Building Belonging

  • Words Natasha Levy
  • Photography James Robjant

For Neba Sere, Akua Danso and Selasi Setufe, a humble WhatsApp group turned out to be a way to galvanise change in the architectural world. The three are the founders of Black Females in Architecture (BFA), a social enterprise and membership network. Before meeting, all three had personal experience of the lack of diversity in architecture in the UK, documented in the statistics gathered by the Architects Registration Board, with which anybody who wants to practice as an architect must register. The ARB report, which was released in 2023 and based on the figures for 2022, showed that of just over 43,000 registered architects, no more than one per cent described themselves as Black, a

See full article
8 min

Can plastic ever be green?

As global temperatures hit an all-time high and the plastic-free movement gains momentum, can the wonder material of the 20th century …

8 min

Back to Milan

With a highly personal exhibition in a Milanese palazzo, as well as a presence in the Salone del Mobile in Milan, Michael …

10 min

The Politics of Data

​​From wealth inequality to media bias, Mona Chalabi’s data visualisations tell stories that numbers alone cannot 

12 min

Design as Resistance

How Palestinian architects, artists and designers navigate material restrictions, urban fragmentation and cultural preservation under …

8 min

Era of Adaptation

Carlo Ratti's four-word manifesto frames an exhibition that grapples with climate catastrophe, collapsing populations and the …

7 min

Anima Issue 3

This is the third issue of Anima, and it has a new format and look, thanks to Cabinet Milano. They have worked hard to create a …

10 min

Printmaking with Ramon Keimig

Through zines, posters, record sleeves and installations, the Swiss artist and designer brings the imperfections of the analogue …

6 min

Design on the Menu

Five restaurants where architecture and design have made a big impression

5 min

The Rise and fall (and archive) of Nokia

Once the king of mobile phones, Nokia’s legacy lives on through the newly unveiled Nokia Design Archive at Aalto University, Finland

14 min

Giles Tettey Nartey’s designs are rooted in African craft traditions

Exploring ritual, memory and materiality, the British-Ghanaian artist and architect reveals how his heritage and experiences …

9 min

The making of Grand Theft Hamlet

Pinny Grylls and Sam Crane discuss their groundbreaking project – a site-specific performance of Hamlet staged entirely within the …

12 min

Elio Fiorucci

As Triennale Milano unveils a new retrospective of Fiorucci’s life and influence, Anima speaks with the exhibition’s curator Judith …

5 min

Flos icons of design

Since 1962, Flos has pioneered the field of lighting through collaborations with some of the world’s most celebrated designers. In …

6 min

Future Makers: Kumi Allen on food and design

Using hand-bound books, bold visual motifs and influences from Irving Penn, the London-based grad dives into ‘tablescaping’ to show …

7 min

5 emerging designers to watch at Singapore Design Week

As the festival returns with a focus on addressing global issues, festival director Jody Teo spotlights five up-and-coming talents, …

7 min

Notes on Design: Andu Masebo’s Tubular Chair

Andu Masebo delves into the making of his Tubular Chair, revealing insights into his design process, materiality and collaboration …

Anima talks to the British artist and designer about what's next after selling his stake in his business, A-COLD-WALL*

Episode #1

Antonio Citterio

Issue Three S/S 2025