London Being in the Library

The impact of David Adjaye's architecture, reflected by Daniela Keiser

Daniela Keiser is among the most renowned contemporary artists in Switzerland. In 2017 she was awarded the Prix Meret Oppenheim, and a studio grant from Landis & Gyr Stiftung that offered her an extended stay in London's East End. There she discovered the Idea Store, the public library on Whitechapel Road, built by British architect David Adjaye in 200105. Upon its opening to the public this institution quickly became a meeting place also for socially disadvantaged people. The goal of the Idea Storeseight of them have currently been opened in various London boroughsis to upgrade neglected neighborhoods and offer a low-threshold source of education and information.

From that initial Idea Store on Whitechapel Road, Daniela Keiser began to take pictures of the goings-on in the street outside. Her LibraryIdea Store series reveals a calm, repetitive insistent image and offers insight into the everyday variations in the surroundings. Her photographic reflection is accompanied by a conversation with David Adjaye conducted by art and architecture historian Philip Ursprung. They talk about Keiser's perception of the site andwithout actually showing the buildingthe impact of urban design and the architect's intentions.

• An artistic reflection on the impact of David Adjaye's architecture for the Idea Stores in London

• Features a conversation with David Adjaye highlighting the architect's intentions for London's new public neighborhood libraries

  Autorentext

Daniela Keiser lives and works as an artist in Zurich and teaches at Bern University of the Arts (HKB). Her work has been awarded numerous prizes, including Switzerland's national art award Prix Meret Oppenheim in 2017.

Philip Ursprung is a professor of art and architectural history at ETH Zurich's Institute for the History and Theory of Architecture (gta). He has been awarded the 2017 Prix Meret Oppenheim in mediation.

Sir David Adjaye RA is one of today's most significant contemporary architects. His building designs in numerous countries and his contributions to the architectural discourse draw great attention worldwide.

Zusammenfassung

The impact of David Adjaye's architecture, reflected by Daniela Keiser