Exclusion and racial bias are built into our cities.
In its debut publication Now You Know, Sound Advice – the platform exploring spatial inequality in architecture – has gathered the thoughts and reflections of more than 60 architects and urbanists of colour in an extraordinary compendium of essays, poems, interviews and, yes, advice on how to address the discrimination baked into our built environment.
Crowdfunded to the tune of £19,500 by 418 supporters, the 180-page paperback is designed by Joel Antoine-Wilkinson and edited by Sound Advice's co-hosts, the urbanists Pooja Agrawal and Joseph Henry. Its contributors range from MBEs to architecture students, artists to urban policymakers – each one accompanying their piece with a concise tip of the kind that has made the Sound Advice Instagram feed such a compelling resource, paired with a music recommendation.
"Now You Know is an incredible platform for people of colour working and studying across architecture and urbanism to make their voices heard,” explained Manijeh Verghese, Head of Public Programmes, Architectural Association. “Giving those who are often overlooked in conversations about the built environment a chance to express how we would redesign our cities, spaces, institutions and societies is a powerful step towards tackling racial inequality.
"Now You Know celebrates plurality and the richness of not seeing the world in any one particular way. The range of ideas, careers and lives of all people of colour are frequently reduced to a singular ‘BAME’ experience. The wealth of contributors and topics covered in these 60 essays suggests otherwise.
“I feel grateful to have been given the opportunity to contribute to this important publication as an enduring resource and community where we can share pain, love, hopes, fears, music, and above all advice.”
Now You Know is available to buy for £20 from MagCulture, Tate Modern Shop, South London Gallery, AA Bookshop, Koenig at Serpentine Gallery and online from July 2021.
Sound Advice is working with Urban Learners’ Celebrating Architecture Initiative to donate books to young and aspiring architecture students.
The accompanying Now You Know playlist is available on Spotify.
