View the full version of this inspiring talk at http://inda.ba/18nVsYb Interested in responsive architecture, much of David Adjaye's work questions new modes of construction and life. At Design Indaba Conference 2013 he gave insight into the fundamental principles of his practice Adjaye Associates. In 2000 Ghanaian-born architect Adjaye formed his design practice Adjaye Associates, which is dedicated to extensive research manifested in publications, experiments in product, furniture and emotive design, the evolution of residential typologies, and public buildings in their widest form. Adjaye Associates' central concern is the way in which architecture now has to respond to the changing world, the responsibility to the public realm, and how the act of making matters and shapes the lives of people inhabiting the space, says Adjaye. Believing that geography plays a fundamental role in architecture, Adjaye spent 11 years in Africa documenting the continent's architecture in order to get a sense of what the continent needs today. As geography, culture and place are inextricably linked, Adjaye proposed to move away from political architecture towards a geographical one to showcase the connections established through geography and place that binds inhabitants; "I want to move away from South African architecture or Ghanaian architecture to forest, mountain and desert architecture", he explained. As natural disasters are happening more frequently around the world, Adjaye believes if architecture is relevant to its geographical position it can adequately respond to the fragile ecology. Giving an example of new architectural typologies in the form of houses in New Orleans after flooding, he highlights how design and architecture is required alongside mechanisations to create responsive structures that are more than just homes and enclosures. I like to take on housing projects that question new modes of life and construction in order to express humanity and create a place that is human, says Adjaye. Adjaye further gave insight into five projects his practice has undertaken: The Sunken House, a zero-carbon structure that is completely prefabricated in a factory. The Carriage House, a home that uses the urban planning of New York City as its inspiration. Francis Gregory Library, a powerful and emotive space that binds light, space and structure. Moscow School of Management, his biggest project to date. Smithsonian in Washington, a museum that will represent African-American history and finish Charles L'Enfant's master plan 200 years after is proposal. Designindaba.com hosts hundreds of videos of speaker presentations and interviews and world design news. Updated daily, its content features the most cutting-edge design thinking and the work and ideas of the world's industry leaders in all the creative fields. Design Indaba is a multi-tiered platform committed to a better world through creativity. Established in 1995 with its flagship conference, it has evolved into a multidisciplinary experience that now consists of the globally acclaimed annual Design Indaba Conference, Simulcast, Expo and FilmFest, as well as a host of parties, performances, training workshops, design projects, community initiatives and publications. http://www.designindaba.com/video

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