Kemi Lawson's 'House Proud' Celebrates Black Domestic Architecture
Published by RIBA on September 1st for £50, Kemi Lawson's 'House Proud' delves into the global landscape of Black domestic architecture and interiors. The book is organized into four parts: 'Ancestral Intelligence', 'Afro-aristo', 'Radical Shelters', and 'Future Ancestors', tackling the historical oversight of Black homes in design discourse. Drawing inspiration from her Grade II listed cottage in North London, Lawson showcases a variety of examples, such as the Kassena houses in Burkina Faso and Reggie Yates' residence in London. Central themes include 'Ancestral Intelligence' (A.I.), harmony, joy, and community. Highlights feature 575 Wandsworth Road, crafted by Khadambi Asalache, and Villa Lewaro, established by Madam C.J. Walker, as Lawson seeks to transform the understanding of home.
Key facts
- Kemi Lawson's book 'House Proud' is published by RIBA on 1st September, £50 hardback.
- The book is divided into four sections: 'Ancestral Intelligence', 'Afro-aristo', 'Radical Shelters', and 'Future Ancestors'.
- Lawson was inspired by her own Grade II listed cottage in North London, which she moved into in 2020.
- The book features the painted Kassena homes of Burkina Faso and the Hausa palace of the Emir of Dutse.
- 575 Wandsworth Road, hand-carved by Khadambi Asalache, is now cared for by the National Trust.
- Villa Lewaro, built by Madam C.J. Walker, was designed by Vertner Tandy, the first Black architect registered in New York State.
- The book documents the West Indian front room, exemplified by Michael McMillan's work at London's Museum of the Home.
- Lawson identifies 'Ancestral Intelligence' as a key concept, with themes of harmony with nature, joy, communal living, and sacred space.
Entities
Artists
- Kemi Lawson
- Khadambi Asalache
- Madam C.J. Walker
- Vertner Tandy
- Michael McMillan
- Lynette Yiadom-Boakye
- Kenneth Montague
- Reggie Yates
- Baba Issaka
- George Stiebel
- Ellie Stathaki
- Tadao Ando
- Rem Koolhaas
Institutions
- RIBA
- National Trust
- Museum of the Home
- Wallpaper*
- Heidelberg Project
- Aristotle University of Thessaloniki
- The Bartlett
- Thames & Hudson
Locations
- Burkina Faso
- Bristol
- Lagos
- Jamaica
- Morocco
- Haiti
- Sans-Souci
- Dutse
- 575 Wandsworth Road
- London
- Toronto
- Canada
- Irvington-on-Hudson
- New York
- Detroit
- Michigan
- United States
- Senegal
- Ethiopia
- Ghana
- Brazil
- West Africa
- France