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Many African countries are home to extraordinary architecture that is virtually unknown. There are interpretations of Art Deco, International Style, Brutalism as well as of African vernacular architecture. Climate-responsive buildings with a fluidity of interior and exterior spaces play a large role. While many of these 20th century architects were of European origin, they were deeply influenced by their surroundings and found original, site-specific expressions, often in collaboration with the first generation of African architects. A focus of the construction activities were educational buildings which played an important role for these young nations that mostly gained their independence in the 1960s. While some of the documented buildings have been restored, others are still awaiting reconstruction.
- Well-known contributors include Uta Pottgiesser (TU Delft), Ana Tostoes (Lisbon University), Ola Uduku (University of Liverpool) et al.
- The stunning photography by Jean Molitor takes the reader on a journey across the continent
- Documentation of some 60 buildings from eight countries with new scaled drawings and photographs
Price: $86.99
Pages: 400
Publisher: Birkhäuser
Imprint: Birkhäuser
Publication Date:
12 March 2025
ISBN: 9783035628333
Format: Hardcover
BISACs:
ARCHITECTURE / Regional, ARCHITECTURE / History / Modern (late 19th Century to 1945), ARCHITECTURE / Adaptive Reuse & Renovation, ARCHITECTURE / Buildings / Public, Commercial & Industrial, HISTORY / Africa / General, PHOTOGRAPHY / Subjects & Themes / Architectural & Industrial, History of architecture, African history, Architecture: public, commercial and industrial buildings, Architecture: religious buildings, Architectural details, components and motifs
In late 2024, an important addition was made to the growing literature on Modern architecture in Africa. "Modernism in Africa: The Architecture of Angola, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda" was published by Docomomo International and Birkhäuser, shedding light on multiple previously unpublished buildings. The book has a focus on education, although other building types are included. (ArchDaily, February 2025)
Docomomo is dedicated to the documentation and preservation of Modern Movement architecture. For this publication, the organization enlisted many renowned scholars such as Uta Pottgiesser (TU Delft - chair Docomomo International), Ana Tostoes (Lisbon University), Ola Uduku (University of Liverpool).