Arthur Timothy, Annette Fisher and the Society of Black Architects

Building Black Community

Turning plans into reality is Architect Arthur Timothy's profession. But giving new life to communities and nurturing the talents of black youth is his proudest goal.

Arthur Timothy

Timothy, who has offices in London, is the son of professional parents - Adeline Dove of Ghana and Bankole Timothy of Sierra Leone, one-time editor of the Daily Graphic in Accra. "I went to public school in England and had all the advantages of a good education, and our practice is thriving," he says.

Meeting needs

What excites Timothy most is "making a difference where it counts for black people". This means putting his skills to work improving inner city neighbourhoods. It is a crucial service for black communities whose needs are not met by public and market-led renewal schemes.

But establishing a reputation among the 30,000 architects in Britain is not easy, he says. Within a profession which is middle-class and white "many black architects have been denied good commissions and opportunities to broaden their skills". Prejudice also plays a part and "local authorities and property developers can be the worst culprits", he says.

Overcoming these barriers is a major task. "We need more black architects and greater public awareness of their skills", says Timothy. It is no surprise, then, to learn that these are the aims of the 70-member Society of Black Architects (SOBA) of which forty are students. His views are shared by colleagues - among them Kwasi Boateng, SOBA chairman, Chris Nasah of Cameroon, a partner in Knak Design, and Wilfred Achille of Trinidadian background who is partner in Mode 1 architects.

Black architects

The society is determined to foster more black talent in architecture. Achille recalls that growing up in a Trinidadian family in London in the fifties "we didn't have black role models in the world of architecture and design". Now, SOBA members help guide students and young professionals through the difficult early stages of their careers.

Timothy, who tutored the late Stephen Lawrence in urban design, has almost single-handedly placed architectural training for blacks on the agenda of major British institutions. Through his efforts as chair of the Lawrence charity, the Royal Institute of British Architects and the Architectural Association School have launched awards and scholarships for black students.

Breakthrough

Annette Fisher

Now, a unique breakthrough has been made. Annette Fisher, a registered architect with 17 years work in the USA, Africa and the UK has become the first black woman elected to the prestigious RIBA council. Ms. Fisher, of Nigerian parents, was born in Scotland where she completed her five-year architectural studies in 1983. A SOBA member, she specialises in commercial property development and has experience formulating business plans for inner city job creation projects.

Above and beyond her qualifications, Ms. Fisher's pre-election statement "Why Choose Me?" underscored her deep commitment to change. "I believe that through having more people like us in main stream architecture we can remove the glass ceiling that women and minority architects face in the work place. Attitudes within the construction industry need to change as we move into the 21st century," she said.

Based on her experiences she says "The developers who fund the inner city regeneration projects often perceive gentrification as the supplanting of these communities, ignoring the fact that every one wants and is entitled to live in a good neighbourhood. Creating them is not just about new buildings, but new attitudes, jobs, and a new social awareness allowing people to be responsible for and play a part in reforming their own communities."

Something special

Many black architects of African Caribbean backgrounds are also convinced they can add something special to a society and profession that often ignores "non-western" ideas. They can "bring a whole range of cultural references to bear on their work," says the Cameroonian Chris Nasah speaking to The Guardian March 29, "rather than just fit in with the established flow."

These special qualities stem from fruitful cultural interaction across three continents of the African Diaspora. "Our biggest commission," says Arthur Timothy, "is to design four universities devoted to business studies and funded by the performer Michael Jackson with Nelson Mandela's backing in Cape Town, Accra, Tunis and Nairobi. Great projects - fantastic projects - but very black projects."

Rich heritage

In a period when more Black Britons are rediscovering their roots, black architects are uniquely placed. SOBA, founded some ten years ago, can highlight Black contributions to world architecture by organising workshops, conferences and projects for students, practitioners and community groups. It can encourage exploration of the rich heritage of architectural styles, cultures and materials - from the monuments of African master builders to the small-scale efforts today of self-help black communities in the Caribbean, the Americas and Africa.

Black architects have found a niche in the architectural marketplace. Some may not like doing what others call "ghetto projects". But their accomplishments provide a solid base from which to move forward.

Undoubtedly, black architects will face uncomfortable dilemmas. "Often people don't want to be defined by the colour of their skin as by their skills. On the one hand we just want to be architects like any other; on the other we need to talk together and encourage each other," says Arthur Timothy.

In resolving these dilemmas, individually and in unison, black architects are beginning to understand some elementary requirements of 'being black for black people' in western societies. The test of their abilities is not a career-long wait for grudging acceptance. Nor is it a lifetime of scavenging for crumbs of opportunity from the tables of patricians, policy makers and developers. Black architects have a more elevated historic task: that of building and re-building healthy and prosperous Black Communities in line with their rich heritage.

The Mosque at Jenne

Arthur Timothy's Work

Arthur Timothy attended Queen's College Taunton and Sheffield University, where he gained a master's degree in architecture in 1981. His firm, Timothy Associates, has developed considerable expertise in housing and development in urban renewal areas. Described below are his early projects at Deptford 1988 and Trundleys Road 1989, and his current projects in Lewisham and Stonebridge housing estate. Timothy's Africa Lake project in Accra, Ghana is also of interest.

Deptford urban renewal
Deptford High Street/Broadway site. Design scheme for 49 flats, 10 workshops, 2 pub and a library. London, 1988. Project Value: £3 million. The design, undertaken on behalf of Lovell Urban Renewal, was judged the best development prospect for the site by the Lewisham Borough Council planning committee

Trundleys Road
A proposal providing 2/3 bedroom houses, offices and 6 flats on a prominent but restricted corner site. London, 1989. Project Value: £1 million.

Lewisham 2000 (Winning Design Entry)
Multicultural arts complex for a 12-screen cinema/retail centre. Lewisham, London, 1996. Project Value: £8 million.

Stonebridge Estate social housing
Design phase of 22 flats and 10 houses. North, London, 1999. Project Value: £2.2 million.

Africa Lake (Phase 1-Design and documentation)
200 bedrooms hotel, sports centre, commercial centre, apartments. Accra, Ghana, 1995. Project Value: £45 million.

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