Juliet Sakyi-Ansah
BIO
Juliet Sakyi-Ansah, Race in Architectural Education: Decolonising the Curriculum, Oxford Brookes University School of Architecture, October 2021
Juliet Sakyi-Ansah is a registered Architect in the UK and Ghana. She received her BA Architecture (RIBA Part 1) and M.Arch (RIBA Part 2) from the Sheffield School of Architecture, completed her RIBA Part 3 at the Architectural Association School of Architecture, and is currently pursuing her PhD in Architecture and the Built Environment at Oxford Brookes University.
Juliet experiments with architecture as a tool for driving social and environmental change using participatory and collaborative approaches. Invested in the potential of collective action, her explorative work and approach often centres on people and place identity and how these manifest in the practice, process and production of architecture and the built environment. Juliet's emerging Studio OASA is her creative space for her research and design.
Juliet has taught at the Birmingham School of Architecture and Design as a Visiting Tutor. She has co-organised architecture conferences and symposiums including The Production of Place at UEL School of Architecture and Ecology theory forum 09 at the Sheffield School of Architecture. She recently co-organised the inaugural Black in Architecture symposium on Race in Architectural Education: Decolonising the Curriculum at Oxford Brookes School of Architecture.
Juliet founded and spearheads The Architects’ Project. Here, she conceived and developed Narratives, a semi-academic publication space for projects exploring new and emerging ways of practice, writings on planning, politics and policy in architecture, the built environment and related subjects. As part of The Architects’ Project, Juliet is creating /tap Collective platform as a collaborative and creative lab that addresses complex social and environmental challenges and opportunities. Her current work on this platform includes Black in Architecture research unit, a change initiative addressing race and equity in UK Architecture. She also works on Learn/Play, a place-based design initiative that explores spatial opportunities for underused and derelict spaces. Juliet convenes interdisciplinary experts and communities for dialogue through the /tap Exchange platform at The Architect's Project and works with local communities on outreach projects through the /tap Reach platform.
June 2022
Juliet Sakyi-Ansah, Cape Coast Castle, Ghana, August 2022
INTERESTS
Design
Technology
Ecology
Art, culture and heritage
Place, space and identity
Social and Environmental Sustainability
EDUCATION
PhD in Architecture, Built Environment and Computer Science (on-going) - Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment, Oxford Brookes University
M.Arch, Architecture - Sheffield School of Architecture, The University of Sheffield
BA (Hons), Architecture - Sheffield School of Architecture, The University of Sheffield
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
RIBA Part 3 Professional Practice Exams - Architectural Association School of Architecture, London UK
Professional Practice Examinations - Architects Registration Council, Accra Ghana
EXPERIENCE (selected)
Practice
Studio OASA, 2019 to present
Social Entrepreneurship
Black in Architecture, 2020 to present
The Architects’ Project, 2013 to present
Design Teaching - Visiting Tutor
Third Year Design Studio, BA Architecture - Birmingham City School of Architecture and Design, 2019 - 2020
First Year Design Studio, BA Architecture - Birmingham City School of Architecture and Design, 2018 - 2019
Artist Collaborations
Radio Public Library - Workshop24, 2023
Time Rebel Learn/Play Experiment - CoLab Dudley, 2020 - 2021
Advisory and Steering
Race in Architectural Education Steering Group Member - Black in Architecture Research Unit x Place Culture and Identity Research Group, Oxford Brookes University, 2021 - 2022
Advisor - Theatrum Mundi, 2020 - 2021
Conferences, Symposiums, Workshops and Exhibitions
Co-organiser - Black in Architecture Exhibition 2022 in collaboration with Place Culture & Identity research unit, Oxford Brookes School of Architecture End of Year Show, May 2022
Co-lead - Black in Architecture Reading Group series - Oxford Brookes University, December 2021 to April 2022
Co-organiser, symposium on ‘Race in Architectural Education: Decolonising the Curriculum’ - Inaugural Black in Architecture Symposium w/ Oxford Brookes University School of Architecture / Oxford / 2021
Organiser, talk by ‘Lesley Lokko: Building Change’ - The Architects’ Project / Online / 2021
Organiser, seminars and exhibition on ‘Together: Cooperation and Support’ - /tap Accra 2017, The Architects’ Project / Accra / 2017
Organiser, seminars and workshop on ‘Transcultural Praxis’ - The Architects’ Project w/ London Metropolitan University School of Art, Architecture and Design / London / 2015
Co-organiser, symposium on ‘Tapping Local Resources for Sustainable Development’ - The Architects’ Project w/ Architects Registration Council of Ghana / Accra / 2014
Co-organiser, workshop on ‘Remaking Agbogbloshie’ - The Architects’ Project w/ Agbogbloshie Makerspace Platform / Accra / 2014
Organiser, forum on ‘Speed Tapping’ - The Architects’ Project / Accra / 2014
Organiser, forum on ‘Your Job, Your PP: Where do you draw the line?’ - The Architects’ Project / Accra / 2013
Co-organiser, international conference on ‘The Production of Place’ - University of East London / London / 2012
Co-organiser, student-led theory forum on ‘Ecology’ - Sheffield School of Architecture / Sheffield / 2009
SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
PhD Studentship, 2019 - Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment, Oxford Brookes University
SSoA Centenary Prize, 2010 - Sheffield School of Architecture, The University of Sheffield
Sir H K Stephenson Travelling Studentship in Architecture, 2009 - Sheffield School of Architecture, The University of Sheffield
Stephen Lawrence Bursary Award, 2002 - Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust
Black Achievers Award, 2001 - Afro-Caribbean Cultural Centre
ENGAGEMENTS
‘Built to Measure: Cities of the Future.’ re:publica Accra | Accra, December 2018. Image Credit: Kuukuwa Manful
Invited Advisor - LSA Part 4 Inclusion Roundtable, The London School of Architecture, November 2022
Speaker - Black in Architecture Principles for Race Equity, BiA x LSA Collaboration Launch, The London School of Architecture, October 2022
Invited Peer Book Proposal Reviewer - Built Environment Research, Routledge Publication, September 2022
Invited Contributor - Diaspora Remittance Flows: Restitution, Culture and Capital – ASAUK Biennial Conference 2022, The University of Liverpool, September 2022
Invited Panellist - M.Arch design studio final reviews, Birmingham City University, May 2022
Invited Panellist - Field: journal issue 8 conversation, The University of Sheffield, May 2022
Speaker - ‘Black in Architecture - conceptualising an anti-racist approach.’ Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment DTP Seminars, Oxford Brookes University | Virtual, June 2021
Workshop Facilitator - ‘Co-creating Architecture & the Built Environment - nurturing creative spaces, “doing for the sake of doing.”’ Faculty of Technology, Design and Environment DTP Seminars, Oxford Brookes University | Virtual, May 2021
Invited Guest Speaker & Co-facilitator - ‘Co-Creating Change Midlands Network: Built Environment & Architecture.’ Co-Creating Change | Virtual, April 2021
Guest Critic, M.Arch Design studio reviews - ‘Organising Space: Poetic Spatial Strategies.’ Sheffield Hallam University | Virtual, April 2021
Literature Review - Building Information Modelling (BIM). Oxford Brookes University Oxford (Online) / April 2020
Guest Speaker - ‘Collaborative Working: Sua na Gro(w) Community Playground.’ Inclusive Design Network Lecture Series, UWE Architecture Society | Virtual, February 2021
Guest Critic, M.Arch Design studio reviews. Sheffield Hallam University | Virtual, December 2020
Panellist - ‘The Promise of BIM vs The Reality.’ BIM Harambee.Africa BIM Conference | Online, October 2020
Interviewee - ‘Build Up to Build a Business.’ People Who Inspire Series | Virtual, July 2020
Jury Member - Timeabu Kindergarten Architecture Competition Jury. Madanfo Project and Radef Foundation | Remote, December 2019 / January 2020
Moderator - ‘Built to Measure: Cities of the Future.’ re:publica Accra | Accra, December 2018
Jury Member - ‘5th Earth Architecture Competition: Designing a Rural Arts Centre for Senegal.’ Nka Foundation | Remote, November 2017
Speaker - ‘Positive Disruption in Architecture.’ TEDxKNUST | Kumasi, April 2013
Co-Facilitator - ‘Curative Landscape (Redbridge NHS).’ UEL Construction Week 2012 | London, September 2012
PUBLISHED
Image of the Carina Nebula from the press release “ESO’s VLT reveals the Carina Nebula’s hidden secrets. This broad image of the Carina Nebula, a region of massive star formation in the southern skies, was taken in infrared light using the HAWK-I camera on ESO’s Very Large Telescope. Many previously hidden features, scattered across a spectacular celestial landscape of gas, dust and young stars, have emerged”. ESO / T. Preibisch, 2012 CCBY.
Juliet Sakyi-Ansah, ‘Conceptualising an Anti-racist Approach in Architecture.’ In field: journal, Issue 8: ‘Embodying an Anti-racist Architecture’, The University of Sheffield, 8, 1 (March 2022), 71-86
Victoria Ogoegbunam Okoye, and others, ‘Navigating Architectural Education Spaces as Black Students, Researchers and Educators.’ In field: journal, Issue 8: ‘Embodying an Anti-racist Architecture’, The University of Sheffield, 8, 1 (March 2022), 123-132
Juliet Sakyi-Ansah, Inviting shared learning and embodied creativity, CoLab Dudley, (September 2021)
Juliet Sakyi-Ansah, 'Exchange, Disseminate, Empower: Online Architecture Platforms.' In Architectural Guide: Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Africa along the Atlantic Ocean Coast, DOM, (2020), 352-364
Juliet Sakyi-Ansah, 'Challenging the Mud Hut: Nka Foundation's Earth Architecture Competitions.' In Architectural Guide: Sub-Saharan Africa, Western Africa along the Atlantic Ocean Coast, DOM, (2020), 366-372
Melissa Daniel, and others, ‘#BLACKINARCHITECTURE UK.’ Architecture is Political, (September 2020),
Juliet Sakyi-Ansah, and others, ‘Ecology: a student-led theory forum.’ In field: journal, Issue 4: Ecology, The Sheffield School of Architecture, The University of Sheffield, 4, 1 (January 2011), 191-209
PRESS
Shutterstock - blacklives matter black in architecture diversity
Ella Jessel, ‘Black in Architecture: New research team to draw up charter on race.’ Architect’s Journal, 6 August 2021 <https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/black-in-architecture-new-research-team-to-draw-up-charter-on-race>
Oxford Brookes University, ‘Black in Architecture - capturing experiences, addressing racism.’ Oxford Brookes University, 26 July 2021 <https://www.brookes.ac.uk/about-brookes/news/black-in-architecture---capturing-experiences--addressing-racism/>
Mae-ling Lokko, ‘Worldforming by Ghanaian Women in Architecture.’ In Archives of Women Artists, Research and Exhibitions magazine, (March 2020), <https://awarewomenartists.com/en/magazine/la-transformation-du-monde-par-les-architectes-ghaneennes/>
Future of Ghana Publication, ‘The Architects’ Project: Advancing Architectural Learning.’ Future of Ghana, (2018), 56-84
Caroline Guillet, ‘The Architects’ Project: Development through Architecture in Accra.’ L'Afrique des Idées, 21 October 2014, <https://www.lafriquedesidees.org/the-architect-project-development-through-architecture-in-accra/>