Demar Matthews Wants to Bring Distinctly Black Architecture to American Neighborhoods
The designer is out to establish a new vernacular—one that “elevates, not denigrates,” Black identity within the built environment.
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Designer Demar Matthews isn’t wasting any time. Fresh out of a master’s program in architecture at L.A.’s Woodbury University, he established his own firm, OffTOP Design, and hit the ground running by putting into practice answers to a question that had loomed over his training: Where is the Black architecture?
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Duncan Nielsen
News Editor
Duncan Nielsen is Dwell’s design news editor. His coverage includes everything from Frank Lloyd Wright–inspired sneakers to ADU legislation. Share tips or ideas at duncan at dwell dot com.
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