Perfect Coffee table book and gift for those interested in architecture and Africa or that person who has it all.
Overview
This is one of the most original, ambitious and important architectural publications of our time, now available to everyone wishing to gain an understanding of a unique architectural heritage overlooked for too long.
The African continent contains some of the world’s most vibrant culture and creativity, and yet its buildings – vernacular, colonial or contemporary – have rarely engaged the interest of Western architects.
David Adjaye, the first black architect to establish a truly global reputation in his field, has found endless sources of inspiration for his designs in the rich and chequered heritage of Africa’s teeming metropolises.
His life dream was to return to the continent as an architect to document Africa’s built environment. Over a long decade, he tirelessly documented these dynamic, colourful cities, photographing thousands of buildings, sites, and places, and letting each building speak for itself, in telling contrast to a design world obsessed with photorealistic slickness. The result was a stunning seven-volume work that has become an essential resource for all those interested in the burgeoning continent.
This new compact edition will make the fruits of this once-in-a-generation record available to a much wider audience.
Reviews
'A unique record of a continent in which compelling architecture is appearing in extraordinary circumstances'
Financial Times
'An arresting visual introduction to cities across the continent, a learned journey into the vibrant beating heart of contemporary African life'
Guardian
