CPDI AFRICA BLOG

Hello everyone, My name is Kherby Jean and I am a 4th year architecture major at Tuskegee University. Born in Haiti, my parents always told me to be humble and work hard. My parents brought me to the US in 2010 for one reason, a better life. I am pursuing architecture because I am passionate about helping and would like to create affordable housing for people in my home country, Haiti. Through faith, knowledge and community, I believe that this is possible. In addition to architecture, I am a partner at a clothing company called Blakhveny where we represent culture and social change. Overall, my goal is to help people, have an impact on the future generation, and inspire change.  Learning about African architecture and Haitian architecture was truly an exhilarating process, I learned so much about my history and culture. As stated above, I was born in Haiti, but I had never connected my Haitian identity to my African identity until CPDI Africa. Seeing and learning so much a...

Anyanwu is the Sun Goddess who also is an omen for good fortune. The Anyanwu resort is located at the base of Milkin Hill in Enugu State, Nigeria. In Enugu, Milkin Hill is a point of pride for the people. The story goes that the road up Milkin Hill was carved by the ancestors with their bare hands. The folklore that is passed down says that a serpent god was staking claim on his territory and he did so by wrapping his body around the hill creating the road they use today. Play video below to watch the design Quick Animation The resort is designed to stake claim on the land. The people of Enugu don’t have many tourist attractions but The Anyanwu was designed to serve the people while giving them a place that showcases their pride in their land just like their pride in their rode. These masks were her inspiration. she appreciated their symmetry and simplicity. The floor plan and its symmetry was inspired by these masks, (particularly, the one on the right) and others like it. Play video...

Hello everyone! My name is Udochukwu Anidobu and I am a sophomore in Architecture at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I was born in the US and grew up in the south suburbs of Chicago but my family is from ENUGU State Nigeria. My hobbies are reading and cooking. Fun fact, I used to be a football goalie in secondary school 😊.   I have been involved with architecture since secondary school and fell in love with the design process and how architecture can solve a variety of problems with one thoughtful design. African architecture is a passion of mine because I love how it truly “takes a village.” Eurocentric architecture tends to glorify the individual designer whereas African architecture focuses on the community and its involvement in the process.   I recently decided that I wanted to pursue an uncommon path. I wanted to be an Afrocentric architect. Most students my age aren’t thinking so far in the future, but I love my people and I love my heritage. So much of...

A Resort is defined as a place that is frequented for holidays or recreation or for a particular purpose. A cultural center or cultural center is an organization, building or complex that promotes culture and arts. Cultural centers can be neighborhood community arts organizations, private facilities, government-sponsored, or activist-run.  Igbo culture is a rich sub-Saharan way of life peculiar to this tribe. This Resort is an Architectural translation of this way of life, to promote and immortalize it, cutting through every aspect of their ways of life. Play video below to watch the design Quick Animation. Ventilation and Lighting are responsible for Thermal/Visual Comfort in Hot Tropic Zones (usually ridden by high temperatures coupled with high humidity). Having a fantastic Air flow and movement is then as key as choosing a sustainable green material that will improve thermal comfort fit for our climate. Unity  is more represented on the  Circle  better than any...

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. 

There is just no end to the marvels you learn while researching about African culture, tradition or architecture. The culture of the Igbos is not left out of this. I learned a whole lot during my 3 months Internship with CPDI AFRICA, trying to learn about my identity and my Architecture. One of the fact I was amazed to learn was the great properties of the THATCHED ROOF that were used by the Igbos as Roofing sheets. Follow me below to find out how Africa had the SOLUTIONS all these while.

Greetings everyone! I am Arc. Chibuzo Chinonso OHANEJE and I’m thrilled to share with you a bit about myself, my professional journey and experience during my internship at CPDI AFRICA! I was born in Umuele, a village in Amazanor Autonomous Community in Njaba L.G.A. of Imo State of NIGERIA. Taken by my parents to Cameroon at the age of 3 months I did all my schooling (from Nursery till I acquired my Baccalaureate in Mathematics and Physics in Senior Secondary in a French Schooling System), being top of almost all my classes and more than 5 times overall school best, I returned to Nigeria to continue with my undergraduate (finishing top of my class, department and faculty in FUT-Yola 2006) and Postgraduate Studies (finishing top of my class in UNIUYO 2014) in Architecture. These were crowned with my Full Registration as an ARCHITECT of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I like travels, watching movies and I am a Tech Enthusiast. A fun fact about me is the ability to work (Draw) at 100% wh...