Education

As think tank for urban and rural transformations, NLÉ is a global thought leader in the fields of architecture, urban theory and practice.

African Water Cities Book

June 2023

African Water Cities is a vivid collection of essays, research, photographs and visions of African cities and communities by waterfronts evolving through two of the most significant trends of our time: rapid urbanization and a changing climate.   Coastal and waterfront cities in particular experience loss and damage due to significant increases in sea level,… Continue reading African Water Cities Book

Learning from Lamu

Lamu, Kenya 2021

NLÉ Works and North East Productions collaborated on a documentary research titled “Learning from Lamu: Water, Urban Transformation and African Heritage” headed by award-winning Nigerian Architect and Urban Researcher Kunlé Adeyemi (Lagos/Amsterdam) and North East Productions founder Azza Satti. As part of the research project, the documentary focuses on on the effects of the Lamu… Continue reading Learning from Lamu

MAD Workshop MacArthur Floating School

Los Angeles, USA 2020

MacArthur Floating School is the third generation and 5th iteration of NLÉ’s Makoko Floating School and Makoko Floating System (MFS™) – a prefabricated, ready-to-assemble, floating building product. Following its deployment in four countries in three continents, MacArthur Floating School is the first time reuse and reassembly of an existing structure previously installed in the city… Continue reading MAD Workshop MacArthur Floating School

1st UN-Habitat Assembly

Nairobi, Kenya 2019

NLÉ was thrilled to be part of the First UN-Habitat Assembly, addressing the crucial theme of “Innovation for better quality of life in cities and communities”, and to showcase a model of the Makoko Floating System (MFS™), African Water Cities project – displayed in the United Nations Office pond in Nairobi, Kenya. MFS by NLÉ… Continue reading 1st UN-Habitat Assembly

Atelier LUMA Masterclass

Arles, France 2018

In the wake of a rising global interest for resilient cities and water management issues related to human habitat, and building on “Jean Prouvé, the better days” exhibition, atelier LUMA initiates a masterclass on floodproof and demountable architecture and self construction. The masterclass will investigate this global concern on a local level in a 6-day… Continue reading Atelier LUMA Masterclass

Harvard GSD Studio – Spring 2017

BUILDING INDUSTRIES IN AFRICAN WATER CITES This studio explores the city of Durban to examine the challenges and opportunities presented by the impacts of urbanization in the social, physical, and environmental context of the African continent. The aim is to build industries–to produce a series of new architectural, infrastructural, and urban solutions learning from the… Continue reading Harvard GSD Studio – Spring 2017

Waterfront Atlas Exhibition

Venice, Italy 2016

WATERFRONT Atlas is a collaborative knowledge platform that brings the local intelligence of aquatic communities like Makoko, Lagos to the world at the 15th International Architecture Exhibition — La Biennale di Venezia curated by Alejandro Aravena. It aims to identify, gather and cultivate the intelligence of communities and cities by water with a motivation to… Continue reading Waterfront Atlas Exhibition

Otis College of Art and Design

Masterclass 2016

The Architecture / Landscape / Interiors Department at Otis College of Art and Design is pleased to announce the selection of architect, designer, and urban researcher, Kunlé Adeyemi as the 2018-2019 Donghia Designer-in-Residence. Adeyemi will present a public lecture on March 13, 2019, at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles, and direct a one-week Master Class at Otis College of Art… Continue reading Otis College of Art and Design

NLÉ | SAIC Summer Workshop

Chicago, USA 2015

One collaboration with the Chicago Park District and the City of Chicago pairs three world-renowned architects with students from local architecture programs at SAIC, the Illinois Institute of Technology, and the University of Illinois at Chicago. The architects and students are designing three distinct vendor kiosks that will permanently stand on the Lake Michigan shoreline.… Continue reading NLÉ | SAIC Summer Workshop

More Lectures

2006-current

2020                           University of Miami 2019                            University of Southern California School of Architecture, Los Angeles 2019                            Princeton University, New York 2019                            Donghia Designer-in-Residence, The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA), Los Angeles 2018                            Atelier LUMA Masterclass, Arles, France 2018                            Rivercultures, Gothenburg City Triennale 2018                            Minne… Continue reading More Lectures