First Look at Ini Archibong’s Pavilion of the African Diaspora for London Design Biennale

Switzerland-based designer Ini Archibong has revealed his design for the Pavilion of the African Diaspora, a space where past, present, and future will come together at the London Design Biennale under the festival’s 2021 theme of “Resonance.” Designed in partnership with Zena Howard, principal and managing partner at Perkins and Will, and Tamara Houston, founder and managing partner of ICON MANN, the Pavilion celebrates the rich evolution of African heritage and the contributions of Black creators with a series of panels, educational experiences, and social events curated around Black excellence and addressing issues of reparations, repair, representation, and storytelling.
The Pavilion is set to debut at the historic Somerset House in London from June 1-27, 2021, and will go on to tour internationally through 2023. Programming will be guided by what Archibong and his team have dubbed the “High Council,” an advisory group comprised of global creatives, ambassadors, and curators, including Robert Battle, artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Bracken Darrell, CEO of Logitech, among many others.



