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{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
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{{short description|Ghana-born British architect}}
{{Infobox person
{{Infobox person
| honorific_suffix=[[OBE]]
|honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|OBE|RA|RIBA|FRSA|size=100%}}
| image=
| image=
| image_size =
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| caption =
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| birth_name = Elsie Margaret Owusu<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.voice-online.co.uk/news/uk-news/2019/10/20/elsie-owusu-talks-helping-black-architects-build-foundations-in-the-industry/|title=Elsie Owusu talks helping black architects build foundations in the industry|newspaper=[[The Voice (British newspaper)|The Voice]]|first=Darell J. |last=Philip|date=20 October 2019|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref>
| name = Elsie Owusu
| birth_name=Elsie Owusu
| birth_date=
| birth_date=
| birth_place=[[Ghana]]{{Where|date=December 2017}}
| birth_place=[[Ghana]]{{Where|date=December 2017}}
| nationality=
| nationality=
| children=
| children=
| occupation=[[Architect]]
| occupation=Architect
| known_for=
| known_for=
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| alma_mater=[[Streatham and Clapham High School]]
| religion=
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| website= {{url|www.owusu.uk/}}
| residence=[[London]], [[England]]
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|alma_mater=[[Streatham and Clapham High School]]
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| website= {{url|http://www.owusu.uk/}}
}}
}}
'''Elsie Owusu''' {{Post-nominals|country=UK|OBE}} [[RIBA]] [[FRSA]] is a [[Ghanaian diaspora in the United Kingdom|Ghana-born British]] architect, a founding member and the first chair of the Society of Black Architects.<ref name="Independent2016">{{Cite web|title = Riba run like a racist ‘boy’s club’, says leading female architect|author=Adam Lusher|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/elsie-owusu-leading-architect-says-riba-is-run-like-a-racist-boys-club-a6757996.html|website = [[The Independent]]|date=2 December 2015|access-date =22 January 2016|language = en-GB}}</ref><ref name="Architecture2016">{{Cite web|title = Elsie Owusu OBE|url = https://www.architecture.com/Explore/RIBARoleModels/ElsieOwusu.aspx|publisher = [[Royal Institute of British Architects]]|access-date =22 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Elsie Owusu|url = http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/elsie-owusu/8624807.fullarticle|website = [[Architects' Journal]]|date=12 January 2012|access-date =22 January 2016}}</ref> She is also known to have co-led the refurbishment of the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]] in 2009<ref name="Independent2016" /> and worked on [[Green Park tube station]].<ref name="Architecture2016"/> she has been an elected [[Royal Institute of British Architects]] (RIBA) Council member since 2014, and vice-chair of the London School of Architecture.<ref name=AR>Kelly L. Beamon, [https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13490-interview-with-riba-president-candidate-elsie-owusu "Interview with RIBA President Candidate Elsie Owusu"], ''Architectural Record'', 3 July 2018.</ref><ref name=LSA />
'''Elsie Owusu''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|OBE|RA|RIBA|FRSA|}} is a [[Ghanaian diaspora in the United Kingdom|Ghana-born British]] architect, a founding member and the first chair of the Society of Black Architects.<ref name="Independent2016">{{Cite web|title = Riba run like a racist ‘boy's club’, says leading female architect|first=Adam |last=Lusher|url = https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/elsie-owusu-leading-architect-says-riba-is-run-like-a-racist-boys-club-a6757996.html|website = [[The Independent]]|date=2 December 2015|access-date =22 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="Architecture2016">{{Cite web|title = Elsie Owusu OBE|url = https://www.architecture.com/Explore/RIBARoleModels/ElsieOwusu.aspx|publisher = [[Royal Institute of British Architects]]|access-date = 22 January 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160129231052/https://www.architecture.com/Explore/RIBARoleModels/ElsieOwusu.aspx|archive-date = 29 January 2016|url-status = dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Elsie Owusu|url = http://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/elsie-owusu/8624807.fullarticle|website = [[Architects' Journal]]|date=12 January 2012|access-date =22 January 2016}}</ref> She is also known to have co-led the refurbishment of the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom]] in 2009<ref name="Independent2016" /> and worked on [[Green Park tube station]].<ref name="Architecture2016"/> She has been an elected [[Royal Institute of British Architects]] (RIBA) Council member since 2014, and vice-chair of the [[London School of Architecture]].<ref name=AR>{{cite web|first=Kelly L. |last=Beamon|url=https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13490-interview-with-riba-president-candidate-elsie-owusu |title=Interview with RIBA President Candidate Elsie Owusu|website=Architectural Record|date=3 July 2018}}</ref><ref name=LSA />


==Education and career==
==Education and career==
Elsie Owusu was born in Ghana and in November 1953 moved with her parents to the UK, where her father was a diplomat in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/teach/class-clips-video/history-ks2-black-british-stories-elsie-owusu/z6jd96f|title=History KS2: Elsie Owusu - Becoming an architect in Britain|website=BBC Teach|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref> She attended [[Streatham and Clapham High School]] in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vimeo.com/527733680|title='If we build together, they will come' - A presentation by Elsie Osuwu OBE|publisher=Streatham & Clapham High School|website=[[Vimeo]]|access-date=7 July 2022}}</ref>
Born in Ghana, Elsie Owusu attended [[Streatham and Clapham High School]] in [[London]].


She has been working as an architect since 1986,<ref name=Davies /> founding her own architectural practice, Elsie Owusu Architects (EOA), of which she remains principal.<ref name=RolleModel>[https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/knowledge-landing-page/elsie-owusu "RIBA Role Model: Elsie Owusu"], RIBA, Architecture.com, 1 June 2015.</ref> She was a partner for 10 years with Fielden+Mawson,<ref>Richard Waite, [https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/elsie-owusu-leaves-feilden-mawson/8690884.article "Elsie Owusu leaves Feilden + Mawson"], ''[[Architects' Journal]]'', 25 October 2015.</ref> where she was co-lead architect for the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom|UK Supreme Court]] and the masterplanning team for London's [[Green Park tube station|Green Park Station]],<ref name=LSA /> As a conservation architect, she has also worked on public transport and regeneration projects in Ghana and Nigeria.<ref name=DI>Nana Ocran, [http://www.designindaba.com/articles/point-view/regenerating-accras-forgotten-areas "Regenerating Accra's forgotten areas"], ''Design Indaba'', 25 June 2015.</ref><ref name=LSA /> She is a director of the UK company JustGhana, which promotes investment, sustainable development and constructive social engagement in Ghana, as well as a director of ArchQuestra, "formed to provide the best of British architecture, art and engineering to support emerging economies".<ref>[http://www.owusu.uk/about.html "About"], Elsie Owusu Architects.</ref> In 2015 she was one of 12 to be named a "RIBA role models" in support of inclusivity and diversity.<ref name=DI /><ref>[https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/resources-landing-page/role-models "RIBA Role Models"], RIBA, Architecture.com, 30 August 2017.</ref>
She has been working as an architect since 1986,<ref name=Davies>{{cite news|first=Caroline|last= Davies|url=https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/dec/03/riba-investigates-architects-allegations-of-institutional-racism |title=Riba investigates architect's allegations of institutional racism|newspaper=The Guardian|date= 3 December 2015}}</ref> founding her own architectural practice, Elsie Owusu Architects (EOA), of which she remains principal.<ref name=RolleModel>[https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/knowledge-landing-page/elsie-owusu "RIBA Role Model: Elsie Owusu"], RIBA, Architecture.com, 1 June 2015.</ref> EOA has worked with artist [[Peter Blake (artist)|Sir Peter Blake]] on the low energy house, 60 Aden Grove, that was assembled in three days.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/-elsie-owusu-collaborates-with-sir-peter-blake-on-low-energy-house-in-hackney/8631562.article|title=Elsie Owusu collaborates with Sir Peter Blake on low energy house in Hackney|last=Chadha|first=Sahiba|website=Architects Journal|date=13 June 2012| access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> As executive architect for this project, EOA has also designed houses and apartments for the Ujima Housing Association.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.owusu.uk/projects-rendlesham.html|title=Elsie Owusu Architects – Rendlesham Road, London E5|website=owusu.uk|access-date=6 December 2018|archive-date=8 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508094613/http://owusu.uk/projects-rendlesham.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> EOA is currently working in partnership with Symbiotica and NS Design Consultants on the living space of UK/Nigerian artist [[Yinka Shonibare]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.owusu.uk/projects-shonibare.html|title=Elsie Owusu Architects – House for Yinka Shonibare MBE RA|website=owusu.uk|access-date=6 December 2018|archive-date=15 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220315224915/http://www.owusu.uk/projects-shonibare.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>


She was a partner for 10 years with Fielden+Mawson,<ref>{{cite web|first=Richard |last=Waite|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/home/elsie-owusu-leaves-feilden-mawson/8690884.article |title=Elsie Owusu leaves Feilden + Mawson|website=[[Architects' Journal]]|date= 25 October 2015}}</ref> where she was co-lead architect for the [[Supreme Court of the United Kingdom|UK Supreme Court]] and the master planning team for London's [[Green Park tube station|Green Park Station]].<ref name="LSA" /> Owusu, in partnership with Fielden+Mawson, also oversaw the accommodation of the Lammas Centre for St. Bernard's Hospital.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.building.co.uk/news/feilden-and-mawson-wins-planning-for-west-london-revamp/5067488.article|title=Feilden & Mawson wins planning for west London revamp|last=Hopkirk|first=Elizabeth|website=Building|date=26 March 2014|access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref> As a conservation architect, she has also worked on public transport and regeneration projects in Ghana and Nigeria.<ref name="DI">{{cite web|first=Nana |last=Ocran|url=http://www.designindaba.com/articles/point-view/regenerating-accras-forgotten-areas |title=Regenerating Accra's forgotten areas|website=Design Indaba|date=25 June 2015}}</ref><ref name="LSA" /> She is a director of the UK company JustGhana, which promotes investment, sustainable development and constructive social engagement in Ghana, as well as a director of ArchQuestra, "formed to provide the best of British architecture, art and engineering to support emerging economies".<ref>[http://www.owusu.uk/about.html "About"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317093830/http://www.owusu.uk/about.html |date=17 March 2022 }}, Elsie Owusu Architects.</ref> In 2015 she was one of 12 to be named a "RIBA role models" in support of inclusivity and diversity.<ref name="DI" /><ref>[https://www.architecture.com/knowledge-and-resources/resources-landing-page/role-models "RIBA Role Models"], RIBA, Architecture.com, 30 August 2017.</ref>
⚫
She has been a board member of organizations including [[Arts Council England]], the [[National Trust of England]], and the UK Supreme Court Arts Trust, as well as being a trustee of the Council of the [[Royal Institute of British Architects]] (RIBA) and of the [[Architectural Association]].<ref name=LSA>[http://www.the-lsa.org/people/elsie-owusu/ "Elsie Owusu, Vice-Chair pf the Trustee Board"], The London School of Architecture.</ref>


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She has been a board member of organisations including [[Arts Council England]], the [[National Trust of England]], and the UK Supreme Court Arts Trust, as well as being a trustee of the Council of the [[Royal Institute of British Architects]] (RIBA) and of the [[Architectural Association]].<ref name="LSA">{{Cite web |title=Elsie Owusu |url=http://www.the-lsa.org/people/elsie-owusu/ |access-date=2024-04-27 |website=The London School of Architecture |language=en}}</ref>
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In 2017, to mark the 25th anniversary of the [[murder of Stephen Lawrence]], who had hoped to become an architect, Owusu launched, with the [[Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust]], the RIBA+25 campaign to boost diversity in architecture,<ref>[http://www.stephenlawrence.org.uk/category/championing-diversity-architecture-profession/ "Championing diversity in the architecture profession"], Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.</ref> a profession was reported ''[[The Architects' Journal]]'' in 2015 to be "one of the least diverse in the UK, with 94 percent of architects defined as white", and only 4,000 of RIBA's 27,000 chartered architects being women.<ref name=Threats /> After the "+25" initiative, which received support from such colleagues as [[David Adjaye]], [[Alison Brooks]] and [[Richard Rogers]], Owusu was no longer the sole non-white member of the RIBA governing council but one of 12.<ref name=AR />


⚫
In 2017, to mark the 25th anniversary of the [[murder of Stephen Lawrence]], who had hoped to become an architect, Owusu launched, with the [[Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust]], the RIBA+25 campaign to boost diversity in architecture,<ref>[http://www.stephenlawrence.org.uk/category/championing-diversity-architecture-profession/ "Championing diversity in the architecture profession"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170821210432/http://www.stephenlawrence.org.uk/category/championing-diversity-architecture-profession/ |date=21 August 2017 }}, Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.</ref> a profession that was reported by ''[[Architects' Journal]]'' in 2015 to be "one of the least diverse in the UK, with 94 percent of architects defined as white", and only 4,000 of RIBA's 27,000 chartered architects being women.<ref name=Threats /> After the "+25" initiative, which received support from such colleagues as [[David Adjaye]], [[Alison Brooks]] and [[Richard Rogers]], Owusu was no longer the sole non-white member of the RIBA governing council but one of 12.<ref name=AR />
⚫
In 2018 Owusu was announced as a candidate for the presidency of RIBA, nominated by more than 70 chartered architects including Sir [[David Adjaye]] OBE, [[Owen Luder]] CBE, [[Deborah Saunt]] and [[Yasmin Shariff]], and endorsed by Baroness [[Doreen Lawrence]].<ref>Richard Waite, [https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/owusu-and-jones-throw-hats-into-ring-to-be-next-riba-president/10029986.article "Owusu and Jones throw hats into ring to be next RIBA president"], ''Architects' Journal'', 13 April 2018.</ref><ref>[https://www.architecture.com/-/media/files/RIBA-Council/RIBA-Council-elections/candidate-statements-2018/elsie-owusu---president "Candidate for the RIBA Presidency: Elsie Owusu OBE"], RIBA.</ref> Owusu has spoken out about issues around institutional racism and sexism within the architectural industry.<ref name=Threats>Jonathan Morrison, [https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/threats-sent-to-architect-elsie-owusu-after-she-said-riba-was-racist-t0twq2w0f "Threats sent to architect Elsie Owusu after she said Riba was racist"], ''[[The Times]]'', 17 April 2018.</ref><ref>Alannah Francis, [http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/architect-elsie-owusu-could-be-riba%E2%80%99s-first-black-president "Architect Elsie Owusu Could Be RIBA’s First Black President"], ''[[The Voice (newspaper)|The Voice]]'', 18 April 2018.</ref><ref>Anja Popp, [https://www.channel4.com/news/leading-architect-says-institutional-racism-has-not-gone-away "Leading architect says institutional racism has not gone away"], [[Channel 4 News]], 22 April 2018.</ref><ref>Jonathan Morrison, [https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/architect-elsie-owusu-sent-gagging-order-after-speaking-out-against-riba-znprgck29 "Architect Elsie Owusu sent gagging order after speaking out against Riba"], ''The Times'', 3 July 2018.</ref>

⚫
In 2017 Owusu was announced as a candidate for the presidency of RIBA, nominated by more than 70 chartered architects including Sir [[David Adjaye]] OBE, [[Owen Luder]] CBE, [[Deborah Saunt]] and [[Yasmin Shariff]], and endorsed by Baroness [[Doreen Lawrence]].<ref>{{cite web|first=Richard|last= Waite|url=https://www.architectsjournal.co.uk/news/owusu-and-jones-throw-hats-into-ring-to-be-next-riba-president/10029986.article |title=Owusu and Jones throw hats into ring to be next RIBA president|work=Architects' Journal|date= 13 April 2018}}</ref><ref>[https://www.architecture.com/-/media/files/RIBA-Council/RIBA-Council-elections/candidate-statements-2018/elsie-owusu---president "Candidate for the RIBA Presidency: Elsie Owusu OBE"], RIBA.</ref> Owusu has spoken out about issues around institutional racism and sexism within the architectural industry.<ref name=Threats>{{cite news|first=Jonathan|last= Morrison|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/threats-sent-to-architect-elsie-owusu-after-she-said-riba-was-racist-t0twq2w0f |title=Threats sent to architect Elsie Owusu after she said Riba was racist|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date= 17 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Alannah|last= Francis|url=http://www.voice-online.co.uk/article/architect-elsie-owusu-could-be-riba%E2%80%99s-first-black-president |title=Architect Elsie Owusu Could Be RIBA's First Black President|newspaper=[[The Voice (British newspaper)|The Voice]]|date=18 April 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Anja |last=Popp|url=https://www.channel4.com/news/leading-architect-says-institutional-racism-has-not-gone-away |title=Leading architect says institutional racism has not gone away|website= [[Channel 4 News]]|date=22 April 2018}}</ref>


==Awards==
==Awards==
She was voted African Business Woman of the Year in 2014.<ref>[http://www.africanenterpriseawards.co.uk/attend-awards/african_enterprise_awards_winners_2014/ "Award Winners 2014"], African Enterprise Awards.</ref><ref>Steve Onions, [http://www.buildingconstructiondesign.co.uk/news/africas-business-woman-of-the-year-elsie-owusu-offers-advice-for-architects-hoping-to-break-into-the-region/ "Africa’s Business Woman of the Year, Elsie Owusu offers advice for architects hoping to break into the region"], ''Building Construction Design'', 8 December 2014.</ref>
She was voted African Business Woman of the Year in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 September 2016 |title=Award Winners 2014 |url=http://www.africanenterpriseawards.co.uk/attend-awards/african_enterprise_awards_winners_2014/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180719031114/http://www.africanenterpriseawards.co.uk/attend-awards/african_enterprise_awards_winners_2014/ |archive-date=19 July 2018 |access-date=27 April 2024 |website=African Enterprise Awards}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|first=Steve|last=Onions|url=http://www.buildingconstructiondesign.co.uk/news/africas-business-woman-of-the-year-elsie-owusu-offers-advice-for-architects-hoping-to-break-into-the-region/|title=Africa’s Business Woman of the Year, Elsie Owusu offers advice for architects hoping to break into the region|website=Building Construction Design|date=8 December 2014|access-date=22 August 2016|archive-date=25 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171025022559/http://www.buildingconstructiondesign.co.uk/news/africas-business-woman-of-the-year-elsie-owusu-offers-advice-for-architects-hoping-to-break-into-the-region/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

⚫
She was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]] in the Queen's [[2003 Birthday Honours]] list,<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=56963 |date=14 June 2003 |page=12 |supp=1 }}</ref> and has said: "To my great pride my citation for my OBE was as chair of the Society of Black Architects. I am a campaigning architect. That’s what I do. It’s part of my architectural life."<ref name=Davies /> She has also been elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts]].<ref>[https://archive.today/20070521202249/http://www.bbc.co.uk/africabeyond/africanarts/18180.shtml#selection-813.41-813.56 "Ghana at Fifty: Leaders on the UK Arts scene"], ''Africa Beyond – Celebrating African Arts in the UK'', BBC, 21 May 2007.</ref>

Owusu received a Recognition Award at the 2017 [[Women4Africa Award]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.w4ablog.com/elsie-owusu-obe-set-to-receive-recognition-award-at-women4africa-2017/|title='Elsie Owusu OBE' set to receive Recognition Award at Women4Africa 2017 – Women4Africa Blog|last=admin|access-date=6 December 2018}}</ref>


⚫
She appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire|OBE]] in the Queen's [[2003 Birthday Honours]] list, and has said: "To my great pride my citation for my OBE was as chair of the Society of Black Architects. I am a campaigning architect. That’s what I do. It’s part of my architectural life."<ref name=Davies>Caroline Davies, [https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2015/dec/03/riba-investigates-architects-allegations-of-institutional-racism "Riba investigates architect's allegations of institutional racism"], ''The Guardian'', 3 December 2015.</ref> She has also been elected a [[Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts]].<ref>[https://archive.li/jLxQL#selection-813.41-813.56 "Ghana at Fifty: Leaders on the UK Arts scene"], ''Africa Beyond – Celebrating African Arts in the UK'', BBC, 21 May 2007.</ref>
==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Reflist}}


==External links==
==External links==
{{sisterlinks|d=Q22231170|c=Category:Elsie Owusu|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
* [http://www.owusu.uk/ Elsie Owusu Architects] official website.
* [http://www.owusu.uk/ Elsie Owusu Architects] official website.
* [https://twitter.com/elsie_owusu?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor @elsie_owusu], Twitter.
* [https://twitter.com/elsie_owusu?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor @elsie_owusu], Twitter.
* Kelly L. Beamon, [https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13490-interview-with-riba-president-candidate-elsie-owusu "Interview with RIBA President Candidate Elsie Owusu"], ''Architectural Record'', 3 July 2018.
* Kelly L. Beamon, [https://www.architecturalrecord.com/articles/13490-interview-with-riba-president-candidate-elsie-owusu "Interview with RIBA President Candidate Elsie Owusu"], ''Architectural Record'', 3 July 2018.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eccnP3r7n8E "RIBA Presidential Elections 2018 – Elsie Owusu"], Riba Architecture, YouTube video, 22 June 2018.
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eccnP3r7n8E "RIBA Presidential Elections 2018 – Elsie Owusu"], Riba Architecture, YouTube video, 22 June 2018.



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{{DEFAULTSORT:Owusu, Elsie}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Owusu, Elsie}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century British architects]]
[[Category:Women architects]]
[[Category:21st-century British architects]]
[[Category:People educated at Streatham and Clapham High School]]
[[Category:British women architects]]
[[Category:Ghanaian architects]]
[[Category:Ghanaian architects]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:People educated at Streatham and Clapham High School]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:20th-century Ghanaian women]]
[[Category:British people of Ghanaian descent]]

Latest revision as of 11:17, 27 April 2024

Elsie Owusu
OBE RA RIBA FRSA
Born
Elsie Margaret Owusu[1]

Ghana[where?]
Alma materStreatham and Clapham High School
OccupationArchitect
Websitewww.owusu.uk

Elsie Owusu OBE RA RIBA FRSA is a Ghana-born British architect, a founding member and the first chair of the Society of Black Architects.[2][3][4] She is also known to have co-led the refurbishment of the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom in 2009[2] and worked on Green Park tube station.[3] She has been an elected Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) Council member since 2014, and vice-chair of the London School of Architecture.[5][6]

Education and career

[edit]

Elsie Owusu was born in Ghana and in November 1953 moved with her parents to the UK, where her father was a diplomat in London.[7] She attended Streatham and Clapham High School in London.[8]

She has been working as an architect since 1986,[9] founding her own architectural practice, Elsie Owusu Architects (EOA), of which she remains principal.[10] EOA has worked with artist Sir Peter Blake on the low energy house, 60 Aden Grove, that was assembled in three days.[11] As executive architect for this project, EOA has also designed houses and apartments for the Ujima Housing Association.[12] EOA is currently working in partnership with Symbiotica and NS Design Consultants on the living space of UK/Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare.[13]

She was a partner for 10 years with Fielden+Mawson,[14] where she was co-lead architect for the UK Supreme Court and the master planning team for London's Green Park Station.[6] Owusu, in partnership with Fielden+Mawson, also oversaw the accommodation of the Lammas Centre for St. Bernard's Hospital.[15] As a conservation architect, she has also worked on public transport and regeneration projects in Ghana and Nigeria.[16][6] She is a director of the UK company JustGhana, which promotes investment, sustainable development and constructive social engagement in Ghana, as well as a director of ArchQuestra, "formed to provide the best of British architecture, art and engineering to support emerging economies".[17] In 2015 she was one of 12 to be named a "RIBA role models" in support of inclusivity and diversity.[16][18]

She has been a board member of organisations including Arts Council England, the National Trust of England, and the UK Supreme Court Arts Trust, as well as being a trustee of the Council of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and of the Architectural Association.[6]

In 2017, to mark the 25th anniversary of the murder of Stephen Lawrence, who had hoped to become an architect, Owusu launched, with the Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust, the RIBA+25 campaign to boost diversity in architecture,[19] a profession that was reported by Architects' Journal in 2015 to be "one of the least diverse in the UK, with 94 percent of architects defined as white", and only 4,000 of RIBA's 27,000 chartered architects being women.[20] After the "+25" initiative, which received support from such colleagues as David Adjaye, Alison Brooks and Richard Rogers, Owusu was no longer the sole non-white member of the RIBA governing council but one of 12.[5]

In 2017 Owusu was announced as a candidate for the presidency of RIBA, nominated by more than 70 chartered architects including Sir David Adjaye OBE, Owen Luder CBE, Deborah Saunt and Yasmin Shariff, and endorsed by Baroness Doreen Lawrence.[21][22] Owusu has spoken out about issues around institutional racism and sexism within the architectural industry.[20][23][24]

Awards

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She was voted African Business Woman of the Year in 2014.[25][26]

She was appointed an OBE in the Queen's 2003 Birthday Honours list,[27] and has said: "To my great pride my citation for my OBE was as chair of the Society of Black Architects. I am a campaigning architect. That’s what I do. It’s part of my architectural life."[9] She has also been elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.[28]

Owusu received a Recognition Award at the 2017 Women4Africa Award.[29]

References

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  1. ^ Philip, Darell J. (20 October 2019). "Elsie Owusu talks helping black architects build foundations in the industry". The Voice. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  2. ^ a b Lusher, Adam (2 December 2015). "Riba run like a racist 'boy's club', says leading female architect". The Independent. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  3. ^ a b "Elsie Owusu OBE". Royal Institute of British Architects. Archived from the original on 29 January 2016. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  4. ^ "Elsie Owusu". Architects' Journal. 12 January 2012. Retrieved 22 January 2016.
  5. ^ a b Beamon, Kelly L. (3 July 2018). "Interview with RIBA President Candidate Elsie Owusu". Architectural Record.
  6. ^ a b c d "Elsie Owusu". The London School of Architecture. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  7. ^ "History KS2: Elsie Owusu - Becoming an architect in Britain". BBC Teach. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  8. ^ "'If we build together, they will come' - A presentation by Elsie Osuwu OBE". Vimeo. Streatham & Clapham High School. Retrieved 7 July 2022.
  9. ^ a b Davies, Caroline (3 December 2015). "Riba investigates architect's allegations of institutional racism". The Guardian.
  10. ^ "RIBA Role Model: Elsie Owusu", RIBA, Architecture.com, 1 June 2015.
  11. ^ Chadha, Sahiba (13 June 2012). "Elsie Owusu collaborates with Sir Peter Blake on low energy house in Hackney". Architects Journal. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  12. ^ "Elsie Owusu Architects – Rendlesham Road, London E5". owusu.uk. Archived from the original on 8 May 2021. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  13. ^ "Elsie Owusu Architects – House for Yinka Shonibare MBE RA". owusu.uk. Archived from the original on 15 March 2022. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  14. ^ Waite, Richard (25 October 2015). "Elsie Owusu leaves Feilden + Mawson". Architects' Journal.
  15. ^ Hopkirk, Elizabeth (26 March 2014). "Feilden & Mawson wins planning for west London revamp". Building. Retrieved 6 December 2018.
  16. ^ a b Ocran, Nana (25 June 2015). "Regenerating Accra's forgotten areas". Design Indaba.
  17. ^ "About" Archived 17 March 2022 at the Wayback Machine, Elsie Owusu Architects.
  18. ^ "RIBA Role Models", RIBA, Architecture.com, 30 August 2017.
  19. ^ "Championing diversity in the architecture profession" Archived 21 August 2017 at the Wayback Machine, Stephen Lawrence Charitable Trust.
  20. ^ a b Morrison, Jonathan (17 April 2018). "Threats sent to architect Elsie Owusu after she said Riba was racist". The Times.
  21. ^ Waite, Richard (13 April 2018). "Owusu and Jones throw hats into ring to be next RIBA president". Architects' Journal.
  22. ^ "Candidate for the RIBA Presidency: Elsie Owusu OBE", RIBA.
  23. ^ Francis, Alannah (18 April 2018). "Architect Elsie Owusu Could Be RIBA's First Black President". The Voice.
  24. ^ Popp, Anja (22 April 2018). "Leading architect says institutional racism has not gone away". Channel 4 News.
  25. ^ "Award Winners 2014". African Enterprise Awards. 18 September 2016. Archived from the original on 19 July 2018. Retrieved 27 April 2024.
  26. ^ Onions, Steve (8 December 2014). "Africa's Business Woman of the Year, Elsie Owusu offers advice for architects hoping to break into the region". Building Construction Design. Archived from the original on 25 October 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2016.
  27. ^ "No. 56963". The London Gazette (1st supplement). 14 June 2003. p. 12.
  28. ^ "Ghana at Fifty: Leaders on the UK Arts scene", Africa Beyond – Celebrating African Arts in the UK, BBC, 21 May 2007.
  29. ^ admin. "'Elsie Owusu OBE' set to receive Recognition Award at Women4Africa 2017 – Women4Africa Blog". Retrieved 6 December 2018.
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