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Phenom Factor: David Adjaye

“You've gotta be a showman. You can't just do your work. You've got to put it out there. Nobody's going to give you ten million pounds if you can't demonstrate your ability." Given the fact that people are actually handing over that much, and more, for his time and talent, it’s safe to say David Adjaye is a little bit of a phenom. I first heard about him via the Stimulist, not too long ago. His story was interesting – born in Tanzania, father was a Ghanian diplomat, family moved to London at the age of nine and dabbled in art for a second before getting his Masters at the Royal Art School, the world’s only graduate school devoted entirely to art and design. In ‘94 (then in his late 20s), Adjaye started his own architecture firm, Adjaye Associates and by the time he was 36, become known as a starchitect, designing buildings for celebs and organizations both in the UK and abroad. Not only has he already accomplished what many in his field only dream of, but you can appreciate the fact that he doesn’t shy away from his heritage.  When asked why he’s been so explicit about utilizing African influences in his work, Adjaye replied

"There has been a tendency to shy away from who you are, and I don’t want to deny who I am. If a Japanese architect talks about Shintoism, everyone goes, ‘Wow.’ If an African architect talks about an African village, it is somehow weird in the Western context. I find that hilarious. What’s the difference?”

In reading more about him, some articles seemed a bit tentative – like people are almost waiting to see him slip up. In fact, one article pretty much has him already on the demise. But something tells me it’s a little too early to count him out.  In fact, what may be his greatest accomplishment, doesn’t even exist yet.  In April of this year, he won the contest to design the National Museum of African-American History and Culture, to debut at the National Mall in DC in 2015. Given the fact that he operates in one "the most closed, middle-class, middle-aged, trust-fund profession you could ever be in,” winning the contract is a big deal, in and of it self. As we wait patiently for 2015, one thing is for certain – the man makes some pretty fly buildings. Check more of his work below: Check out more pics from the Lost house here. And visit Adjaye's website here.