encompasses capacity building, governance, local plan development, stakeholder engagement, and regulatory framework design.

Client: Sweco Group / Development Authorities Support Center / Al-Jouf Strategic Development Office
Healthcare Kyiv, Ukraine

Prymula Rehabilitation Center

Technical advisor to project financier for the development of a rehabilitation and medical center in Kyiv. Advisory scope includes feasibility analysis, concept design, and financial viability studies, with support to full consultant procurement.

Client: Swedfund / UCCC / Ministry of Health Ukraine
Urban & Regional Planning Kigali, Rwanda

Ngaruyinka Urban Upgrade

Led development of an approved climate finance funding application, feasibility study, and land development plan for the upgrade of an informal settlement in Kigali — including housing solutions via land readjustment and densification, road improvements, a vocational school, and associated technical assistance.

Client: Sweco Group / Ministry of Environment Rwanda / FONERWA / Green Climate Fund
Healthcare Southeast Liberia

Southeast Teaching Hospital

Lead architect and senior project manager for a new $100M+ 300-bed referral teaching hospital — a first of its kind in Liberia. Designed for resilience in a resource-limited context, incorporating off-grid autonomous systems and low-tech, effective infection control solutions.

Client: Partners in Health / Ministry of Health Liberia
Healthcare Jakarta, Indonesia

Dharmais National Cancer Center

Technical advisor for a significant expansion and modernization program at Indonesia's national cancer center, including a multi-story tower with a comprehensive suite of oncology services. Leading preparation and support of consultant procurement, feasibility analysis, concept design, and financial viability studies.

Client: Swedfund / Dharmais National Cancer Center / Ministry of Health Indonesia
Community Infrastructure Sub-Saharan Africa

Football for Hope

Regional Program Manager for the transcontinental Football for Hope program, delivering twenty public health, education, and community development facilities across fifteen African nations. Projects utilized locally appropriate construction methods including CSEB, volcanic stone, bamboo, and vernacular timber.

Client: Architecture for Humanity / FIFA
Contact

Let's work together.

Whether you're developing a project from the ground up or need experienced technical input at a specific stage, I'd be glad to hear from you. Get in touch to discuss your project or explore how we might work together.

mark@markbwarren.com linkedin.com/in/markbwarren