Adil Dalbai – författare

Considering the immense diversity of sub-Saharan Africa's archi­tecture and built realities, does it make sense to speak of an African architecture? How does this differ from archi­tecture in Africa? What does the term architecture actually mean in the African context? And how could these questions be conceptualised while leaving behind pre-existing theoretical moulds and biases?Searching for new ways to theorise sub-Saharan African architecture, this collection of 49 essays broadens and develops the discourse around the architecture of a very rapidly changing continent.Its authors – practising architects and renowned scholars – put forward an array of heterogeneous perspectives, question old tropes and emerg­­ing narratives, and challenge popular concepts whilst pro­pos­ing new ones. All with the aim of critically examining and advancing theoretical reflection on African archi­tec­tures, both on the continent and globally.

Originally partof a set, now sold separately, Volume 6 of Sub-Saharan Africa ArchitecturalGuide is dedicated to Central Africa, from the Atlantic Ocean tothe Great Lakes and includes Central African Republic, Cameroon, EquatorialGuinea, São Tomé and Príncipe, Gabon, Republic of the Congo (Brazzaville),Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa), and Angola.Africa is considered the continent of thefuture. Nowhere else is urbanisation taking place more quickly and thepopulation growing more rapidly. But are enough of us familiar with thearchitectural aspects of this change?The seven volumes of Architectural GuideSub-Saharan Africa present the first comprehensive overview that shows theregion’s architecture in all its vast diversity. In 49 chapters, each focusingon one country, detailed texts and illuminating photos document the wealth ofarchitecture south of the Sahara. Featuring 850 selected buildings and over 200articles, the extensive publication not only showcases but also contextualisesthe continent’s building culture.This set of books paints a multifacetedpicture of sub-Saharan Africa’s architecture across time, revealing howcontemporary architecture has been shaped by its traditional and colonial rootsas well as globalisation and urbanisation. The diverse contributions by almost350 African and international authors come together to produce a superlativework giving the region the attention it so rightfully deserves.