David Adjaye OM OBE is an award-winning Ghanaian-British architect known for combining artistic vision with community-focused design. He founded Adjaye Associates in 2000, with studios in Accra, London, and New York working on projects worldwide, from private homes to major cultural and civic buildings.

His most celebrated project, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, opened in Washington DC in 2016 and was named Cultural Event of the Year by The New York Times. In 2017 he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II and was included in TIME’s 100 most influential people list. He also received the prestigious RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 2021.

Born in Dar es Salaam in 1966, Adjaye grew up across Africa and the Middle East due to his father’s diplomatic career. His travels deeply shaped his architectural vision, later inspiring projects such as “Adjaye Africa Architecture: A Photographic Survey of Metropolitan Architecture,” a ten-year study of African cities and architecture.

For Adjaye, architecture is a social act: buildings should respect history while creating inclusive spaces that serve communities and future generations.