43. Intercultural Dialogue and Practice with Kunlé Adeyemi

““I think I am a third generation architect who thinks like a farmer.””

This week, we discuss nomadism, connection and intercultural dialogue with architect and urbanist, Kunlé Adeyemi. Kunlé is founding Principal at NLÉ Works. 

Timestamp Outline

2:00 Kunlé’s practice
5:09 “My practice is also currently very focused on looking at certain regions in the world and learning from them, and cross-pollinating ideas that exchange values.”
6:29 Nomadism, travel, “comfort zone”, and increasing diversity
8:23 Between Amsterdam and Lagos
9:27 City and water relationships in Amsterdam and Lagos
13:40 “I think I am a third generations architect who thinks like a farmer.”
15:04 Relationships to animals
17:44 On being the son of an architect
22:01 On working with Rem Koolhaas at OMA
26:38 “It made architecture my hobby, allowed it to be my hobby, to be something that I just really enjoyed doing. And there was no pressure.”
27:30 What are your thoughts on the legacy and history of modernism in Nigeria?
32:11 Africa’s challenges and opportunities for “new ways of living, building, and thinking”
32:37 The demographics of Africa: young and urban
33:23 Music, literature, film, fashion, and art as signs pointing towards optimism: “When culture and arts start to take foothold in any society, that’s a sign of good health.”
35:02 “You need to look inwards, you need to first understand your local context and then add it to relevant global values...Architecture really needs to develop its own language.”
35:42 A book on water cities in the works
36:58 Makoko community on the water
37:39 July 2011 flood: climate change and the urban condition
38:38 African Water Cities Project
38:56 Makoko Floating School