Architecture
Heritage
Urbanism
in West Africa
Architecture, Heritage, Urbanism in West Africa (AHUWA) research centre is based at the University of Liverpool. We partner with institutions, collections, scholars, and communities across Africa and beyond to investigate the most pressing questions about cities, design, history, heritage, and urbanism.
We write histories and tell stories
With a focus on West Africa we write new histories and promote new voices. We have a particular specialism in modern architecture, cities, and coastal heritage.
Heritage
We catalogue, record, and document architecture, heritage, and the built environment.
We work with local communities, artists, writers, designers, architects, historians, and scholars to understand heritage and culture in West Africa.
Sustainability
and
Environmental Design
The Sustainable Development Goals are at the core of all our research projects. From undertaking environmental analysis of modernist libraries through to celebrating the rich architecture and urbanism of the 'African City', we want to see places that are inclusive, resilient, and address the climate emergency.
Projects and Programmes
We've worked on many projects over the years. Here's a few of our most recent collaborations.
Banking in West Africa
Modern Heritage in the Anthropocene
The Architecture of the United Africa Company
British Academy Writing Workshop
Liquid Crystal Concrete: Postwar Colonialism
Keeping Cool: Library designs in the tropics
AHUWA Launch Event
People
British Academy Writing Workshop
PhD Student: Adefola Toye
ArchiAfrika Exhibition
Kuukuwa Manful: Researcher
TATE Modern Symposium on the Modern City
Irene Appeaning Addo: Research Fellowships 2022
Alistair Cartwright: Leverhulme Trust Fellow
Michele Tenzon: Researcher
AHUWA is a large community of scholars, designers, activists, and practitioners. The Centre is directed by Professors Ola Uduku and Iain Jackson at Liverpool School of Architecture.
Events
Publications
1. Pottgiesser, U., & Uduku, O. (2024). Educational Buildings in Africa: A Modernist Review. In Modernism in Africa (pp. 8-31). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783035628357-002
2. Uduku, O. (2024). Upgrading of townships in South Africa after apartheid. In Tradition, Location and Community (pp. 235-250). Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781003514169-17
3. Uduku, O. (2024). Foreword: The Architecture of John Godwin and Gillian Hopwood. In Who Are Godwin and Hopwood? (pp. 9-16). De Gruyter. doi:10.1515/9783035626773-001
4. Abubakar, I. R., Onyebueke, V. U., Lawanson, T., Barau, A. S., & Bununu, Y. A. (2025). Urban planning strategies for addressing climate change in Lagos megacity, Nigeria. Land Use Policy, 153, 107524. doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2025.107524
4. Olajide, O. A., & Lawanson, T. (2025). Claiming the right to the city: the politics of urban reform coalitions in Lagos. Environment & Urbanization, 37(1), 57-75. doi:10.1177/09562478251318231