A little more than a decade ago, David Adjaye hovered on the verge of bankruptcy, his budding architectural practice devastated by the Great Recession. “Budgets were slashed. I was employing about 30 people and had about six decent projects, which was a lot for a young architect. But I was winging it. I wasn’t a business person. I lost all my savings, going through the insolvency system and paying off everyone personally.”
It was a rough comedown for an architect whose early works had gained notice for their rigorous and subversive designs. But only a year later, in 2009, Adjaye won the heated competition to design the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington, DC, marking a stunning reversal of his fortunes. “Just when people thought that I was done with, the Smithsonian revived me and introduced me to America. It felt supernatural.”
As well as being a personal redemption, the museum, which opened in 2016, won the Ghanaian British designer several awards and catapulted him into the starchitect stratosphere. The following year, thanks to a knighthood, he added Sir to his name. Adjaye has become a go-to man for monuments and museums, including a planned Holocaust memorial by the Houses of Parliament in London. He has also become something of a spokesman for black architects, a role he inhabits eloquently, though reluctantly.
This story is from the February 2021 edition of Robb Report Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the February 2021 edition of Robb Report Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
THE POINTS OF TRAVEL
Peggy Roe of Marriott International shares the reasons why people travel and how the hotel chain is aligning with new trends.
Evening Spirits
An exclusive group of Robb Report Singapore readers was treated to an evening soiree where they savoured The Macallan's signature serves and journeyed through the brand's 200 years of expertise.
A Hotel For The Ages
Once the site of military machinations, espionage activities and multiple Bond films, he Old War Office in London's Whitehall has undergone a billion-pound-plus transformation o become The OWO and the landmark address of Raffles London at The OWO.
An Appetite For Exceptional The
Eat and rest well-like a Maldivian would-at Velaa Private Island.
Steeped In Chiang Mai's Culture
The newly opened InterContinental Chiang Mai The Mae Ping offers tailored experiences for an authentic journey through this mountainous city.
A Week In Scotland
With Scott Dunn Private, whisky aficionados looking for the finest drams can luxuriate in a bespoke amber haven in Scotland.
This Month's Feed
Only the best dining and drinking spots in Singapore.
Riding High With The Boss
Hit records, diamond-encrusted Rolexes and a car collection so vast he's lost count of what's in it-Miamibased rapper and entrepreneur Rick Ross is living his dream. But it's his latest acquisition, a tricked-out Gulfstream G550, that makes the biggest statement.
For Dubai, The Time Is Now
The bustling Middle Eastern city is emerging as an important hub for serious watch collectors around the globe.
Timing Is Everything
It doesn't matter where you are on your horological appreciation journey. There is a watch made just for you at Watches and Wonders 2024.