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David Adjaye
Designing major cultural buildings, including Washington’s African American history museum.
Idea Store Whitechapel · African American history museum
- Born
- 22 September 1966
- Birthplace
- Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
More people
David Adjaye
David Adjaye is a Ghanaian-British architect whose work includes museums, libraries, homes and memorial projects.
Early life
International childhood
His father’s diplomatic work took the family across several countries.
Architectural education
Studied in London, including at the Royal College of Art.
Career
- 1990s
London practice
Established himself through residential and creative-space projects.
- 2000s
Public buildings
Expanded into libraries and cultural commissions.
- 2010s onward
International projects
Worked on major museums and civic buildings.
Buildings & projects
Idea Store Whitechapel
Designed a public learning and library building in London.
African American history museum
Was a leading designer in the team behind the Smithsonian museum.
Abrahamic Family House
Designed a complex of religious spaces in Abu Dhabi.
Beyond work
Honours
Received the Royal Gold Medal in 2021.
Professional controversy
In 2023, former employees made allegations of sexual misconduct, which he denied; several clients ended their associations with him.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Smithsonian: the building ↗The Art Newspaper: allegations and response ↗Photo: Andrew Quinn. CC0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
