Nubia Way: Homebuilding as Black Resistance.

Nubia Way is a collection of thirteen timber-framed houses in Downham, London, built in 1997 by Fusions Jameen. Fusions Jameen were a black-led housing co-operative; who gave priority to applicants in housing need and those of African and Caribbean descent. Fusions Jameen offered its members long-term discounted social rents through a housing model that used labour as a means for earning a financial stake in social housing.

The construction of Nubia Way resisted racist attacks by the National Front and provided social housing for a group of African-Caribbean Londoners who were otherwise excluded from the housing market. Nubia Way was designed with architectural consultants from Architype, following the principles of Walter Segal.

Before Nubia Way, Fusions Jameen had completed two self-build homes for social rent projects in Lewisham, four homes in Brockley Park and four homes in Lowther Hill.

In 2022, in collaboration with the Architecture Foundation, James co-produced and interviewed residents for a documentary of Nubia Way. James' interest in Nubia Way began by producing a journal titled ‘Nubia Way: Homebuilding as Black Resistance,’ after a series of interviews with local residents and key stakeholders.