Issa Diabaté
A Master in Architecture graduate from Yale University, Issa Diabaté is the Managing Director of the Koffi & Diabaté Architectes office (founded in 2001 with Guillaume Koffi) and co-founder of Koffi & Diabaté Group (Specialized in Architecture, Real Estate Development and Construction). Previous architecture internships include: Goly Kouassi, Devrouax and Purnell and Jean Nouvel et Cattani, SAU Guillaume Koffi.
Very much involved on the topic of African urban issues, over the years, Issa Diabaté has participated in a number of local change-geared initiatives, addressing context-oriented pro- blems (through projects and the mentoring of young architects, namely). As an architect practicing on the continent, he aims to shed light on both the issues at hand and on those creative solutions required to build (now) the African City of Tomorrow. Issa Diabaté has participated as speaker, sharing on these issues at the following conference events: “Other Desires” at Columbia University, New York, 2016; African Leadership Network, Kigali, 2014; Design INDABA, Cape Town, 2014; Afritekture, Munich, 2013; Ted Talk, Arusha, 2007.
A Member of Côte d’Ivoire’s Order of Architects with whom he initiated Côte d’Ivoire’s first Architecture and Building Fair, ARCHIBAT in 2007, Issa Diabaté also evolves in the design world and is a laureate of Senegal’s DAK’ART Contemporary Art Biennale (1998). Most recently, he participated in the exhibitions ABIDJANOW 2013 (Salon ARCHIBAT -Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire) and DESIGN INDABA 2014 & 2017 (Cape Town, South Africa).
In 2019, he collaborated with the Swedish group IKEA for their first collection by African designers : “OVERALLT”.
For his work and contributions to his field and to the nation of Côte d’Ivoire, Issa Diabaté has been appointed Knight of the Order of Cultural Merit.
Koffi & Diabaté’s works have been presented, internationally, at the Triennale di Milano, at the Louisiana Museum of Denmark and the 18th International Architecture Exhibition of La Biennale di Venezia.
