Design Museum presents David Adjaye: Making Memory

How can a building shape our perception of events – and how can architecture, rather than words, be used to tell stories?  Discover new monuments and memorials by celebrated British-Ghanaian architect, Sir David Adjaye OBE. Get a first peek at ongoing work and explore the influences behind the highly acclaimed Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C. and more.

Discover seven of Adjaye’s landmark structures to explore the design, role and use of contemporary monuments. With projects including the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington D.C and the UK National Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre in London, these monuments and memorials show how Adjaye uses architecture and form to reflect on history, memory and record human lives.

This exhibition is part of the Design Museum programme inviting designers to think in public about a theme of their choice. Previous collaborations include Breathing Colour by Hella Jongerius and 100 Mile City by Peter Barber.

ABOUT DAVID: Born in Tanzania to Ghanaian parents Sir David Adjaye’s influences range from contemporary art and music to science and African art forms. After moving to the UK, Adjaye studied architecture at the London South Bank University and the Royal College of Art before setting up his first office in 1994 which was later reformed as Adjaye Associates in 2000. His work creating striking private houses for artists and high-profile clients in London, led to several new public buildings such as the Idea Stores and the Stephen Lawrence Centre.Over the past few decades Adjaye has established himself as one of the leading architects of his generation. While his portfolio is diverse, ranging from private residential buildings to massive civic institutions, there are several recurring themes in his work. One of those themes relates to monuments and memorials: complex spaces of public memory which can elicit raw emotional responses – from celebration to loss. His advice to the next generations following in his footsteps are: