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 is a famous architect from Ghana and Britain. He was born on September 22, 1966. He has designed many amazing 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. This means he can be called "Sir." In 2021, he won the Royal Gold Medal, which is a very important award for architects. He was the first African person and one of the youngest to receive it. In 2022, he was also given the Order of Merit, another special honor.
Contents
Becoming an Architect
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 when he was young. These included Tanzania, Egypt, Yemen, and Lebanon. When he was nine years old, his family moved to Britain.
David studied architecture at London South Bank University. He earned his first degree in 1990. He was very good at design and won the RIBA Bronze Medal. This award is given for the best student design project in the UK. Later, in 1993, he earned a master's degree from the Royal College of Art.
Amazing Buildings and Projects
Early Designs
David Adjaye started his career by designing homes for people. Some of his early projects included houses for artists like Chris Ofili and Lorna Simpson. He also designed unique buildings like the Dirty House and Glass House.
After these homes, he began working on bigger projects. These included the Idea Store in Whitechapel, UK, and the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway. These projects helped him become well-known.
In 2006, David Adjaye had his first art show about his work. It was called David Adjaye: Making Public Buildings. He also wrote his first book, David Adjaye Houses, in 2005. Other important early works include the Bernie Grant Arts Centre and the Stephen Lawrence Centre.
Major Buildings Around the World
David Adjaye has designed many important buildings across the globe.
- Museum of Contemporary Art Denver: In 2007, he designed the Museum of Contemporary Art Denver in the USA. This was his first museum project. He wanted the building to feel connected to the city outside. It has hidden skylights that let in natural light and big windows that show the city streets.
- Moscow School of Management Skolkovo: He won a competition to design the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo in Russia, finished in 2010. Instead of many separate buildings, he designed it as one big shape. This helps students interact more easily.
- Washington, D.C. Libraries: In 2012, he designed two new libraries in Washington, D.C. These were the Francis A. Gregory Neighborhood Library and the Bellevue / William O. Lockridge Library. These libraries are known for being important places for their communities.
- Aishti Foundation: In 2015, the Aishti Foundation opened in Beirut, Lebanon. It's a unique building that combines an art gallery with shops. Adjaye's design brings together art viewing and shopping in a new way.
- National Museum of African American History and Culture: In 2009, David Adjaye was chosen to lead the design of the new National Museum of African American History and Culture. This museum is part of the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. His design was inspired by a crown shape from Yoruba art. The museum opened in 2016 and was called "the cultural event of the year" by The New York Times.
- Ruby City: In 2019, Ruby City opened in San Antonio, Texas. This art center was designed by Adjaye for artist Linda Pace to hold her art collection.
- 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East: In 2020, he completed a new space for the 1199SEIU United Healthcare Workers East union in New York. The design features hundreds of photos from the union's history on ceramic tiles.
- Winter Park Library & Events Center: The Winter Park Library and Events Center in Winter Park, Florida, opened in 2021. It won an award for its design in 2022.
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- Asaase III Sculpture: In 2023, David Adjaye's first permanent public sculpture was shown. It's called Asaase III and is located at The Griot Museum of Black History in St. Louis, Missouri.
Other Creative Works
Besides large buildings, David Adjaye also designs homes, furniture, and art installations. He has built homes for famous people like fashion designer Alexander McQueen and actor Ewan McGregor.
He often works with artists on special projects. For example, he worked with artist Chris Ofili on an art piece called The Upper Room. He also worked with artist Olafur Eliasson to create a light art piece called Your black horizon.
David Adjaye has also been involved in television and books. He co-hosted a BBC TV show called Dreamspaces and a BBC radio program. He also presented a documentary about architecture in Africa. He has published several books showing his designs.
Recent Projects
David Adjaye continues to design new and exciting projects:
- In 2015, he 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.
- In 2020, he revealed designs for the Princeton University Art Museum, the Thabo Mbeki Presidential Library, and The Martyrs Memorial in Niamey, Niger.
- He also shared his plans for the Museum of West African Art in Benin City, Nigeria. This museum will hold old art and new art.
- In 2021, he designed district hospitals across Ghana and The Africa Institute in Sharjah, UAE.
- The Cherry Groce Memorial Pavilion was finished in Brixton in 2021. It honors Cherry Groce, who was shot in her home in 1985.
- In 2022, plans were shown for the new W. E. B. Du Bois Museum Complex in Accra, Ghana, also designed by Adjaye.
- The Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, UAE, opened in 2023. It has a mosque, a church, and a synagogue, celebrating three major religions. It also has a center to promote respect and peace.
- In 2024, the Bank Square building in Accra, Ghana, designed by Adjaye, was opened.
How His Company Works
David Adjaye started his own company, Adjaye Associates, in 2000. His company now works all over the world. They have offices in Accra (Ghana), London (UK), and New York (USA). They have completed projects in many different continents.
In 2024, the company made a big change. They appointed three new CEOs to lead their offices in London, New York, and Accra. David Adjaye is now the executive chair and still leads the design work.
Teaching and Learning
David Adjaye has also taught at important universities. He was a visiting professor at the University of Pennsylvania and a professor at Harvard Graduate School of Design. He is also a member of several important architecture and design groups.
Personal Life
David Adjaye's younger brother, James Adjaye, is a scientist who studies stem cells. David also works with his brother Peter Adjaye, who is a musician, on different projects.
In 2014, David Adjaye married Ashley Shaw-Scott. His best man at the wedding was the artist Chris Ofili.
In 2018, David Adjaye helped organize an auction with Bono (from the band U2) and artist Theaster Gates. This auction raised money to fight AIDS around the world.
Awards and Honors
David Adjaye has received many awards for his amazing work:
- In 2007, he was given the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) honor for his services to British architecture.
- In 2016, he won the McDermott award from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, a big prize for excellence in the arts.
- He was knighted in 2017, allowing him to be called "Sir."
- In 2020, he received the Isamu Noguchi Award.
- In October 2020, he was announced as the winner of the Royal Gold Medal for 2021. This is one of the highest awards in architecture, given by the Royal Institute of British Architects.
- In 2021, he received the Crystal Award.
- In 2022, he was appointed to the Order of Merit, a very special honor given by the British monarch.
Here are some of his other awards:
- RIBA Bronze Medal for Architecture Students - 1990
- 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
- AJ100 Contribution to the Profession Award - 2018
- Thomas Jefferson Memorial Award - 2018
- Louis I. Khan Memorial Award - 2018
- Charlotte Perriand Award - 2022
- TIME100 Impact Award - 2022
See also
In Spanish: David Adjaye para niños
