Adjaye · Africa · Architecture

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 compact edition will make the fruits of this once-in-a-generation record available to a much wider audience. The result 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.

'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

Sir David Adjaye has offices in London, New York and Berlin. With his London practice, he has built a stunning array of houses, and his public buildings – including a médiathèque in London, a contemporary art museum in Denver, and the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo – have brought him international critical acclaim. Peter Allison is a London-based exhibition curator and teacher.