Francis Fatade: From Archiponics Kitchens to Modular Rooftop Retreats—Redefining Urban Living, Built In-House

Big pressures are overwhelming modern cities: spaces are becoming denser while resources are becoming scarcer, disruptions in global supply chains affect urban life, and housing is becoming an increasingly urgent need.

In these times, we need faster, more adaptive building systems that can stand its ground alongside skyrocketing urban real estate costs and climate-driven resource scarcity. One architect and designer recognizes this.

Meet Francis Fatade, founder and lead designer of FatAtelier, who has built a rare “design-to-make” practice.

With digital concept, factory fabrication, and final installation all under one roof, Fatade’s work fuses sustainability, modularity, and hands-on craftsmanship to solve three pressing urban challenges: limited space, food security, and environmental impact.

He explains: “My techniques integrate robotics and CNC into architectural practice, expanding designers' roles to include execution. This creates immediate feedback, testing, and refinement—shifting industry norms toward in-house prototyping and fabrication.”

Everything starts with a digital design that can be prototyped and tested before it reaches the fabrication stage, reducing delays and mistakes. Off-site building and on-site installation aren’t just more efficient; they also cut costs and avoid disruptions.

The Designer Behind the Movement

Design-to-make, as a practice, is led by Fatade. Growing up in Nigeria, Fatade had an early affinity for making things — partly influenced by his environment. As he recounts: “After secondary school, each day, I would spend time on the street near my home, learning from local tradespeople—the carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and welders. Over the six years of secondary school, I picked up practical skills in all these trades.”

With all the skills in the trade, Fatade initially intended to be a mechanical engineer, but his advisers influenced him to take another path. He was a multi-hyphenate at a young age, a sculptor and painter. This led him to choose architecture. He shares: “Combining my hands-on fabrication skills with my artistic talent made architecture the perfect fit. I pursued it, studied it, and found it incredibly fulfilling.”

His academic foundation was established at the University of Lagos, where he earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees. He was repeatedly recognized as the best design student with consistently top grades in studio work. Shortly after his education, he then won the prestigious African Union of Architects (AUA) Award in 2012 for his innovative housing competition entry, "Beyond Housing.” He was subsequently recognized in the Nigerian press.

After a few stints as an architectural designer in Nigeria, he relocated to the United States, where he started building his expertise and leadership. Currently, he is the lead architectural designer at FatAtelier in Newark, New Jersey, where he integrates modular architecture into his projects while delivering high-end bespoke interiors for his clients. He is also a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), actively participating in critiques and juries for competitions.

In this process, he has developed his niche: the design-to-make philosophy.

The Design-to-Make Philosophy: Full Control, Zero Compromise

Design-to-make, as a practice, is led by Fatade. Growing up in Nigeria, Fatade had an early affinity for making things — partly influenced by his environment. As he recounts: “After secondary school, each day, I would spend time on the street near my home, learning from local tradespeople—the carpenters, plumbers, electricians, and welders. Over the six years of secondary school, I picked up practical skills in all these trades.”

With all the skills in the trade, Fatade initially intended to be a mechanical engineer, but his advisers influenced him to take another path. He was a multi-hyphenate at a young age, a sculptor and painter. This led him to choose architecture. He shares: “Combining my hands-on fabrication skills with my artistic talent made architecture the perfect fit. I pursued it, studied it, and found it incredibly fulfilling.”

His academic foundation was established at the University of Lagos, where he earned both his undergraduate and master’s degrees. He was repeatedly recognized as the best design student with consistently top grades in studio work. Shortly after his education, he then won the prestigious African Union of Architects (AUA) Award in 2012 for his innovative housing competition entry, "Beyond Housing.” He was subsequently recognized in the Nigerian press.

After a few stints as an architectural designer in Nigeria, he relocated to the United States, where he started building his expertise and leadership. Currently, he is the lead architectural designer at FatAtelier in Newark, New Jersey, where he integrates modular architecture into his projects while delivering high-end bespoke interiors for his clients. He is also a member of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), actively participating in critiques and juries for competitions.

In this process, he has developed his niche: the design-to-make philosophy.

The Design-to-Make Philosophy: Full Control, Zero Compromise

Traditional architects usually hand off drawings to contractors. The separation allows both the architect and the contractor to focus on their respective specialties — the architect on design and planning, and the contractor on construction. However, this method can fall short in several ways. The design's intent can be misinterpreted, or there may be unnecessary delays due to back-and-forth between the architect and the contractor.

Worse, the design quality may degrade after execution, and there’s limited ability to iterate on it once construction begins. With the design-to-make philosophy, Fatade breaks down the separation between architect and contractor to fully embody both niches. Fatade operates as both the visionary designer and fabricator.

He shares: “I've created a new niche: 'design to make’," integrating robotic CNC and in-house fabrication into architecture. This empowers designers to move beyond paper, test ideas in real time, and execute with feedback loops.”

In his Newark studio, his teams use Fusion 360 modeling, CNC machines, robotic welding, and precision carpentry to bring concepts to life with tolerances measured in millimeters. As a result, every joint, finish, and system is perfected in-house before it ever reaches a job site. Everything can be prototyped and tested, reducing delays and potential quality issues.

He continues: “My techniques integrate robotics and CNC into architectural practice, expanding designers' roles to include execution. This creates immediate feedback, testing, and refinement—shifting industry norms toward in-house prototyping and fabrication.”

With this kind of end-to-end mastery, more design possibilities have opened. For example, Fatade led the development of a revolutionary modular rooftop and spearheaded the integration of Archiponics into interiors.

His work ethic and innovation have been noted by his colleagues, like Stacy Ann Wilkins, a licensed real estate broker, who says: “He is an excellent problem solver. While others might see a layout issue as a roadblock, Francis sees it as an opportunity to innovate.”

Ali Hasan, Project Manager at SMART BUILD, has also witnessed Fatade’s expertise firsthand: “Francis brings his talent and passion to every project, truly bringing the architectural vision to life in remarkable ways.

“What I admire most is how Francis collaborates effectively, helping bridge what makes sense on site versus what’s on paper.

He adds: “In our multiple Amenity Projects, Francis has always been proactive in discussing better solutions and ensuring durability, even assisting with additional submittals for approvals.

“Francis goes the extra mile in showcasing his expertise by providing thoughtful suggestions and detailed drawings that perfectly illustrate his architectural vision.”

Modular Rooftop Retreats: Luxury Additions Without the Chaos

One of Fatade’s most iconic projects is the Jersey City Solarium. He took on the project with just his creativity and skills, transforming an underused urban rooftop into a serene, high-end living space. The project was intended for a private residence that so happened to overlook the Hudson River. There were challenges, like any other project: tight site access or noise restrictions, for example.

However, Fatade didn’t let any of it stop him. He took a radical approach: modular architecture—a form of construction that divides the design into distinct parts, designing and producing them separately off-site before installing them together on-site. His team used this approach, designing and fabricating every component, from structural frames to tempered glass walls and motorized privacy blinds.

As soon as production was complete, the pieces were disassembled, craned to the rooftop, and reassembled quickly. In fact, the whole process took days instead of months.

The result was breathtaking. The pavilion would be filled with light during the day, and it would integrate seamlessly with the rest of the building. Anyone going up the rooftop could take a breather inside the building while enjoying the panoramic views. It offered year-round usability, and the amenities Fatade designed were more than useful. Instant privacy was possible with the motorized blinds, alongside proper climate control, and the premium decking allowed for indoor-outdoor flow.

Building everything off-site allowed Fatade to eliminate the problems that typically come with traditional architecture and design approaches, including on-site labor. While it definitely cuts costs, Fatade positions modular architecture not as a budget solution, but as a beneficial approach to vertical expansion in dense American cities. With it, everything is faster, cleaner, and more sustainable — all critical aspects in addressing the need for more housing in the country.

Archiponics: Self-Sustaining Kitchens That Grow Their Own Food

If the solarium project showed off Fatade’s skill in implementing modular construction, his Archiponics concept showcases his grasp of interior sustainability. Archiponics is a result of Fatade’s years of experience in architectural experimentation. The concept reimagines hydroponics, aeroponics, and aquaponics as elegant, integrated systems within the home, rather than how they're usually portrayed: clunky racks that interrupt a living space rather than being seamless with it.

With Archiponics, Fatade embeds the art of plant cultivation directly into premium cabinetry, walls, and millwork designs. As a result, he creates beautiful, self-sustaining ecosystems that boast high-end design. He expounds: “It integrates plant growth systems—growing edible foods and greenery—seamlessly into luxury or functional spaces without disrupting aesthetics or functionality.”

As he points out, most traditional hydroponics set-ups look like science experiments. Instead of blending seamlessly with the living space, hydroponics set-ups look out of place, despite the functionality and benefits it can offer.

One of his first Archiponics designs was for his accountant. He brought back the childhood memory of the backyard garden into the hydroponics setup, saying: “I incorporated Archiponics with minimalist materials, focusing on greenery (edible plants included). It transformed a paperwork-heavy space into one that feels alive and connected to nature, like paper (from trees) returning to plants.”

Fatade also stressed the need for functionality and aesthetics to coexist with his designs. In designing Archiponics for the kitchen, he says, “I believe kitchens should remain fundamentally functional for food preparation while being beautiful. Archiponics brings that back, turning cabinetry into dynamic ecosystems for growth, without sacrificing luxury aesthetics.”

Perhaps his flagship showcase, Diamond Cube, is also the best example. It’s a fully shop-built, modular, sustainable lakeside cottage that incorporates Archiponics throughout its structure.

It features the iconic Archiponics indoor greenery, resin-infused bamboo, rainwater systems, geothermal HVAC, and Tesla Powerwall integration.

Fatade is now scaling the same philosophy to full residential development. His next project, The Blend, is another first-of-its-kind modular residential development in Newark with a target budget of $950,000 to $1.2 million—every module pre-constructed in FatAtelier's factory space before on-site assembly, bringing design-to-make from single installations to housing itself

This innovation addresses food security and environmental impact head-on, offering a model for resource-efficient homes that can be replicated in urban or modular contexts. Fatade is actively developing and testing Archiponics in ongoing residential and commercial projects, positioning it as a patentable system for the next generation of self-sufficient architecture.

Redefining Urban Living for the Long Term

Through FatAtelier, Fatade is proving that architects aren’t just planners. Designers can also be as hands-on as the next builder and execute every idea well. By merging in-house fabrication mastery with visionary concepts like Archiponics and modular rooftops, he delivers adaptive, future-proof spaces that meet today’s urban realities while anticipating tomorrow’s needs.

In emerging cities like Newark and beyond, his work continues to build resilience, sustainability, and a higher quality of life. His work reverberates: KC Ochibili, a software developer and colleague, remembers him well: “Being around him has rubbed off in the best way. I've learned so much about how to propel yourself forward faster,” he says.

“Francis is a true doer—he researches something in two minutes and then jumps straight into action. I've become much more action-oriented because of him.”

For entrepreneurs, developers, and city planners watching the housing crisis unfold, Fatade’s design-to-make model offers a compelling blueprint: control the process, innovate boldly, and create homes that both shelter and sustain people.

About the Author
Sowmiya Sri Mani is a writer for Business Fortune, covering AI, Robotics, Software, Entrepreneurship, and Opinion. She delivers clear and engaging insights on emerging trends and industrial developments, helping readers understand the evolving landscape of technology and innovation.