David Adjaye facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir
David Adjaye
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David Frank Adjaye
22 September 1966 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
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| Nationality | Ghanaian-British |
| Alma mater | Royal College of Art, London South Bank University |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | 2021 Royal Gold Medal, 2021 Crystal Award, 2020 Isamu Noguchi Award |
| Practice | Adjaye Associates |
| Buildings | National Museum of African American History and Culture 130 William Abrahamic Family House Skolkovo Moscow School of Management Rivington Place Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library |
Sir David Frank Adjaye, born on September 22, 1966, is a famous Ghanaian-British architect. He has designed many important buildings all over the world. One of his most well-known designs is the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, D.C.
David Adjaye was honored with a knighthood in 2017 for his great work in architecture. In 2021, he received the Royal Gold Medal. This made him the first African person and one of the youngest to ever receive this award. He was also appointed to the Order of Merit in 2022.
Early Life and Education
David Adjaye was born in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. His father was a diplomat from Ghana. Because of his father's job, David lived in many different countries. These included Tanzania, Egypt, Yemen, and Lebanon. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Britain.
In 1990, he earned a degree in architecture from London South Bank University. He won the RIBA Bronze Medal for his excellent undergraduate design project. Later, in 1993, he completed his master's degree at the Royal College of Art.
Career Highlights
Early Building Projects
David Adjaye's first projects were often homes for people. He designed houses for artists like Chris Ofili in 1999 and Lorna Simpson in 2006. He also designed the Dirty House and Glass House in 2002.
After these homes, he started working on bigger buildings. These included the Idea Store in Whitechapel, UK, and the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway. Both of these larger projects were finished in 2005.
His first art show about his work was called David Adjaye: Making Public Buildings. It was shown in London in 2006. He also published his first book, David Adjaye Houses, in 2005. Other important early works include the Bernie Grant Arts Centre and the Stephen Lawrence Centre, both completed in 2007.
Major Architectural Works
Adjaye was chosen to design the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver, which opened in 2007. This was his first museum project. He designed it so that the inside of the museum felt connected to the city outside. Hidden skylights bring natural light into the galleries. Large windows offer views of the city streets. The building has five galleries, plus spaces for education, a shop, a library, and a rooftop café.
He also won a competition to design the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo. This building was finished in 2010. Instead of many separate buildings, it was designed as one large shape. This encourages students to interact more with each other.
Adjaye designed two new libraries in Washington, D.C. These were the Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library and the Bellevue / William O. Lockridge Library. They both opened in 2012. These libraries have won awards and are seen as important community places.
In 2015, the Aishti Foundation opened in Beirut, Lebanon. This building combines an art gallery with retail shops. The gallery space is very large, over 40,000 square feet. Adjaye's design brings together art viewing and shopping in a unique way.
One of his most famous projects is the National Museum of African American History and Culture. He was chosen as the lead architect for this museum in 2009. It is part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. His design includes a special crown shape inspired by Yoruba art. The museum opened in 2016. The New York Times called it "the cultural event of the year."
In 2019, Ruby City opened in San Antonio, Texas. This contemporary art center was designed by Adjaye for artist Linda Pace. She wanted a place for her art collection.
Adjaye also designed a new space for the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East union in New York. This project was completed in 2020. The design features hundreds of photos from the union's history on ceramic tiles.
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The Winter Park Library and Events Center in Winter Park, Florida, opened in 2021. Adjaye worked with HuntonBrady Architects on its design. In 2022, it won an award in the Library Category for the Architizer A+ Awards.
In 2023, Adjaye's first permanent public sculpture was revealed. It is called Asaase III and is located at The Griot Museum of Black History in St. Louis, Missouri.
Other Creative Works
Besides large buildings, Adjaye has designed homes for many famous people. These include fashion designer Alexander McQueen, photographer Jürgen Teller, and actor Ewan McGregor. He also designed a studio and beach house for artist Chris Ofili in Trinidad.
Adjaye often works with contemporary artists on art installations and exhibitions. He worked with Chris Ofili on The Upper Room. He also collaborated with artist Olafur Eliasson on a light installation called Your black horizon for the 2005 Venice Biennale. He helped design the 56th Venice Art Biennale and the Ghana Freedom Pavilion for the 58th Venice Art Biennale.
He has also been involved in television and radio. He co-wrote two seasons of the BBC show Dreamspaces. In 2005, he presented a documentary called Building Africa: Architecture of a Continent. He has also published books about his work, including Adjaye Works 1995–2007 and Adjaye Works 2007 - 2015.
Recent Projects
In 2015, Adjaye was asked to design a new home for the Studio Museum in Harlem. In 2018, his designs for the National Cathedral of Ghana were shown by the Ghanaian president.
In 2020, Adjaye revealed designs for the Princeton University Art Museum. He also designed the Thabo Mbeki Presidential Library and The Martyrs Memorial in Niamey, Niger. That same year, he shared his ideas for the Museum of West African Art in Benin City, Nigeria. This museum will hold historic art and also feature modern art.
In 2021, Adjaye showed his designs for new District Hospitals across Ghana. He also designed The Africa Institute in Sharjah, UAE. The Cherry Groce Memorial Pavilion in Brixton was completed in 2021. This memorial honors Cherry Groce.
In 2022, plans were revealed for the new W. E. B. Du Bois Museum Complex in Accra, Ghana, also designed by Adjaye. In October 2022, Grinnell College approved construction of a new project designed by Adjaye, set to open in 2024.
His other recent works include interiors for The Webster in Los Angeles (2020) and Ruby City in San Antonio, Texas (2019). He also designed the Sugar Hill Mixed-Use Development in Harlem, New York (2015) and the Aïshti Foundation in Beirut, Lebanon (2015).
His design for the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, UAE, opened in 2023. This special place has a mosque, a church, and a synagogue. It celebrates three major religions and includes a cultural center to promote respect and peace.
In 2024, the Bank of Ghana opened Bank Square in Accra, designed by Adjaye Associates. A Ghanaian politician called it "one of the most impressive financial houses in the whole of Africa."
Firm Operations
Adjaye started his own company, Adjaye Associates, in 2000. His company now works all over the world. They have offices in Accra, London, and New York. They have completed projects in Europe, North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.
In March 2024, Adjaye Associates announced new leaders for its three global studios. Lucy Tilley, Pascale Sablan, and Kofi Bio now lead the London, New York, and Accra offices. David Adjaye remains the main architect, guiding the design work.
Academic Roles
Adjaye has held important teaching positions at universities. He was the first Louis Kahn visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania. He was also the Kenzo Tange Professor in Architecture at Harvard Graduate School of Design. He is a member of several important architectural groups and advisory boards.
Personal Life
David Adjaye's younger brother, James Adjaye, is a stem cell scientist. In 2014, David married Ashley Shaw-Scott in London. His brother Peter Adjaye is a musician, and they have worked together on projects.
In 2018, David Adjaye helped organize an auction with Bono and Theaster Gates. This event raised money to support the Global Fund's work against AIDS. They raised $10.5 million, including matching funds from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Awards and Honours
David Adjaye has received many awards for his architectural work. In 2006, he was considered for the Stirling Prize for the Whitechapel Idea Store. He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2007 for his contributions to British architecture.
In 2016, he received the McDermott award from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He was also elected to the American Philosophical Society. In 2017, he was knighted for his services to architecture. In 2018, he received the Washington University International Humanities Medal.
In October 2020, Adjaye was announced as the winner of the RIBA Royal Gold Medal for 2021. This award is given each year by the Royal Institute of British Architects for major contributions to international architecture.
Here are some of his awards:
- RIBA Bronze Medal for Architecture Students - 1990
- Design Futures Council Senior Fellow
- Design Miami/ Designer of the Year Award - 2011
- Powerlist: Britain's Most Influential Black Person - 2012
- Eugene McDermott Award in the Arts at MIT - 2016
- Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People - 2017
- Ghana Legacy Honors Impact in Architecture Award
- AJ100 Contribution to the Profession Award - 2018
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial Award - 2018
- Louis I. Khan Memorial Award - 2018
- Isamu Noguchi Award from the Noguchi Museum. - 2020
- RIBA Royal Gold Medal - 2021
- Crystal Award - 2021
- Charlotte Perriand Award - 2022
- TIME100 Impact Award - 2022
- Order of Merit - 2022.
Images for kids
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Abrahamic Family House, Abu Dhabi
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Bank Square, Bank of Ghana, Accra designed by Adjaye Associates
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Winter Park Library & Events Center
See also
In Spanish: David Adjaye para niños
