Author: Pascale Sablan
By shedding light on overlooked figures in architecture, “Greatness: Diverse Designers of Architecture,” published this year, makes an urgent and necessary contribution to the field.
At about 200 pages, this richly detailed book by Pascale Sablan, award-winning architect and CEO of Adjaye Associates, presents an anthology of diverse designers who have reshaped the built environment.
The book features essays, project case studies and a much-needed deep dive into architectural typologies, spanning residential, institutional and master planning.
Sablan, a millennial architect from New York, has spent her career advocating for equity and inclusion in architecture.
“Women and designers of color play a crucial role in realizing many of the world’s greatest architectural projects, yet our recognition is still significantly lacking,” she rightfully states.
Through this book, she seeks to correct that oversight, offering an expansive look at how diverse perspectives have long shaped the field.
The book highlights 40 groundbreaking US-based and international projects, emphasizing themes of dignity, sustainability and social justice.
It also explores architecture’s historical role in systemic injustices such as redlining and housing discrimination while illustrating how inclusive design can lead to meaningful change.
“When I started this career, I had no idea how many women and people of color were behind the iconic buildings that I have come to know and love,” she states.
Blending insightful essays, case studies, and profiles of 47 architects and designers from diverse backgrounds, “Greatness” underscores how architecture can serve as a tool for empowerment.
The featured architects tackle some of the industry’s most pressing challenges, including housing injustice, environmental sustainability and community development. She ensures that some of these vital voices are finally highlighted.
While not a comprehensive list, the book serves as a crucial guide, urging readers to recognize these architects as the “greats” she sees them to be.
Released during Black History Month in the US, “Greatness” challenges the industry to rethink who gets to be called “great” in architecture and how we can all expand upon our definition.
Easy to read, easy to reference and easy to look at, it is a great addition to your coffee table collection.
