Skip to main content

Intro: FAWAZ ADELAJA **SPOTLIGHT** CPDI African Architecture Internship 2020!!

Hi everyone! I am Adelaja Fawaz Oluwatobi and I’m excited to share with you a bit about myself, my professional journey and experience during my internship at CPDI AFRICA!
I am a Nigerian architectural designer and artist based in Lagos. I was born and raised in Lagos too, but I’m from ijebu-idowa, ogun state, meaning I’m Yoruba. I attended the Federal University of Technology Akure (FUTA) to major in architecture (B.tech). I later graduated top of my class in 2019. If there is anything I love doing much, its playing with lines... I love abstract art, I play games and I would like to travel more.

Architecture for me is a way of expressing myself, the process is art and the outcome is a product… in the end I see architecture more like product design, that perception makes me never limit my thinking and its why I love it. My love for African architecture or Afrocentric architecture blossomed when I started paying attention to African culture, history and heritage, certain things made it unique. One needs to research, pay attention to a lot of details, understand the philosophy, spirituality and hidden story behind every African piece. I see Afrocentric art & architecture as a way of preserving the above mentioned and recapping the beautiful stories for generations to come just like our Ancestors did.

My internship at CPDI was focused on Yoruba architecture, I did lots of findings and concluded with the design of a Yoruba Cultural Resort I called Ilé ọrọ ̀- House of Wealth, which would be shared with you soon!! As you can’t tell the content of a coconut (good/bad or dry or with water) without opening its shell to see for yourself, that is the similitude of knowing nothing about a culture until you experience and fully understand it. I can say I know more about my culture now and there is so much more to find and know… it only gets more interesting! Thank you for the knowledge and experience too Ms. Nmadili and my professors and fellow interns at CPDI Africa!!

#AfricaDefinesArchitecture

Read also:

Comments

  1. Great research into our cultural heritage. Nice job.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you sir... looking forward to doing more

      Delete
  2. This is amazing bro. I am being inspired by your works.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you sir, thats exactly the essense... to inspire us al to value our african identity and get creative with it.

      Delete
  3. Featuring our Top African Inspired Architects from the CPDI Africa Internship 2020, and FAWAZ ADELAJA Leads the Team with his deep dive into Interpretations of Traditional to Modern Yoruba architecture!! Watch for names in Bright Lights, this is One of Those Stars! Fawaz we are following you, because you are a Bright One at CPDI Africa, from Nmadili Okwumabua, Founder!! #AfricaDefinesArchitecture #TheYorubaArchitect

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. thank you ma, we are all stars... our essence its to glow at night to set a pace and light the way for others. we would keep glowing till we are as bright as the sun someday. then our mission would be accomplished.

      Delete
  4. Abdul-Aleem Lateef1 October 2020 at 08:02

    Well done with this work, you're breaking new grounds

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Disclaimer: Your opinions expressed in this comment section are of yours alone and not of CPDI Africa.

Popular posts from this blog

25 ELEMENTS OF TRADITIONAL YORÙBÁ ARCHITECTURE

The architecture of the ancient Yoruba of Southwest Nigeria was a communal endeavor and the house was a statement of ideological, economic and social position in the larger urban context. Below is a list of 25 elements of traditional Yoruba architecture, as I cannot detail all about the Yoruba people in this documentation due to how lengthy I would need to write, the brief bio of the Yoruba people samples the Ijebu kingdom. Read also:           -    The Most Interesting Facts I Learnt Researching Yoruba Architecture         -    5 Proposed Standard Elements of Yoruba architecture: Inspiring a Modern Language!         -    About the Author

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT HAITIAN ARCHITECTURE

Traditional Haitian architecture is inspired by Taino, Yoruba, and Europen architecture from the Bohios to the shotgun.   A major contribution to the life of shared community spaces is made by the Galri (porch) arguably the actual “living room” of Haitian buildings. The interior of the house usually consists of two rooms and is used as a place to rest and to store possessions. The kitchen and bathroom are sometimes separated from the rest of the house. In Kreyol, the shared yard or courtyard is called Lakou. Traditionally this includes the sharing of material items, chores, food, space, and childcare. The Jaden (Garden) is essential for all Haitian houses. The Jaden produces fruits and vegetables for the household. Colors and ornaments are used repeatedly throughout traditional Haitian homes. Most traditional Haitian architecture is a single-story, two-room rectangular house. The porches bring private life into an in-between space: semi-outside, semi-inside. The

25 ELEMENTS OF TRADITIONAL XHOSA (NGUNI) ARCHITECTURE. SOUTH AFRICA

Image:tony gum (https://www.instagram.com/tony_gum/) The  Xhosa,  also often called the “Red Blanket People”,   are of Nguni stock, like the Zulu. The name  Xhosa  is a generalised term for a diversity of proud clans, the  Pondo ,  Bomvana , Thembu and the  Xhosa  tribe itself. Red and the orange of ochre were the traditional colours of the  Xhosa,  Tembu and  Bomvana  (“the red ones”). There are approximately 8 million Xhosa people in South Africa, and the Xhosa language is the countries second most-populous language in the country, after Zulu. 

Elements of Traditional Hausa Architecture

Emir's Palace Kano. Image:  ⓒ Hauwa Mahmoud Hausa architecture, as dictated by culture, is traditionally designed to be inward-looking in order to maximize privacy. Residential architecture is characterized by high walls with openings few and small, large courtyards, and entrance porches meant to welcome but keep out strange male visitors from the inner private quarters. These features usually have the double function of ensuring privacy, which is an important consideration in Hausa architecture. They also aid temperature regulation which is vital in the hot and arid regions of the West African Sahel where the Hausas are predominantly located. Plan and layout of Emir's Palace, Kano    Dmochowski 1990 The layout of a traditional  Hausa residence rarely takes a defined shape. This flexibility allows for expansion as needed as most households tend to be polygamous. However, there are certain features that are consistent in any layout no matter how big or small.

25 ELEMENTS OF TRADITIONAL IGBO ARCHITECTURE

The Igbo people of Southern of Nigeria are more than 4000 years. Their architecture speak volumes as it cuts through all the expects of their very existence: Spirituality and Philosophy, Materials and Sustainability , Culture and lifestyle, Aesthetics and Form, Process and Cost. All these were always achieved to portray the very fabrics of the society the building or its element found itself.  Pertinent also to note is the involvement of every tier of the society in building its architecture: Men, Women, Children. Why Igbo architecture was great was the level of green and sustainability in their Architecture. The 25 ELEMENTS show how organized their societies were through Architecture. 

25 Elements of Traditional Hausa Architecture

THE EVOLUTION AND TRANSFORMATION OF AN AFRICAN DESIGN LANGUAGE - Igbo Architecture by Ikechukwu Godspower

The language of our Continent is Beautiful and Spiritual. Africa is connected to the realm of Her Ancestors, for the cycle of Life is never broken in the Motherland! On the way to Mastering the architectural language of his culture, the IGBO of Nigeria, Ikechukwu Godspower, better known as 'Zhinche' unearthed the building blocks upon which technology, aesthetics, spirituality, materials and design philosophies were transferred into architecture and community building of the Igbo Nation. His goal was to specialize in speaking the architectural language of his Culture, a skill he intends to Master in his professional journey to becoming a Master in Igbo Modern Vernacular Architecture. Play video below to watch the design Quick Animation. Nnukwu Nmanwu was targeted at restoring the traditions of igboland gradually fading away. The mmanwu were effective in keeping/restoring traditional norms and values in the communities. They are performed only by males in exclusive secret societi

Mai Deribe's Palace - A hidden gem in Borno state, Nigeria

Little is known of the hidden gem in North-eastern Nigeria that attracted kings, princes, prime ministers and heads of state back in its heyday. While the media talks about insurgency and terrorism in North-eastern Nigeria and discourages people from visiting for security reasons, let's shine a light on the more appealing aspects of the region by looking at its not-so widely portrayed architecture.  Late Alhaji Mai Deribe's palace in Maiduguri city was constructed in the early 1980s and is said to have been built over a period of 10 years with parts of it constructed with liquid gold. During its prime, it was known as the most expensive dwelling in West Africa. It is expansive and a sight to behold with four apartments for his three wives and his mother. While the building's architectural influences are clear to see, the architect behind the palace remains unknown. Its simple and geometrically etched courtyards, fenestrations, exterior wall embellishments, as well as its ri

5 PROPOSED STANDARD ELEMENTS OF YORUBA ARCHITECTURE: Inspiring a Modern Language!

Today at CPDI Africa we continue our journey into the exploration of YORUBA Architecture, through its dynamic traditional languages, aesthetics, spirituality and technology. Selecting KEY elements from traditional Yoruba Design, what 5 Modern Elements can we propose for Creating a Recognizable Modern Language for Yoruba Architecture!? I've summarized this KEY QUESTION for our summer Cohort of architects, as I progresses on this journey to creating a modern Masterpiece of YORUBA Design for the Internship. Follow my full research on Traditional Yoruba design on this BLOG, and glean the 25 Traditional Elements that Inspired this PROPOSED 5 Standards for Designing Modern Yoruba or 'Afrofuturistic' Architecture. Enjoy!!! Read also:         -      The Most Interesting Facts I Learnt Researching Yoruba Architecture          -      25 Elements of Traditional Yoruba Architecture          -    About the Author