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Tosin Oshinowo

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Tosin Oshinowo
Portrait of Tosin Oshinowo
Born
Tosin Oshinowo
Known forArchitecture of Maryland Mall
Notable workCmDesign Atelier, Ile-ila: House of Lines

Tosin Oshinowo is a Lagos-based Nigerian architect and designer, creative entrepreneur, public speaker and author.[1][2] Oshinowo is the head of the firm, CmDesign Atelier (cmD+A) and the founder of the Ile Ila furniture line. From 2009 to 2014, she organised Sho-n-Tell, an annual platform for University of Lagos students to share studio space with practicing professionals.

Early life and education

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Oshinowo was born in Nigeria. As a child, she accompanied her father to the building site when his retirement home was being built, which she says contributed to her interest in architecture.[3]

She trained as an architect in London.[1]

Career

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Oshinowo worked with Skidmore Owning and Merril's LLP London between June and October 2007. Then she moved to Metropolitan Architecture in Rotterdam from January 2008 to January 2009, where she was part of a team of six that designed the proposed double-decker Forth Mainland Bridge meant to link Ajah and Ikorodu, in Lagos State.[4][5]

In January, 2009, Oshinowo returned to Nigeria and joined James Cubitt Architects where she worked on the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) projects as lead architect.[4] Tosin worked with James Cubitt for four years.

On leaving James Cubitt Architects, Oshinowo established her own firm, CmDesign Atelier (cmD+A) in 2012. Her work includes being team lead on the design of Maryland Mall.[6]

Oshinowo was the convener of Sho-n-Tell, an annual event series that creates a platform for undergraduate and postgraduate students of the University of Lagos to share the same studio with practicing professionals in order to enhance their learning through exposure to the professionals' wealth of experience. The event series was held from 2009 to 2014.[7]

Oshinowo also founded Ile Ila (House of Lines), a contemporary Nigerian lifestyle furniture line in 2017. The brand has featured prominent Nigerian entertainers, including Adekunle Gold and Chidinma, in different campaigns.[8][9] While Oshinowo favours minimalism in her architecture, Ile Ila's furniture designs are known for bold, colorful expression. The collections, handmade in Lagos, often incorporate iconic and traditional West African fabrics and Nigerian teak wood.[10]

In 2019, Oshinowo was featured in the Visual Collaborative electronic catalog, in the Polaris series.[11][12]

Awards and recognition

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  • Architect of the Year, 3rd City People Real Estate Awards (2017)[13][14]
  • Lord's Achievers Awards for Creativity (2019)[14][15][16]
  • Finalist, Diversity in Architecture Divia Awards (2023)[17][18]
  • Shortlisted for Architect of the Year, Dezeen Awards (2024)[19]
  • Top Architect for Community, Monocle Design Awards (2024)[20]
  • Included in Elle Decor's A-List (2025)[21]
  • Special Mention, 19th Venice Architecture Biennale for “Alternative Urbanism: The Self-Organised Markets of Lagos” (2025)[22]

References

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  1. 1 2 Daniel Azania (September 23, 2018). "Tosin Oshinowo: A Damsel In Men's Structural World". The Guardian. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  2. ↑ "Tosin Oshinowo: Inspired to break the glass ceiling". Guardian Woman. The Guardian. June 4, 2016. Retrieved October 27, 2018.
  3. ↑ Enwonwu, Oliver (December 2016). "Breaking the Mould with Tosin Oshinowo-Omenka Online". www.omenkaonline.com. Retrieved 2018-05-03.
  4. 1 2 "FUTURE LAGOS | Interview with young architect Tosin Oshinowo | Future Cape Town". futurecapetown.com. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  5. ↑ "Tosin Oshinowo: The architect through whose eyes Lagos is reinventing itself". The Nerve Africa. 2017-08-13. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  6. ↑ "BUILT: THE MARYLAND MALL (A.K.A. THE BIG BLACK BOX) IN LAGOS BY CMD+A | livin spaces". livin spaces. 2016-07-01. Retrieved 2018-05-16.
  7. ↑ "WOMEN WE LOVE WEDNESDAYS: TOSIN OSHINOWO – TW Magazine Website". TW Magazine Website. 2016-10-05. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  8. ↑ "Adekunle Gold afrocentric for ilé Ilà Campaign – PM NEWS Nigeria". P.M. News. Lagos, Nigeria. 2017-04-21. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  9. ↑ "Here Are The Colorful Designs From 'Àdùnní Chair' Collection By Nigerian Furniture Brand, Ilé-Ilà With Chidinma Ekile – Glam Africa". www.glamafrica.com. 2018-03-30. Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  10. ↑ "From Architecture to Art: Tosin Oshinowo". www.54kibo.com. 54kibo. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  11. ↑ Agbana, Rotimi (2 April 2019). "Shehab, Bobby, Tosin Oshinowo, others featured on Visual Collaborative". Vanguard. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  12. ↑ "Tosin Oshinowo Electronic Catalog Interview". Visual Collaborative. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  13. ↑ "City People Hosts Over 300 Real Estate Players, As It Hosts The 3rd City People Real Estate Awards". City People Online. 2017-06-18. Retrieved 2026-03-03. "The cute lady won the architect of the year award." (referring to Tosin Oshinowo)
  14. 1 2 "Tosin Oshinowo, "Aṣẹ: Intentional Contextuality and Adaptability in Design"". Harvard Graduate School of Design. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  15. ↑ "Tosin Oshinowo". Holcim Foundation. 2025-06-02. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  16. ↑ "Tosin Oshinowo". Dezeen Awards. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  17. ↑ "Exhibition 2023". Diversity in Architecture. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  18. ↑ "The Diversity in Architecture-DIVIA Award, Dedicated to Women Architects, Selects Five Finalists". ArchDaily. 2023-03-09. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  19. ↑ "Oshinowo Studio". Dezeen Awards. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  20. ↑ "AA Alum Tosin Oshinowo has been named Top Architect for Community by the Monocle Design Awards 2024". Architectural Association School of Architecture. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  21. ↑ "The ELLE Decor A-List 2025". Elle Decor. 2025-06-13. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
  22. ↑ "The awards of the Biennale Architettura 2025". La Biennale di Venezia. 2025-05-10. Retrieved 2026-03-03.
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