Mariam's Library in Tanzania, Zanzibar by Nassor Othman

This is Francis Kéré, an architect from Burkina Faso and at least in my eyes, the patron saint of "afro solar punk". He builds using local, sustainable materials, and uses the education he received in Germany to improve on traditional methods already known. His first project was a school in his home village, built to enable other children to receive an education like he once was. The school has a self-cooling mechanism that does not require AC and was built cost effectively together with the community. This year he won the Pritzker Prize. You know what, just watch his TED Talk, I highly recommend it.

Timbuktu, the great!

Observing the vernacular architecture of southern Africa (https://explorationvacation.net/vernacular-architecture/)

The Rich History of Emir of Bauchi Palace and Bauchi Emirate

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Traditional marriage cake

Gold Coast

Design inspired by retro-futurism, this will be an Afro-futuristic EXPERIENCE. I’m taking inspiration from #DerrickBell original #afrolantica story, and mixing in Black sociological theory from many classic theorist, including #BellHooks .

This is the moodboard for a really big portfolio project. Project title: Unity Orbiter One.

I’m revisiting an old idea: What if Black people left for a planet, just for us? I want to explore two parts. What does it look like to determine who goes and who stays? And once we get there, what systems have we developed to align an ENTIRE DIASPORA for all of the foreseeable future?

So tell me, what type of experience does this feel like to you: a book, board game, VR game, pc strategy game, a brand, etc?

This is also a self accountability post. If y’all engage with it, I’ll feel more compelled to work on it and share results. 😅

#afrofuturism #art #blackart #afropunk #africa #blackgirlmagic #afrofuturistic #digitalart #afro #blackexcellence #scifi #blackartist #blackscifi #afrofuturist #afroart #blackculture #artist #melanin #dopeblackart #illustration #blackanime #music #africanart #afrocentric #supportblackart #blackisbeautiful #afrofuturismo #manga #blackartists #blacklivesmatter

Modern Ghanaian Airbnb Filled With Chic Sustainable Pieces

Join us on a tour inside @1928apartment, an eco-chic Airbnb in Cantonments, Accra, designed by @adomako_architekten, where style and sustainability meet. In this video, Kofi Adomako, founder of Adomako Architekten talks about the repurposed family pieces that fill the apartment, his philosophy of using green architecture in African design, supporting up and coming architects and more.

By African Interiors

Fasil Ghebbi, a 17th century fortress in Gondar, Ethiopia, known as ‘The Camelot of Ethiopia” 🇪🇹

Photo credit: Ian Swithinbank, UNESCO, Ancient Origins, Brilliant Ethiopia

One must also give Hausa Muslims credit for their architecture:

Islamic societies on the whole produce some of the traditionally most amazing and beautiful buildings of any world civilization. In my view it is at least in part that traditional Islamic society eschews depiction of the human form, and as such the same impulses that have driven art elsewhere take different shapes. Which in this case results in things of great beauty that deserve full honor as what Muslim civilizations can and do build at their best.

exploring architecture through the lens: a reflection on my participation in a photography workshop with jean molitor

as a photographer passionate about architecture, i was thrilled to receive an invitation from my friend and instructor, alex ndibwami, to participate in a photography workshop led by the legendary architectural photographer, jean molitor. the workshop was held at the university of rwanda's school of architecture and environmental design, and it brought together rwandan architecture students, instructors, and their colleagues from around the world, for a day of exploring and documenting the city's heritage buildings.

the objective of the workshop was to share tips and tricks in architectural photography (being mindful of light, lens choice, and angles) and to encourage the students to be aware of the storytelling aspects of capturing the buildings and structures they create around them. as an integral component of the extensive DOCOMOMO international initiative, the school of architecture and environmental design is vigorously advocating for the establishment of a rwanda chapter, as part of the critically important shared heritage africa program overseen by DOCOMOMO germany.

through the day’s exercise, i had the privilege of facilitating the conversation between the students and their mentors as we explored key heritage buildings in kigali, including the cloister of bernadine sisters (built in 1930) and sainte-famille church (built in 1914) to name a few. this experience was a reminder of the significance of documenting heritage structures, especially with the fast-paced modernization and urbanization that many african cities are experiencing.

in today's rapidly changing world, the need to document and preserve our built environments is more critical than ever. through collaborations such as DOCOMOMO international and shared heritage africa, young architects and creatives have a unique opportunity to showcase the beauty and significance of modernist buildings and other architectural wonders built in the mid-twentieth century in various African countries. The photo exhibition hosted at the gallery of the school of art and industrial design (kyambogo university, uganda) displaying modernist buildings from ghana, nigeria, rwanda, and uganda is an excellent example of the potential for such collaborations. 

the impact of the spaces we inhabit on our lives is profound, and preserving them for future generations is of utmost importance. was reminded of the work of other talented photographers such as mutua matheka of kenya and timothy latim of uganda, who are advancing the conversation in this field.

in conclusion, as storytellers, it's crucial that we collaborate with architects and creatives to document and preserve our changing built environment. let's join hands to tell the stories of the architectural wonders around us, ensuring that they inspire and inform future generations as they design and shape the world.

suggested links:

https://architectuul.tumblr.com/tagged/SharedHeritageAfrica

https://sha.architectuul.com/

https://twitter.com/omar_degan/

https://www.instagram.com/starp/