David Adjaye's African Architecture Photo Survey
Take a sneak peek at architect David Adjaye's photo travelogue, forthcoming in a new compact edition of "Adjaye: Africa: Architecture," an original seven-volume, visual study of 54 African cities. Compiled between 2000 and 2010, the resulting work is a culmination of Adjaye's lifelong dream to travel through Africa and document the continent's built environment. Here, we excerpt the architect's notes, alongside a few images from the new edition, coming out in Sept. 2016 with Thames & Hudson. All photos by David Adjaye, © 2011 and 2016 Adjaye Associates.
"This is a mix of colonial French structures, such as the hôtel de ville with its ornate baroque details, through to some fine art deco and modernist set pieces," says Adjaye of this commercial building in Bangui, Central African Republic. "The parliament building and courts of justice are fine examples of regional modernism."
"Activity lines the main boulevards, and there are many cafes, bars and restaurants," notes Adjaye of Asmara, Eritrea. "The main market occupies several urban blocks and informal trading is widespread. Most of the Italian buildings are still in use, but not the Fiat garage."
In Lomé, Togo, Adjaye observes, "In colonial times, this was a waterfront city whose institutions were located on the coast road. Since independence, the center has moved in land and the public buildings are international style, with francophone flavor, and stand in manicured landscapes."
"The optimism of the first African country to gain independence is celebrated in a series of distinguished public buildings," Adjaye notes of this civic structure in Accra, Ghana. "The recently completed assembly building is in the form of an Ashanti stool, making a link to the chieftaincy culture that still dominates the country."
"Historic settlements include an area of colonial villas built on small lots, and an early garden suburb where the planting is now mature," says Adjaye of this residence in Accra, Ghana. "Recent suburbs are more commercial in character, and areas of informal housing are hound on the edges of the city and on the coast."
Visiting Abuja, Nigeria, Adjaye notes: "The architecture of the public buildings is intended to present Abuja as the country’s symbolic Center of power. Key government buildings, the cathedral and the main mosque occupy conspicuous sites in the center of the city."
This is a civic structure in Gaborone, Botswana. "Gaborone was planned as a new city in the 1960s," says Adjaye. "Modernism is the defining style of the public buildings, as demonstrated by the elegant vaulted architecture of the parliament building."
"Pretoria has an intensely gridded center with several squares that are overlooked by classical-style public buildings. The parliament buildings and university occupy prominent sites on the sides of the valley overlooking the center," observes Adjaye, overlooking the cityscape of Pretoria, South Africa.
Adjaye snapped this residential block in Nouakchott, Mauritania. "Wealthy housing is of the compound and villa type, with Arabic decoration," he says. "Apartment buildings are normally three or four stories high, and more of them are being built. Low-cost housing is state built and organized in quarters."