Bio:

The great designer, Nmadili Okwumabua is an Urban Planner and Educator. Her passion for design is rooted in a vision where communities in Africa and the Diaspora are developed with new architectural languages that celebrate the aesthetics and culture of the people today.  She founded the Community Planning & Design Initiative, Africa, (CPDI Africa), a research-based, culture-inspired initiative created to develop new African inspired design languages though design competition.

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

I was in high school when a teacher told me the hobby I enjoyed of drawing houses, was called architecture! I then chose to major in architecture in high school and the university. This nurtured my interest in the built environment.

 

What do you do?

I am a built environment professional, with special interests in cultural preservation, research and design.  Currently I manage CPDI Africa, educating on and promoting African inspired sustainable development.

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What excites you in the work you do?

What excites me in my work is hearing the appreciation from students, professionals and clients regards the impact of our work in their lives and communities.  The contribution of African voices to the discourse of architecture has been long overdue.

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Who or what inspires you professionally?

Demas Nwoko, Frances Kere, Phil Freelon, David Hughes, Carolyn Armenta-Davis, Pierre Atepa, Stanley-Love-Stanley

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What is your proudest professional accomplishment or achievement?

The successful launch of CPDI Africa, and accompanying Art of African Architecture Exhibit.

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Featured Project Name: 

The Art of African Inspired Architecture

 

Featured Project Location: 

International

 

Featured Project Completion Date: 

Ongoing

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Role in Featured Project: 

Founder and Director

 

Featured Project Description:

CPDI Africa proudly presents The Art of African Architecture Exhibition, a celebration of Winning Designs from the CPDI Africa biannual Modern African Architecture Design Competitions!  This special traveling exhibition features innovative contemporary Architecture Masterpieces inspired by traditional architecture across the continent of Africa. Research generated by participating scholars and architects is used for curriculum development, policy implementation and cultural preservation.

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Photography Credit:

CPDI Africa Architects