DESIGN DIASPORA: BLACK ARCHITECTS AND INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTECTURE 1970-1990
CONTEMPORARY BLACK ARCHITECTS of USA,
the AMERICAS, EUROPE, and AFRICA
The landmark exhibition, DESIGN DIASPORA: BLACK ARCHITECTS AND INTERNATIONAL
ARCHITECTURE 1970-1990, was created and curated by Carolyn Armenta Davis. It was the first to present
contemporary designs of 50 Black architects from 11 countries in the Americas, Europe and Africa.
It focused on the achievements in architecture on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean after the catalytic sixties
civil rights and de-colonization movements. Shown were the creations of 35 Black architects from
the USA plus l5 of their colleagues from the United Kingdom, France, the Netherlands, Canada,
Jamaica, Brazil, Nigeria, Senegal, Cameroon and South Africa.
The exhibition of architectural photographs, drawings, and models toured 20 venues in USA,
South America, Africa, and Europe. It received critical acclaim from audiences and media from
Progressive Architecture, which stated the exhibit –"is impressive for the diversity of achievements
it reveals"... to… The New York Times' headline observing... "The Influence of Black Architects”.
The architecture was selected from an international call for submissions of built projects designed
in Black-owned architectural studios between 1970 and 1990. Over 280 worldwide projects were
submitted. The 70 designs selected included: schools in Detroit, Houston and East Transvaal
(South Africa); transportation facilities in Boston and Chicago; housing in Philadelphia, Fukuoka
(Japan), Salvador-Bahia (Brazil), London, Ikoyi (Nigeria), Chicago, and Amsterdam; medical
clinics in Bobigny (France) and Marienburg (Suriname); recreational sites in Maumee (USA) and
Ochos Rios (Jamaica); businesses in Miami, Toronto and Dakar (Senegal); and a church in Wichita (USA).
1993-2000 WORLD TOUR
DESIGN DIASPORA: BLACK ARCHITECTS AND
INTERNATIONAL ARCHITECTURE 1970-1990
15 June - 22 August 1993, Chicago, Illinois, USA
Chicago Athenaeum: The Museum of Architecture and Design
l6 September - 1 October 1993, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA
La Bienal Internacional de Architectura
l9 September - 23 December 1994, Philadelphia, PA, USA
Afro-American Historical and Culture Museum
9 January - 21 April 1995, FRANCE
Paris - Ecole d'Architecture de Paris-Conflans
Nancy - Ecole Nationale des Beaux Arts de Nancy
Marseilles - Ecole d'Architecture de Marseille
Rouen-Foire Internationale/Ecole d'Architecture de Normandie
13 October - 11 November 1995, Nairobi, KENYA
University of Nairobi--African Union of Architects
1 February - 1 March 1996, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA,
University of Nebraska
1 February - 15 March 1996, Munich, GERMANY
Amerika Haus Munich
18 May - 14 July 1996, Buffalo, New York, USA
Burchfield Art Center- The Museum for Western New York Arts
26 June -1 September 1996, Dallas, Texas, USA
Museum of African American Life and Culture
23 September - 11 October 1996, Cape Town, SOUTH AFRICA
University of Cape Town, School of Architecture
4 - 23 November 1996, Belfast, N. Ireland, UK
Belfast Festival at Queen's University-Architecture
14 March - 4 April 1997, London, England, UK
The American College in London Gallery of Art and Design
20 July - 14 September 1997, Columbus, Indiana, USA
Indianapolis Museum of Art/Columbus Gallery
October 1997- February 1998, BRAZIL
Salvador-Bahia - Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia
Curitiba - XV Congresso Brasilerio de Arquitetos
Rio de Janeiro - Instituto dos Arquitetos do Brasildo
February 14 - April 21, 2000, Chicago, IL, USA
Chicago State University, University and President's Galleries
DOCUMENTARY - Viewpoints of Black Diaspora Architects
The historic documentary, Viewpoints of Black Diaspora Architects©, produced by Carolyn Armenta Davis presents designs and reflections of 8 architect in the Design Diaspora Black Architects project USA, Europe, and Africa. Captured are diverse views of men and women architects on African heritage in architecture; major professional changes; urbanism; tropical architecture; designing for women and children; Diaspora collaborations; and personal challenges, achievements, and legacies. Filmed in Chicago on June 22, 1993;30 minutes/color; DVD available. African Diaspora Architects in the documentary are: (*now deceased)
John Chase*(USA) an Emeritus Dean of African American architects and co-founder NOMA;
Olufemi Majekodunmi(Nigeria)1990-93 President of UIA & a co-founder
of African Union of Architects;
Edouard DinCameroon) a vernacular architecture practitioner, writer-publisher, educator;
M. Peter Malefane*(South Africa) the first Black licensed architect in his country;
Lucien LaFour(the Netherlands) celebrated international architect-topical design evangelist;
Rene Poman*(France) an accomplished Black French architect; and
Ngozika Wamuo & Paula Williams(England) of innovative Matrix Feminist Architectural Coop.
PUBLICATION...
A pictorial history from concept to tour close of the landmark exhibition, Design
Diaspora: Black Architects and International Architecture 1970-1990™ is recorded in a
book of the same title.
The book has introduction in English, Spanish, French, German, and Portuguese. It
includes a exhibit curating and the 70 displayed designs; world tour highlights;
and video interview excerpts. The book will be published Fall 2014 with over 200 pages
with some 240 color/black-white images.
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