Making Public Buildings

David Adjaye is one of Britain’s leading contemporary architects. Known for his domestic projects, Making Public Buildings focuses for the first time on Adjaye’s engagement with civic space and the built environment. Adjaye combines the sensual and emotive with a conceptual approach to the fundamental elements of architecture. His influences range from African art and architecture to contemporary art and music leading to numerous collaborations with artists, including Olafur Eliasson and Chris Ofili. Published on occasion of his exhibition at London’s Whitechapel Gallery, this book brings together a distinguished group of authors to reflect on Adjaye’s practice, significance and influences. Okwui Enwezor and Saskia Sassen discuss the increasing need for a politicized definition of public space, while Nikolaus Hirsch and Peter Allison consider Adjaye’s attention to materials.

Two interviews with David Adjaye, one led by Peter Allison and the other by Kodwo Eshun, guide us through his approach to making public buildings within a global context. They are accompanied by drawings, documents and photographs relating to ten of Adjaye’s most important projects.