Insights

Go to: David Adjaye’s buildings no.2

null — **Adjaye Associates. Interior shot of Stephen Lawrence Centre. Photograph: Lydon Douglas**

Written by
David Ogunmuyiwa Published date
23 November 2018

We’ve opened the door to the world of Sir David Adaye with our teaser post. Want to see more?

Take a trip round London to explore other pieces of outstanding and controversial architecture by this groundbreaking architect. Maybe you’ll discover that he designed buildings that you use or walk past everyday.

Learning: The Stephen Lawrence Centre, Deptford (2007)

an outside shot of a building mostly made from large pieces of glass — **'The Stephen Lawrence Centre’, Adjaye Associates. Photograph: Lyndon Douglas**

The Stephen Lawrence Centre was designed a ‘working monument’ and place for inspiration in honour of Stephen. Like ‘Dirty House’ featured in our teaser, you’ll see that the façade of the building is unforgiving. But Adjaye accompanies this with vast glass panels designed by artist Chris Ofili to bring light into the building as you can see in the large feature image above.

The Stephen Lawrence Centre

39 Brookmill Rd

London SE8 4HU

Nearest Station: Deptford Bridge – DLR

Learning: Ideas Store, Whitechapel (2005)

two images of a building, showing an outside view and an inside shot with an elevator and colourful green windows — **‘Ideas Store’, Whitechapel, Adjaye Associates. Photograph: Edmund Sumner**

In the very early noughties, Tower Hamlets Council’s concept of the ‘Ideas Store’ revolutionised how councils designed and imagined libraries and community services. Adjaye collaborated with the Council to bring their idea to life, making a space that was practical and more desirable for the local community to use. The façade takes its inspiration from the stripes in the market stores outside.

Idea Store

321 Whitechapel Rd

London E1 1BU

Nearest Station: Whitechapel – Hammersmith & City line, District line

Culture: Bernie Grant Arts Centre, Tottenham (2007)

two images of buildings, one in a night setting, the other of a curved red wall — **‘Bernie Grant Arts Centre’, Adjaye Associates. Photograph: Lyndon Douglas.**

This arts centre was designed to carry on the work of Bernie Grant- one of the first black members of parliament. The space was purpose built as an arts centre to support up – and – coming performers and provide a venue for the local community. In this example of Adjaye’s work, the façade’s job is to unite the centre with the existing building in the town square.

Bernie Grant Arts Centre

Town Hall Approach Rd

Tottenham Green

London N15 4RX

Nearest Station: Seven Sisters – Victoria line

Culture: Rivington Place, Gallery, Shoreditch (2007)

a grey shiny building with multiple windows and a jagged shaped roof — **‘Rivington Place’, Adjaye Associates. Photograph: Ed Reeve**

Rivington Place is a visual arts space for artists from diverse backgrounds. It’s home to 2 exciting organisations- Iniva and Autograph ABP. The building brings together exhibition and film screening spaces, a café and library as well as local workspaces for the local community. It’s another great example of Adjaye’s power to collaborate and create iconic buildings that change the face of our cities.

Rivington Place

London EC2A 3BA

Nearest Station: Shoreditch – London Overground