Kunlé Adeyemi founded the Amsterdam-based practice NLÉ, an architecture and urbanism firm, after spending nearly a decade working for the Office for Metropolitan Architecture. Born in 1976 in Kaduna, Nigeria, Adeyemi bridges professional architecture with research into the development of rapidly growing cities, focusing on how infrastructure and cultural systems adapt within the Global South.
Early Career and Education
Adeyemi attended the Federal Government Academy in Suleja, graduating in 1992. He went on to study architecture at the University of Lagos, where he finished his bachelor degree as the top student. He furthered his education at the Princeton University School of Architecture, earning a post-professional degree in 2005. During this period, he investigated the intersection of market economies and urbanization in cities like Lagos under the guidance of Peter Eisenman. His initial professional experience included work in Abuja and Lagos, preceded by a formative childhood exposure to design through his father, a modernist architect.
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Beginning in 2002, Adeyemi joined the Office for Metropolitan Architecture, serving as a senior associate for nine years. Working alongside Rem Koolhaas, he managed various high-profile international projects. His portfolio at the firm included the 2009 Prada Transformer, the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, and the Qatar Foundation Headquarters in Doha. He also contributed to major institutional designs such as the Leeum Museum in Seoul and the New Court Rothschild Bank project in London.
Practice and Research at NLÉ
In his independent practice, NLÉ—a name meaning 'at home' in Yoruba—Adeyemi emphasizes the logic of urban growth in developing countries. His work functions as both a design studio and an advisory service for infrastructure and architectural development. Projects have included the Makoko Floating School and its subsequent iterations, MFS II and MFS III. Beyond built structures, his office engages in research regarding climate change, urbanization policy, and artistic interventions like the Lagos Photo project.
Academic and Professional Contributions
Adeyemi maintains an active presence in architectural pedagogy, having served as a visiting critic at the Harvard Graduate School of Design and the Architectural Association in London. He has authored articles such as "Urban Crawl" for the LOG Journal and participated as a keynote speaker at the Guggenheim Symposium. In 2016, his contributions were recognized with an honorary doctorate from Hasselt University.
Fast facts
- Born: 1976, Kaduna, Nigeria
- Education: University of Lagos, Princeton University School of Architecture
- Firm: NLÉ, Amsterdam
- Former Employer: Office for Metropolitan Architecture
- Key Recognition: Honorary doctorate of Hasselt University (2016)
- Languages: English, Nigerian Pidgin, Yoruba
Questions readers ask
What is the focus of Adeyemi's firm, NLÉ?
NLÉ focuses on research, architectural design, and urbanism, specifically investigating the systems and development logic of rapidly growing cities in developing countries.
What major projects did Adeyemi lead while at OMA?
He managed projects including the Shenzhen Stock Exchange, the Prada Transformer, the Qatar Foundation Headquarters, and the New Court Rothschild Bank.
Achievements
- Notable work: architecture
- Notable work: urbanism
- honorary doctorate of Hasselt University
- Trained at Princeton University School of Architecture and University of Lagos
