Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute case study for Canadian Interiors

East Coast’s Roots

As an Africentric-based institute that focuses on educational excellence, the Delmore “Buddy” Daye Learning Institute (DBDLI) assists learners of African ancestry in Nova Scotia, identifying and addressing gaps and equity issues through research, publication and education. In many regards, the DBDLI is the clearinghouse in Nova Scotia for those with African ancestry, passing along wisdom and shaping scholarship.

This project started with the notion of the DBDLI as the collectors and distributors of knowledge related to African ancestry in Nova Scotia. Ghanaian culture was a focus, in particular Adinkra symbols, which are essential in that culture to express ideas. These symbols, woven into cloth and stamped on pottery, are rich with proverbial meaning, depicting historical events, human behaviour and attitudes, animal behaviour, plant life and the shapes of objects. Adinkra cloth uses a combination of symbols for storytelling and passing on knowledge, an apt trope for DBDLI, an organization that acts as an elder for its community.

Adinkra printing blocks, often made of woodcuts or carved calabash (a type of gourd), are inked for use in print, using natural dyes. From architecture to signage, from material to finish, the Adinkra woodcuts informed the overall design led by a consortium of Ekistics Planning and Design and Form:Media. On a large scale, individual offices seem to have been carved from a large block with a blackened exterior and natural wood interior finish. At a small scale, multiple stacked inked blocks make up walls. Simple black-vinyl linework, evocative of screen printing and handmade cloth, provides safety and privacy screening on the glass. Black and white is the basis of the project’s palette, along with hints of red and yellow, referencing its African roots, in addition to a sparing use of brass on door identification, lighting and desk surfaces.

The 4,500-sq.-ft. environment provides flexible workspace meant to be either open or sectioned off. A movable partition allows a large community space to subdivide into a boardroom and a classroom, while the rest of the office combines private and open workspaces. In addition to culturally-appropriate artwork, the office includes a gallery for the display of contemporary artwork from the community.

Canadian Interiors

Since 1964, Canadian Interiors has been longest-running interior design magazine in Canada—a must-read for all interior design professionals across the country. Canadian Interior publishes six issues, plus a guide, per year.