Philip Freelon, the architect behind major buildings dedicated to black culture in the US, including Washington DC's National Museum of African American History and San Francisco's Museum of the African Diaspora, has passed away.
The African American architect died Monday 9 July 2019 in North Carolina, where he founded his architecture firm The Freelon Group back in 1990.
Freelon designed the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), which opened in September 2016 in the US capitol, in collaboration with British firm Adjaye Associates, and US firms Davis Brody Bond and SmithGroup.
British-Ghanian architect David Adjaye said that he was "deeply saddened by the loss of Phil Freelon".
"He leaves behind an indelible mark on the practice of architecture and his legacy transcends the brick and mortar of the buildings he designed," Adjaye added. Freelon's most notable work is the National Museum of African American History. Photograph by Darren Bradley
"Phil was a pioneer, an advocate of diversity and inclusion, and his impact will only strengthen over time as we continue to see people of colour rising in the field of architecture," Adjaye continued. "More than anything, however, Phil was a dear friend and mentor."
NMAAHC is a key example of Freelon's dedication to creating buildings and spaces that honour social equality during his 42 years of practice. His projects include eight museums, seven laboratori...