Celebrated architect Sir David Adjaye OBE was named the 2021 recipient of the Royal Gold Medal.
The Royal Gold Medal is approved personally by the Monarch and is given to a person or group of people who have had a significant influence either directly or indirectly on the advancement of architecture.
The Royal Gold Medal 2021 was sponsored by Arper.
Hear from RIBA President Alan Jones and other guests as Sir David Adjaye receives the Royal Gold Medal from UK High Commissioner to Ghana, Iain Walker.
Interviewed for the 2021 Royal Gold Medal ceremony, Sir David Adjaye discussed his concept of architecture, and how architectural spaces should reflect all voices in society.
Sir David Adjaye speaks to Lucy Tilley, Associate Principal and head of Adjaye Associates' London studio, about key projects throughout his career, in a conversation recorded for the 2021 Royal Gold Medal ceremony.
We commissioned the artist, scholar and choreographer Adesola Akinleye to create a series of video artworks as part of the 2021 Royal Gold Medal celebrations, inspired by the work of Sir David Adjaye.
When Sir David Adjaye was named the recipient of the 2021 Royal Gold Medal, Eleanor Young spoke to him about what drives his practice, architecture for an age of pandemics, and why he doesn't want to be considered a role model.
Listen to Sir David Adjaye answer a selection of questions submitted from the audience, live at the 2021 Royal Gold Medal Ceremony. Hosted by Yẹmí Aládérun, RIBA Council Member 2017-2020.
Sir David Adjaye has achieved international attention for an exceptional body of work over 25 years. Drawing on his cited influences including "contemporary art, music and science to African art forms and the civic life of cities", his completed projects range from private houses, exhibitions and furniture design, through to major cultural buildings and city masterplans. From the start of his career he has combined practice with teaching in schools of architecture in the UK and the USA, including professorships at the universities of Harvard, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Princeton.
As a student, he won the 1990 RIBA Bronze Medal. He was knighted in the 2017 New Year Honours for services to architecture, following an OBE in 2007.
His practice, Adjaye Associates, was founded in 2000 and today has studios in Accra, London and New York, with projects across the world.
Adjaye Associates are most well-known for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, in Washington, DC (2016), where they were lead designer of the Freelon Adjaye/Bond SmithGroup. Other completed projects include Ruby City, an art centre in San Antonio, Texas (2019); the Alara Concept Store in Lagos (2016); the Sugar Hill Mixed Use Development (housing, museum, community facilities and offices) in Harlem, New York (2015); the Aishti Foundation, a mixed use retail and arts centre in Beirut, Lebanon (2015); the Moscow School of Management Skolkovo in Russia (2010); the Nobel Peace Centre in Oslo, Norway (2005); Rivington Place arts centre in Hackney, London (2007); and the Idea Stores – two community libraries in London (2004, 2005).
In 2006 the Idea Store Whitechapel was shortlisted for the RIBA Stirling Prize. Sir David Adjaye has also won RIBA International Awards for the Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver (2008) and the Francis Gregory Library and William. O Lockridge/Bellevue Library in Washington DC (both 2013).
Current projects include a new home for The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York in collaboration with Cooper Robertson; 130 William, a high-rise residential tower in New York’s financial district; the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in Dakar, Senegal; the Princeton University Art Museum in Princeton, New Jersey in collaboration with Cooper Robertson; the George Street Sydney Plaza in Sydney, Australia; The Abrahamic Family House, an interfaith complex in Abu Dhabi; Winter Park Library and Events Center in Winter Park, Florida; the UK Holocaust Memorial and Learning Centre, London led by Adjaye Associates, with Ron Arad Architects as Memorial Architect, and Gustafson Porter + Bowman as Landscape Architect; the Royal Benin Museum in Benin City, Nigeria; the National Cathedral of Ghana in Accra; and the Thabo Mbeki Presidential Library in Johannesburg, South Africa.
On hearing the news that he will receive the Royal Gold Medal in 2021, Sir David Adjaye said: “It’s incredibly humbling and a great honour to have my peers recognise the work I have developed with my team and its contribution to the field over the past 25 years.
Architecture, for me, has always been about the creation of beauty to edify all peoples around the world equally and to contribute to the evolution of the craft. The social impact of this discipline has been and will continue to be the guiding force in the experimentation that informs my practice. A heartfelt and sincere moment of gratitude and thanks to all the people who supported the journey to get to this moment.”
RIBA President Alan Jones said: “It was my absolute pleasure and honour to chair the committee and be involved in selecting Sir David Adjaye as the 2021 Royal Gold Medallist.
At every scale, from private homes to major arts centres, one senses David Adjaye’s careful consideration of the creative and enriching power of architecture. His work is local and specific and at the same time global and inclusive. Blending history, art and science he creates highly crafted and engaging environments that balance contrasting themes and inspire us all. I believe his both practising and teaching in schools of architecture has significantly enriched his work. His artistic and social vision has created public projects that perfectly demonstrate the civic potential of architecture – fostering empathy, identity and pride.
David’s contribution to architecture and design globally is already astounding, and I am excited that we have so much more of it to look forward to.”
The 2021 Royal Gold Medal selection committee, chaired by RIBA President Alan Jones, comprised architects Professor Lesley Lokko, Dorte Mandrup and last year’s Royal Gold Medal recipient Shelley McNamara and structural engineer Professor Hanif Kara.
See the list of Royal Gold Medal recipients from 1980 to 2021.
