Bio:

The great architect, Abubakr Ali is a Sudanese architect, researcher and storyteller practicing in NYC. He has worked on an array of projects focusing on augmenting the cultural identity of clients whether they are institutions or communities. He is interested in using architectural thinking and design to provide solutions for an equitable access to the built environment. 

 

How did you first learn about architecture and when did you decide that built environment profession was an area of interest for you?

I come from a family of architects and was en- couraged to look at the buildings critically from an early age. What interests me the most is our relationship to the built environment and how architectural interventions affect how we navigate our lives.

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What do you do?

I am an architectural designer and amateur re- searcher. I believe that architectural thinking is versatile to tackle both current issues of the built environment and also innovate how we choose to occupy this environment in the future.

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What excites you in the work you do?

Being able to utilize my architectural endeavors to contribute to developing both an architectural vernacular for my community and providing deep insights into how we relate to the built environ- ment

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

I am inspired by a myriad of architectural thinkers and professionals but also find inspiration from small grassroots collaborations and initiatives that always bring a more intimate understanding of the built environment to the table.

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What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

My greatest achievement was when in the space of a few months this year I completed my first two projects in the US. I had worked on both from start to finish and seeing clients move in to these spaces was a great validation for all the hard work.

 

Featured Project Name: 

Patrons of a Ritual

 

Featured Project Location: 

Columbia University

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

Unbuillt

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Role in Featured Project: 

Architect

 

Featured Project Description:

Operating across a number of scales, MOUTH, TABLE, KITCHEN and CITY; this project is a meditation on the symmetrical relationship between the practice of rituals, the consumption of food and how that influences the architecture that contains it. With this in mind I addressed my studio research towards the exploration of the role of ritual in our daily routines. To this end I designated one of the most practiced food rituals, one familiar to me, Iftar in Ramadan, as the main topic of my research.

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Photography Credit:

Abubakr Ali

 

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