Giles Nartey: African Fusion and bold design

A fusion of tradition, academia and design, Giles Nartey’s work transforms ancient African rituals into contemporary boundary-pushing designs.

It is here, at the dynamic intersection of teaching, research and design that British-Ghanaian architect Giles Nartey is carving out his place in history.

Driven by a profound appreciation for African craft cultures, Nartey endeavours to reimagine living spaces by celebrating Black identity and traditions.

“African craft cultures are a catalyst for re-imagining the spaces we live in,” says Giles Nartey, who credits his upbringing in Accra, Ghana, as the catalyst for his creative endeavours today.

“Growing up in Labadi I was inspired by the informal architecture, behaviours and practices that animated structures,” he notes of the small everyday actions such as people washing their hands in a bowl before a meal or the wooden pepper grinders used during cooking that still inspire his work.

Born in South London and shaped by almost a decade in Accra, Ghana, Nartey draws inspiration from the designs and daily practices witnessed during his formative years. His work, spanning art, film, and architecture, serves as a tribute to these influences, seeking to translate African rituals into bold design objects.

Academia is the heartbeat of Nartey’s creative journey. Lecturing at the University College London, co-running a diploma unit at the AA and currently pursuing a PhD at the Bartlett School of Architecture, his academic pursuits serve as fertile ground for experimentation.

“My aim is to always teach, research and practice as a designer. This combination provides me with the tools to push boundaries in my work,” the designer explains.

‘Interplay,’ a communal bench embedded with the Ghanaian game Oware, is a tangible result of Nartey’s research into African ontologies. Exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum, it challenges conventional notions of furniture, turning it into a shared skin etched with narratives.

Meanwhile, Nartey’s latest creation, the ‘Serwaa’ stool, is a sleek aluminium masterpiece inspired by the West African ‘Lobi ‘chair. This, along with upcoming architectural interventions in Accra, reflects his commitment to intertwining tradition with contemporary design.

In every piece, Nartey pioneers a narrative that transcends time, pushing the boundaries of design and reshaping the global canon.

As he notes, “My aim is to imagine African design not as a relic or artefact but as contemporary language steeped in the practices that fostered its creation.”