At just over forty, David Adjaye is one of the world's most exciting and accomplished architects, and has built many highly acclaimed houses and public buildings in the UK and USA. Over a ten-year period, the Tanzanian born, London-based architect has visited 53 major African cities and photographed thousands of buildings, sites and places that few of us will ever be able to visit. This 7-volume slip-cased edition documents Adjayes tribute to African metropolitan architecture. The individual volumes present cities according to the terrain in which they are situated the Maghreb, Desert, The Sahel, Savannah and Grassland, Mountain and Highveld, and Forest. Each city is shown in a concise urban history, fact file, maps and satellite imagery, along with Adjaye’s personal travel notes and dozens of photographs of the city’s civic, commercial and residential architecture. All six terrain volumes feature an introductory essay by Adjaye, and a separate volume is dedicated to essays by leading academics and commentators on Africa. SOLD AS A SET, 576pp, UK. THAMES & HUDSON.

An investigation into the urban form, national memory, architectural styles, concepts of democracy and social hierarchies inherent in buildings and their architecture. The author uses two case studies to illustrate his arguments, Our Lady of Peace Basilica in Cote D'Ivoire and the Hassan II Mosque in Morocco. BNS, 200pp, UK. PRAEGER, 0275976793

An architectural study of South African design. The author identifies that the main trends of modern South African architecture have been borrowed from overseas, and therefore are not able to form part of the landscape and environment they inhabit, or benefit the people they are meant to house. Lipman argues that as South Africa develops its new identity, architecture and design develop grassroots trends and reflect the history and culture of the people of South Africa. Includes a guide for further reading. B/w illus, xx, 266pp, SOUTH AFRICA. UNISA PRESS.

An illustrated study of traditionally built dwellings in Africa, revealing socioeconomic structures and worldviews. BNS, Index, 308pp, USA. INDIANA UNIVERSITY PRESS, 0253330432

The mosque can be found in all parts of the modern world. The volume traces the history and development of the mosque since its origins in Medina and Mecca, explaining its traditional religious and teaching role in Muslim society, as well as its characteristic decorative features. Each chapter looks at the distinctive styles of different regions, including sub Saharan Africa, the Indian subcontinent and the Far East. Index, gloss, notes, bib, 288pp, UK. THAMES & HUDSON.

Conceived initially as a design primer for undergraduates, this textbook can be used as an essential reference for all designers or anyone interested in the evolution of architectural traditions. Richly illustrated with architectural drawings. Index, gloss, bib, diags, x, 326pp, South Africa. UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN PRESS.