David Adjaye

Leading architects of his generation in the UK

In June 2000 David Adjaye reformed his studio as Adjaye/Associates and he has gone on to win a number of prestigious commissions with the practice head- quartered in London."

Born in 1966 in Dar-Es-Salam, Tanzania  David Adjaye is recognised as one of the leading architects of his generation in the UK and in the last year he has won important commissions in both Europe and the United States. The architectural community and the wider public have a high regard for his bespoke designs, ingenious use of materials and ability to sculpt light.

Respected for his work and experience in the field he is often asked to give high profile lectures at prestigious universities and institutions such as Harvard's GSD, Yale, Art Center College of Design in Pasadena and the University of California Berkeley in the USA. Speaking engagements in Europe also include Architectural Association, Royal College of Art, Cambridge, Norsk Forum in Oslo and the London School of Economics. Currently he is a unit tutor at the Architectural Association. He has been a lecturer at the Royal College of Art where he received his MA in Architecture in 1993. That same year he was awarded the RIBA First Prize Bronze Medal.

In June 2000 David Adjaye reformed his studio as Adjaye/Associates and he has gone on to win a number of prestigious commissions with the practice head- quartered in London.  In June 2001, Adjaye won the Idea Store competition to design two new-build libraries in East London. The first of the two Idea Stores (near Canary Wharf) opened in July 2004 and won a 2005 RIBA Building Award. The 5-storey flagship library/community centre with a top floor café and dance/yoga studio opened in October 2005. His work has led him to his nomination for one of the UK’s most prestigious awards in architecture – The Stiling Prize.

For more information on David Adjaye and his work on the Idea Store nominated for the the Stirling Prize 2006 log onto www.adjaye.com     or www.channel4.com/stirling