Two exhibitions
dal 29/3/2010 al 4/9/2010
Segnalato da
29/3/2010
Two exhibitions
Design Museum, London
Often regarded as a continent defined by underdevelopment, poverty, war and tourism, through ''Urban Africa'' David Adjaye presents his continent in a different light. ''Sustainable Futures'' explores a range of products, concepts and projects that address issues of sustainability in their design.
Urban Africa – David Adjaye’s photographic journey
One of the leading architects of his generation, David Adjaye has stepped out of his
regular line of work to photograph and document key cities in Africa as part of an
ongoing project to study new patterns of urbanism. This collection of photographs is a
personal quest through the eyes of an architect to address the scant knowledge of the
built environment of the African continent.
David Adjaye has photographed the salient features of Africa’s cities including
suburban settlements, unofficial developments and townscapes. Brought together for
the first time, these photographs reveal the cities themselves and examine the
buildings and places which have a special resonance with Adjaye’s preoccupations as
an architect. The photographs will be presented as a series of vivid large-scale
projections, set against a backdrop of African beats specially composed for the
exhibition by Peter Adjaye. The images and music will flood the gallery creating a rich
diversity of architecture, culture and urban landscape.
Often regarded as a continent defined by underdevelopment, poverty, war and
tourism, through this exhibition Adjaye presents Africa in a different light. This detailed
survey will reveal a unique snapshot of life in Africa today, documenting the nature of
urban life in a developing country, a unique geo-cultural survey profiling the African
city in a global context.
Adjaye has captured the urban development of cities including Kigali, the capital city of
Rwanda showing traces of its Colonial past, Tripoli in Libya, very much invaded by the
energy of the present, the informal settlements on the edges of new cities like Abuja,
Nigeria and the traces of apartheid still inscribed on Pretoria, South Africa.
Born in Dar-Es-Salam, Tanzania, David Adjaye moved to London in 1979. Graduating
from the Royal College of Art in 1993 Adjaye trained with David Chipperfield Architects
and Eduardo Souto de Moura in Oporto. Winning the RIBA First Prize Bronze Medal in
1993 Adjaye set up his own practice, Adjaye Associates in 2000 and was nominated
for a Stirling Prize in 2006 for his Whitechapel Idea Store. With a rich body of built
work he has recently won the prestigious commission to design the new National
Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington DC which will open in
2015.
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Sustainable Futures
– Can design make a difference?
This exhibition showcases a range of design and architecture projects that explore the
most important issues associated with sustainability. Celebrated through a selection of
pioneering and forward thinking design approaches, this exhibition places sustainable
design centre stage, focusing on how design can lead the way and make a positive
contribution towards a more sustainable future.
Curated under five themes: Cities, Energy and Economies, Food, Materiality and
the Creative Citizen, this exhibition will explore projects that are either in the market
place or in development, including the Masdar Development hailed to be the world’s
first carbon neutral city in Abu Dhabi designed by Fosters + Partners. Fashion
designer Christopher Raeburn and his Digital Rainbow Collection which reuses
Ministry of Defense parachute materials will be displayed alongside projects that have
not yet been seen by a wider audience, including the Energy AWARE Clock designed
by the Interactive Institute in Stockholm that monitors the energy consumption in a
domestic household, Local River by Mathieu Lehanneur, a concept for a domestic
‘refrigerator-aquarium’ that breeds freshwater fish and grows herbs at the same time,
and Yves Bèhar’s FUSE project for sportslifestyle brand PUMA which is set to
revolutionise their packaging and distribution system."
Visitors will be encouraged to look at their own consumption habits and recognise the
individual role they can play in embracing sustainability. The website
CanDesignMakeaDifference.com will also enable visitors to engage with sustainable
issues and share their opinions on sustainability.
Architecture models, products and prototypes will feature alongside material samples,
film footage, visuals and interactive displays. The exhibition design, build and graphics
will support the use of sustainable and ethically sourced materials where the full
lifecycle and minimal impact of materials has been considered.
Jochen Zeitz, Chairman and CEO, PUMA AG comments ‘PUMAVision, through our
PUMA.Safe program, is honoured to partner with the Design Museum to introduce
groundbreaking work in sustainable design. As a business leader in environmental
and social initiatives, PUMA’s commitment to sustainability is reflected in the
exhibition, ‘Can design make a difference’, which will drive and encourage individuals
and corporations to achieve a higher standard of sustainable practice.’
Press enquires, image and interview requests:
Ashley Woodfield, Press Manager, Design Museum. Tel: 0207 940 8787 Email:ashley@designmuseum.org
Media View 30 March 10am – 12pm.
David Adjaye will be available for interview
Design Museum
Shad Thames, London SE1 2YD
Opening: 10 -17.45 Daily. Last Admission: 17.15
TICKETS: Adults £8.50; Concessions £6.50;
Students £5.00; Under 12s free