• A historic win.
• Building an inspiring career.
• Beyond Architecture, a celebrated Author.
• Curating and Shifting Culture.
• Creating Impact.

A historic win.

A true originator of a grand tomorrow, Lesley Lokko is an exceptional African hero and visionary architect. She has not only made history but continues to shape the architectural landscape with her groundbreaking contributions. As the first African woman to be honoured with the prestigious Royal Gold Medal from the Royal British Institute of Architects (RIBA), since its establishment in 1848, Lokko stands as a trailblazer; a symbol of excellence in her field and a shining example of hard work and extraordinary talent. The award is recognized as one of the world’s highest distinctions for architecture. In a world thrown by social and economic upheaval, Lesley Lokko is the kind of hero we need.

Building an inspiring career.

For over two decades, Lokko has steadfastly provided ground-breaking contributions to architectural education & dialogue. Her articulation and discourse from a Global South perspective has been a relentless pursuit of inclusivity and equity in the field. Having taught architecture all over the world, in the United States Lokko became the Martin Luther King Visiting Professor of architecture at the University of Michigan in 2000.

In the U.K she taught architecture at Kingston University, the University of North London and at the University of Westminster, where she established the current Master of Arts programme in Architecture, Cultural Identity and Globalisation.

In South Africa, a spirited effort to break free from the legacy of “Europe’s hand-me-downs,” had Lesley join forces with the University of Johannesburg to pioneer the establishment of the Graduate School of Architecture (GSA) in 2014/2015, assuming the role of its director. Emulating the academic models of the Graduate School of Design at Harvard University and London’s Architectural Association, the GSA stands as a unique institution on the continent, offering the innovative Unit System teaching approach.

Lokko’s visionary initiative unfolded against the backdrop of significant political shifts in South African academia. During this period, she not only laid the foundation for the GSA but also bore witness to widespread student protests. These protests, fuelled by a heightened awareness of national identity in postcolonial South Africa, added a compelling layer of urgency to the educational landscape she was shaping. Under Lokko’s leadership, the GSA consequently became a dynamic cauldron for architectural education, responding to both academic and societal imperatives with intellectual vigour.

In June 2019, she was named as dean of the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture at the City College of New York, remaining in this position until 2020.

Returning to Accra, Ghana, in 2021 she founded her crowning achievement, the Architectural Futures Institute (AFI), a postgraduate school of architecture and public events platform. As an architectural education centre, it reimagines Africa as a crucible of the future, where innovative and fresh urban structures and configurations are collaboratively conceived. The AFI also serves as a guiding light, recognizing the valuable contributions of women from the African diaspora. It extends an open invitation to seize opportunities and celebrates the audacious and imaginative voices within this diverse community.

Her life is not simply cast by academics, but expressed as awards and accolades that shape a luminary career. They include the 2020 RIBA Annie Spink Award for Excellence in Architectural Education; the 2021Ada Louise Huxtable Prize for Contribution to Architecture and appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the New Year Honours for services to architecture and education in 2023.

Beyond Architecture, a celebrated Author.

As a celebrated author, Lesley explores cultural and racial identity in much of her writing. With a robust teaching background spanning packed lectures in South Africa, the United Kingdom, and the United States, she also contributes regularly to The Architectural Review. She remains a seminal and central influential figure in architectural literature and has served as an editor for notable publications. Her vast imagination is also expressed as a series of bestselling novels, including “Sundowners”, a Guardian top 40 bestseller, (2004), “Saffron Skies” (2005), “Bitter Chocolate” (2008), “One Secret Summer” (2010), “A Private Affair” (2011), and “Little White Lies” (2014).

But for Lokko, it is not enough to create. Her significant position on the board of the groundbreaking New Architecture Writers program in London – aimed at championing “professionals of colour who are under-represented across design, journalism, and curation” – highlights her steadfast dedication to promoting diversity.

Curating and Shifting Culture.

Ever the renaissance woman, Lesley Lokko, through her vision and determination would also prove revolutionary in the art world. A driving force for innovation, Lokko showcased her pioneering curatorial skills during her recent leadership of the Venice Biennale 2023. This groundbreaking event marked the first-ever convergence of African and Africa-related architectural expressions. It saw the creation of ‘The Laboratory of the Future’—a six-part exhibition that ignited discussions on decarbonization and decolonization. Notably, under Lokko’s curatorship, Nigerian artist, designer, architect, and master builder, Demas Nwoko, became the first Black individual to receive the esteemed Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the International Venice Biennale.

Creating Impact.

It is not enough that Lesley Lokko shines bright in a field dominated by men, but her influence is helping reshape the realm of architecture. Her endeavours endorse, exemplify, and showcase inventive approaches to architectural practice, challenging the conventional boundaries of the discipline and redefining its potential.

Lokko is ever the impassioned advocate for inclusivity. She encourages individuals from diverse backgrounds to engage in the rich tapestry of architecture. Her intuitive and strategic perspective is revealed as a cultural expression. It is both informed by heritage and inspired by the future. To Lesley it is an art form fostering public discourse around ideas and content rather than solely function. Finally, and by no means least, it democratizes the field, making it accessible to everyone. And this is why Professor Lesley Lokko, an agent for change, creates impact.