AIA Regional Speaker Series

Nigerian architect Kunlé Adeyemi is coming to Australia to present the Australian Institute of Architects’ inaugural Regional Speaker Series this month.

Curated by Architecture Media’s editorial director, Cameron Bruhn, the series celebrates designing in regional locations and will visit Geelong on 25 Nov, Gold Coast on 26 Nov and Sydney on 27 Nov.

Adeyemi is the founder and principal of Amsterdam-based architecture, design and urbanism practice, NLÉ. He founded the multidisciplinary practice in 2010 with a mission to shape the physical, human, cultural and economic architectures of developing cities.

The built outcomes of NLÉ’s design activism include an innovative floating school in Nigeria. This prototype building addresses the social and physical needs of the historic lagoon community of Makoko.

‘Hearing about the way Adeyemi’s work addresses the impact of climate change and rapid urbanisation will provide an insight into the future of coastal communities across the world.

‘This is a unique opportunity to reflect on the issues shaping regional Australia by hearing about the work of an architect who is challenging the status quo and bringing architecture to the wider community,’ Cameron Bruhn said.

After studying at the University of Lagos, Adeyemi joined the internationally renowned Office for Metropolitan Architecture in 2002. Working closely with OMA founder and architecture’s ‘enfant terrible’ Rem Koolhaas for nearly ten years, Adeyemi led the design and construction of projects across the world.

Speaking about his approach to architecture in 2010, Adeyemi said:

‘In each project the essential needs of performance, value and identity – critical for success – are fundamentally the same for me. Although quantitatively different from place to place, the responsibility of achieving these needs at maximum, with minimum means, remains the same globally. I am constantly inspired by solutions we discover in everyday life in the world’s developing cities.’

AWS are proud to be supporting Kunle’s visit to Australia, particularly in facilitating the inclusion of a number of smaller, regional locations to extend the reach of Kunle’s presentation to those directly affected by the topic – Australians living in regional areas. These satellite events will take place in Warrnambool, Bendigo, Albury, North Boambee Valley and Torrensville.

More information is available at architecture.com.au/events