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Chicago Architecture Viewing
By Stephanie Aurora Lewis, NCARB, LEED AP
The exhibit at The Art Institute of Chicago illustrates Adjaye’s work as more of “an approach” rather than “a style” says Curator of Architecture and Design Zoë Ryan. Indeed, the exhibit filling two levels in the Art Institute’s Modern Wing is as much about Adjaye himself as it is about his work. Adjaye not only produces astounding designs but is also a successful peer mentor showing architects how to secure a place-making design that hinges upon both social and historical contexts resulting in a sensational new global modernism.
The Making Place: The Architecture of David Adjaye exhibit at The Art Institute of Chicago illustrates Adjaye’s work as more of “an approach” rather than “a style” says Curator of Architecture and Design Zoë Ryan. Indeed, the exhibit filling two levels in the Art Institute’s Modern Wing is as much about Adjaye himself as it is about his work. Adjaye not only produces astounding designs but is also a successful peer mentor showing architects how to secure a place-making design that hinges upon both social and historical contexts resulting in a sensational new global modernism.
“My hope is that the exhibition will promote a much richer understanding of an architect committed to creating projects of social and cultural significance and meaning,” says Ryan. A great deal of information presented throughout the exhibit is about Adjaye’s thought patterns about design, his work methods, his beliefs, education, familial and cultural backgrounds. All things considered, one learns that Adjaye designs buildings with a great deal of responsibility.
Adjaye invests an incredible amount of time doing research about the project’s social and geographical contexts. He makes positive efforts to bridge communication gaps, particularly between different cultures. Even more, he has a forceful stamina that sails him through difficult social scenarios where racism occasionally prevails.
The exhibit features models, project imagery, real-life mock-ups, furniture, housing, master plans, sketchbooks, videos, and other information from Adjaye’s personal research efforts. All in all, the gems of the exhibit are the models themselves. These models articulate for its audience Adjaye’s ability to command space with a genius level of elegance that is as highly distinguished as any other contemporary architect. Added to his command of space is his sophisticated use of material; highly deliberated and researched. The finish materials intertwine beautifully with the architectural geometries.
Adjaye states that he is a hands-on designer, “my relationship to ‘making’ is very physical… very much about the feeling of things,” he says at the Opening Reception and Lecture: David Adjaye in Conversation with Zoë Ryan on September 16th, 2015 at the Art Institute. Adjaye cares deeply about each and every one of his clients. As such, his passion and considerate nature come through in the designs. Adjaye Associates have produced as many as 50 buildings throughout the world. Of African ancestry, Adjaye was raised in Ghana, the Middle East, and England who now practices with offices located in London, New York, Berlin, and Accra.
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