As part of a series on craftsmanship the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture has invited Joe Osae-Addo to give a lecture on his professional experience and knowledge on the theme. Please click on FULL TEXT for further details.
In the first part of the lecture series “professional knowledge” or “craftsmanship” the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture will invite a fellow craftsman each week to talk about the craftsmanship of the architect.
The focus of the series are all the different perspectives and fields of forces in the craft. From these fields of forces, a discussion about the design (of the building) and the position and attitude of the architect will emerge.
A large portion of craftsmanship consists in undiscussed actions and intuition. These are what we are trying to get out on the table.
Those attending will be able to ask questions and will participate in a discussion with the guests.
The lecture and discussion will be in English.
Joe Osae-Addo lecture:
'FROM LA (Los Angeles)- INNOVATION TO WA (West Africa)-‘INNO-NATIVE™’
(The YouTube video that can be seen below - although it begins rocky- gives a brief insight to some of the themes of his lecture)
When: 6th September 2010
Time: 19.30pm
Where: Amsterdam Architecture Academy
Address:
Waterlooplein 213
1011 PG Amsterdam
tel 020-531 8218
fax 020-531 8240
mail_ info@bwk.ahk.nl
web_ www.academievanbouwkunst.nl
Short Background:
Joe Osae-Addo was born in Ghana, West Africa, and trained at the Architectural Association in London. He worked in Finland, the UK and the USA, setting up his practice in Los Angeles in 1991. His work has been influenced by ‘genus-loci’, and how architecture can/should respond to this in creating pieces which are both site specific and meet the needs of people who will interact with it.
He is a founding partner in the A + D Museum, Los Angeles, whose mission is to advance knowledge and to enable people to appreciate and understand architecture and design. He moved back to his native country Ghana in 2004 and is currently the CEO of Constructs LLC (http://www.constructsllc.com), an ‘inno-native’ design firm based in Accra and Tamale in Ghana, West Africa.
Constructs LLC is currently working on several projects as both developer and architect, with a primary focus on developing manufacturing, using and promoting indegenous materials and technology for construction, in a contemporary way. The firm has expanded its' mandate to become a think tank of sorts, to engage in the discourse of economic development in Ghana and Africa as a whole. They have become self described ‘DESIGN- SOCIO-ECONOMISTS’, using architecture as a platform to engage in Projects ranging from re-branding of Towns and Cities, Product design (as an economic empowerment tool) to targetted urban planning initiatives.
Joe has worked closely with ArchiAfrika over the last three years and he is currently the Chair of the Board of ArchiAfrika.
