10TH EDITION ecial EditiSp h Annivers ary on 60t EKOTECTURE QUARTERLY | SEP 2020 10TH EDITION ISSN: 2736-1098 AN NIA LAGOS CHAPTER PUBLICATION NIA at 60 What Good Can Architecture Do? Modular sustainable housing for the homeless Celebrating and reflecting on the past three-score years of this great professional In The Beginning body Fact File on the first indigenous Non-Traditional Architects Architect in Nigeria A dive into Architectural Photography Profession or Business? by Tolu Sanusi, Founder Rubyspolaroid The Enterpreneural Architect Photography “Nigerian Architecture” Does this even really exist? Do we have a style? EKOTECTURE QUARTERLY | SEPTEMBER 2020 Photo: bauhaus-imaginista.org
Chairman’s Desk Dear Colleagues; 11. Partnership with Legacy 1995 12. We have also inaugurated Ikorodu Branch of It is no news that this year 2020 has come with a lot of The Lagos Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, challenges both in our personal lives and professional more are still work in progress. lives. Covid-19 has a ected all of us in more ways than one. That we are all alive today is a testament to better Finally, as a parting gift to the Chapter, we have received things ahead. I pray that we all continue to overcome; for donations towards the purchase of a bus for Chapter those who have lost loved ones and colleagues, please activities that will be handed over to the new Executive accept my deepest condolences. Committee, God willing. Everything that has a beginning must have an end. My I thank you once again for the opportunity and journey as the Chairman of this great Chapter has been con dence reposed in me to serve our esteemed quite a memorable experience. Institute. You buttressed this with your new mandate at the National Elections where you elected me as the They say the \"end\" is part of the journey. I am glad to Chairman, Library & Publications Committee. It is with have served you and wish to thank you for the great honor and humility that I accept to represent you con dence reposed in me during my two terms as on the broader platform. Chairman. My tenure could not have been successful without your immense support and that of my With gratitude to Almighty God and to you indefatigable Executive Committee. With you all, we Distinguished Members, my journey as Chapter have been able to take the State Chapter to greater Chairman has successfully come to an end. Having given heights. our best, I hope we have led in an exemplary manner. To my successor, I pray for your tenure to be better than I would like to use this opportunity to highlight some of ours. I will always be available to render support or our achievements in the past four years: - guidance if and when required. 1. Lagos Architects Forum 2. Members' Welfare I present to you the 2018-2020 Valedictory Edition of 3. Secretariat relocation EKOTECTURE Quarterly - the tenth edition of many, 4. Students’ Competitions many more to come. EQ has become a recognizable 5. Educational Tours (we have Visited, Austria, Brand of the Chapter; I am con dent my successor will Italy, France and USA) continue to support it. This edition discusses a salient 6. Representation at the National Level topic that keeps coming up in general discourse: Is there 7. Unity and Harmony of Members room for Vernacular Architecture in our Country? Does it 8. NIA / ARCON imbroglio - while the resolution is already exist? These, along with other fascinating articles in sight, our Members (who were most impacted) have await you. held steadfast to the Rule of Law; I could not be prouder to have championed our position on the issues. Long live Nigerian Institute of Architects. 9. Ekotecture Quarterly Magazine – we now have Long live Lagos State Chapter. ISSN (International Standard Serial Number) for the Long live Federal Republic of Nigeria. magazine. 10. Architects' Intervention Project Arc. Fitzgerald Umah MNIA, RIBA, AIA (Int’l Assoc.) Chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architects Lagos State Chapter. EQ | I
Editorial Architectural Transformation of 2050 Indigenous Cities. “It is not primarily our physical selves that limits us, but rather our mindset about our physical limits” Ellen Langer. This eleventh edition of Èkó Quarterly is a special one coming at an epoch-making and era-de n- ing advent of the novel coronavirus. In the midst of other happenings that are also unique to the time, the hardworking team at EQ toiled assiduously to publish this edition featuring variety of topics exclusive to this time. My sincere appreciation to all contributing authors. As these unfolded, the call for reform towards year 2050 grew louder. Lagos State and Federal Government alike inaugurated several commis- sions to conceptualize vision 2050 amidst the neglect of traditional duty by the architecture profession to contribute meaningfully to Ikorodu Masterplan and Lagos Urban Land Use. According to many Global Networks, more than 60% of world’s population will live in cities by 2050. Nigeria population is projected to be 411 million with very large proportion congregating in urban centers by 2050. Currently our cities are manifesting advance symptoms of decay. Short- age of open spaces, urban parks, increasing number of municipalities, unabated urban sprawl eating up prime fringe agriculture landscapes, unhealthy informal settlements on fragile wetlands and lack of architectural identity. Our rurality, the engine room of peasant food security system, is under unsustainable develop- mental siege. The buildable land area is not elastic. We must house, work, move and feed 411mil- lion Nigerians in the same land area that currently support 200 million people. At this point, indigenous tenets for transformational urbanism is attractive to absorb high city population and to release our urban architecture for interstitial spaces we desire and IT driven infrastructure for generation next. But planning for urban architectural change requires understanding of contextual city formative forces including homegrown architectural philosophies, economic magnetism, demographic rate, governance, livability and technological inputs. So what architectural urbanism will trans- form 2050 local urban architectural morphology? If the Architect as a leading professional does not slumber, tomorrow can be conceptualized today. Mokoládé Johnson Ph.D Department of Architecture, University of Lagos, Lagos. Nigeria EQ | II
Editorial Team Mokolade Johnson Sunday Kuti Ukeje Uche Fiyin Jibowo Tobi Babalola Chief Editor Secretary Member Member Member Tolu Aka Gbenga Opebiyi Abolaji Kareem Damilare Ogunsanya Prinye Otosa-Abbey Member Member Member Member Member Claude Opara - Advisor Anetor Eromosele - Chairman of Publication Call for Sponsors Become an EQ Magazine sponsor and reach out to a highly quali ed audience from all corners of the world. Contact Us: +234 802 227 9111 eqmagazine1@gmail.com EQ | III
Contributors Mokoládé Johnson Ibrahim Yakubu MNIA Ph.D MD I.D.B.S Ibrahim Yakubu is a graduate of Department of Architecture, Building from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria. He is the Managing University of Lagos, Director of I.D.B.S.- a Lagos-based furniture and construction Lagos. Nigeria company. Tolulope Sanusi Dr. Judith Creative Head Ojo-Aromokudu Architect, and a former Rubyspolaroid Photography Lecturer at Kwazulu Nathal Tolulope is an architect and architectural University, photographer with a Bachelors in Durban. South Africa Architecture and Masters from the Olufemi Sodunke (PhD) Faculty of Environmental Design Arc. Olúfẹmi A. SODUNKE is the University of Lagos . Co-Principal / CEO at Archi-Text Designs Associates. Lagos Olabode Jegede Arc. Ọlábọdé JẸGẸDẸ is the Principal Partner at Archiworth Associates, Lagos Arc. Ukeje Uche Kehinde Balogun MNIA. M.Sc. (Proj. Man), Liverpool Kehinde Balogun is from the Department of Architecture, Ukeje Uche is a practicing Architect and Urbanist based in Lagos with expertise in University of Lagos commercial, multi-family residential and industrial projects. He is currently the Managing Partner of UKJ Consultants Nigeria, a rm of Architects, Urban designers and Project Managers. Abdur-rahman Boluwatife Boluwaduro Harunah Soremi Adefila Abdur-rahman Boluwatife Soremi is a Boluwaduro Ade la is Harunah is a design enthusiast an enthusiastic visionary and a particularly fascinated Afrocentric designer, strong proponent by architectural eager to contribute of architecture as a design that comes to team success problem solving from indepth thought through hard work, profession. processes. with a keen eye for detail. EQ | IV
PHOTO BY RUBYSPOLAROID EQ | V
Content pg 1 01 - Stabilized Earth pg 39 07- Architects in blocks/Bricks Non-Traditional Practice Ibrahim Yakubu Tolulope Sanusi, (Bldr) NIOB Creative Head, Rubyspolaroid Photography pg 9 02 - Vernacular Architecture pg 43 08 - Fact File on First & Urban Life Architect in Nigeria Dr. Judith Ojo-Aromokudu Arc. Micheal Olutusen Onafowokan, OON. (1912-1991) (PhD) pg 16 03 - Retweeting Indigenous pg 49 09 - The Entrepreneural Architecture: Architect. The house is a Hospice for Arc. Ukeje Uche Living in MNIA. M.Sc. (Proj. Man), Liverpool Mokolade Johnson (PhD) pg 18 f0o4r -SAursctahiinteacbtluerUerabsasnolution pg 53 10 - Modular Sustainable Planning: A Case of Lagos Housing Olufemi Abdur-kabir Shodunke Harunah Abdul Rahman, Ade la Boluwaduro & Soremi Boluwatife FNIA, MCARB, MPM pg 23 05 - Igbosere Road pg 57 11 - Covid-19 urban The vertical City-Street of Illustration. Lagos Island Kehinde Balogun Olabode. O Jegede pg 29 06 - Vox Pop: Nigerian Architectural Language & Style. Do we have a Nigerian Language in our Architecture ? EQ | VI
Stabilized Earth Blocks/ Bricks: A practical application as a formidable alternative to Sandcrete Blocks by Ibrahim Yakubu (Bldr) NIOB 01 Photo by Klim Musalimov on Unsplash EQ | 1
Photo by Jens Schwan on Unsplash T he construction availability of raw materials. Another industry in Nigeria is reason is the need to completely avoid essentially divided into or reduce the in uence of Foreign two; the Building and exchange in their production. Civil categories. In many courses of speci cations Arguments have however by the designers, blocks will be used in been pushed for many elements that the projects are composed of. alternatives to this type The most popular type is the sandcrete of blocks to be utilized in blocks which is made from ne aggregates (sand, crushed stones or our construction rocks) mixed with Portland cements industry. with di erent ratios of clean water. Arguments have however been pushed Over the years, much work has been for alternatives to this type of blocks to carried out in researching on the be utilized in our construction industry. di erent materials that can be adopted Reasons for this push are varied. They in the construction industry. This can range from need for sustainability, credibly and successfully replace green construction practices and ready sandcrete blocks for many reasons - EQ | 2
Source: Google including that of many quarters that have far has been the stabilized earth bricks or raised an eyebrow to the incessant increase in blocks or Compressed earth bricks or blocks. the prices over the years. This has received much attention seeing that Burnt clay bricks have been explored as an nearly all the ethnicities in the country have alternative, but the time spent in sourcing the since time immemorial been utilizing several materials, sorting and grading, moulding and types of earthen blocks to build their abodes in kiln-drying and nally curing and drying their myriad of settlements. This is why laterite, before transporting them to their points of use clay and even mud have been the main players has discouraged the pursuance of the in this drive for alternative building blocks economics of it all. The need for a less since their primary material for manufacture processed and economically sensible option can be found almost everywhere in the had to be found. The most popular option so country. EQ | 3
The drive was begun by primarily microscopic level. Remarkable compressing damp soils of results were obtained. various types under high pressure (from 5 to 20 MPa) to form blocks Compressed Clay earth that were immediately put into blocks use in construction projects as Clay has always been a well tests and even nal deliveries. employed material in traditional The results obtained were not buildings. Clay soils are naturally favorable since the particle sizes 40% water but when the material of the soils and their properties is dried using weather, even after compression and mechanically or by adding drying before use could not quicklime or withstand the rigorous events hydrated lime (between 5 to 12%) building face in service. Even the and cement added to it and cured great walls of the Northern they give remarkably strong Nigerian cities in the olden days blocks. had to be repaired and maintained frequently despite The major downside is that when the advanced knowledge their exposed to constant wetting the designers and builders had. blocks begin to swell due to the This disadvantage led to the idea rehydration of the clay contents’ of impregnating the di erent soils hydrophilia despite its treatment. with Ordinary Portland cement Another disadvantage is the and other resins to improve the spalling that results after bonding of their particles on a sometime on already built structures. EQ | 4
Compressed Lateritic Earth sorted and further pulverized to blocks attain a uniform gradation of In all the researches carried out so aggregate sizing. The far, laterite is one of the best recommended Plasticity index naturally occurring materials to should be within 12.5% to 15%. be used in the manufacturing of Ordinary Portland Cement is compressed earth blocks. A major added to the mix for stabilization reason for that is its extensively (between 5 to 8 % in ratio) and well graded nature, its cohesion water added to the mix to give a due to the presence of clay damp condition. minerals and sesquioxides which are important in the natural The optimum water content binding process of the soil. range is usually between 10 to 20% when static compaction is Structural strengths, durability, used and this is usually the one aesthetics and low cost are most manufacturers employ. The achieved to a remarkable degree. mix is poured into steel or solid This material is also naturally timber or sturdy plywood moulds occurring on much of the lands in and compressed using a CINVA- Nigeria. Inspecting the Ram machine that delivers a application of compressed pressure of 2 N/mm , the usual stabilized lateritic soils around the design capacity. world in countries like India, The blocks are taken out of the Algeria, South Africa, Brazil and moulds and stacked to dry. The Spain, remarkable buildings can resulting compressive strengths is be seen built using them. usually a maximum of 2.8 N/mm and this is in accordance with the These blocks are made using British Standards. laterite or lateritic soils which are Stabilized Earth Bricks EQ | 5
Photo by Aime Cox-Tennant on Unsplash Short-term tests on the blocks in the lab in use in real time are however the most and indeed in the eld have shown good important issues to regard. outcomes in areas of water absorption, capillary absorption, wetting and drying, Disadvantages total absorption, freeze-thaw qualities, While many researchers thought it was mechanical compressive strengths in wet uhuru in the quest for a practical and dry sampling, water strength replacement or at most a formidable rival coe cient performance amongst others. to sandcrete blocks, many observations on Even the Atterberg Limits consideration buildings built with the stabilized lateritic gives it a thumbs up due to its low earths exposed to weathers and seasons plasticity. The long-term e ects of its over time have shown reasons for caution. exposure to weathers and climates and Many of these disadvantages include; other practical considerations of buildings EQ | 6
1- Its support for vegetative near complete chemical reaction growth as it has been designed to but the The earthen source of the base result is not enough in material allows for seeds and proportion to deliver the desired saplings to nd root and result which is improved enough germinate on walls, ledges and bonding of the particles that roofs built with it and make up the stabilized block. subsequently their roots nd and As a result, under repetitive increase cracks and joints present continued wetting and drying, on them leading to eventual the excess salts begin to react deterioration of those sections. with silica to form weak This problem was observed on a compounds that cause the unit built in Victoria Island by blocks to spall and eventually 1004 Estate. break up. This action is referred to 2- Alkali Silica reactions as alkali-silica reaction. This was Because silica and other observed in the pilot samples of Aluminum and iron-based units built by the Federal compounds abound in lateritic Housing Authority in its pilot and indeed other soils, on an scheme at Lugbe Abuja. The idea atomic scale the compounds in was abandoned when this the Portland cement undergo particular problem was observed. EQ | 7
3- Conduiting- lands. This is more so when massive Because the material has a low housing projects are to be embarked on. compressive strength when its sections The scars left behind on the landscapes are thin, the blocks made by this method are enormous when compared to the usually have thick walls or are completely environmental concerns when using solid making chasing them di cult and sandcrete blocks. sometimes detrimental to the axial and Conclusion horizontal stabilities of walls built using Many trials that involve further them. impregnating with resins and other 4- Curing- compounds to improve the strength, The stabilized earth blocks made using durability and chemical stability of the this method take a longer time (between 7 compressed hollow earth blocks have to 20 days) to cure and dry when always made them uneconomical when compared to sandcrete hollow blocks. compared to the sandcrete block options. They also have to be dried under shade to While the advantages that the avoid cracks. The waiting period to take construction industry stands to gain from supplies can be discouraging. the perfection of the stabilized earths 5- Plastering- blocks drive are promising, the research The material has an extremely smooth and into their improvement should indeed be sometimes powdered face that disallows the target of all relevant academic adherence of plaster to it. The best way to institutions and quali ed players in the have a smooth nish on its surface is by industry. Their worthwhile ndings must wire-meshing it and applying stucco or be things worthy of exposition. other cements mixed with plastering For now, I believe its use in any project sand. This has discouraged many while considering serviceability and limit architects from applying its use in their state designs, should be one done with designs. some caution. 6- Green Sourcing Sourcing the base lateritic soils material Ibrahim Yakubu for the manufacture of these blocks has proven to be very destructive to source (Bldr) NIOB EQ | 8
Photo by Jens Ashlee Attebery on Unsplash Vernacular Architecture & Urban life 02 by Judith Ojo-Aromokudu Ph.D EQ | 9
Unlike monumental architecture, the vernacular has not always been celebrated, and was initially considered of no architectural value S ocio and economic Vernacular architecture survival has forced De nitions of vernacular architecture many households out of has developed over many centuries. the rural areas in search Unlike monumental architecture, the of opportunities in the vernacular has not always been urban areas. However due to celebrated, and was initially a ordability and other systemic considered of no architectural value, accessibility challenges, households partly due to its rurality and the commute or settle on vacant land non-involvement of the architect. including the urban peripheries, However, the works of Fitch & Branch creating settlements that are neither (1960), Rudofsky (1965), Rapoport rural nor urban. (1969), Oliver (1978) documented This short commentary contends and expanded on buildings built that whereas vernacular architecture without architects. In the words of is synonymous with rural and Rapoport, the vernacular “is more traditional practices, an urban closely related to the culture of the vernacular architecture is emerging majority, and life as it is really lived, as the households reinterpret rural than [it] is [to] the grand design vernacular in a new urban and tradition” (Rapoport, 1969: 2). African peri-urban environment. The scholars Osasona (2006) and Noel & ndings are extracted from a broader Amole (2014) have identi ed the doctorial study which focused on vernacular as a modi cation of the how the use of space in informal traditional due to external in uences settlements is informing the 21st particularly colonialization. urban vernacular architectural language. EQ | 10
To date vernacular architecture is considered of noble value (Vellinga, 2013) encapsulating examples regarding sustainability in the era of climate change (Foruzanmher & Vellinga, 2011). Traces of the vernacular language can now be found in the non-conforming settlements in urban areas. The study, carried out in province of KwaZulu Natal in South Africa, showed how an urban vernacular architectural language is evolving in self built dwellings. Respondents from 25 informal households, in three selected case studies in close proximity to the Durban metropolitan city, were interviewed. Observations were made of the dwellings taking note of basic building elements, and how space was de ned. Urban self-constructed dwellings The basic structure of the dwelling was of a post and beam structure, with four poles at each corner provide the structural frame for the dwelling the roof was a line-to roof and the door height deter- mined the head room within the dwelling. EEQQ | | 1111
Photo by Google Recycled materials were the environment. Such materials most commonly used. Such include, cartons, timber crates, include industrial packaging, waterproof used for covering crates and water proo ng cargo on trucks from industrial materials. The oors were areas; and recycled building slightly elevated but un nished. materials such as window and In some instances, water proof door frames, plastic bags etc. carpet, or cloth carpets were One of the main challenges in used as oor nish. This made it the evolution and acceptance of easier to clean and also gave the vernacular architecture has been occupants a sense of ownership its ability to meet acceptable of the space. building standards. While the Transfer of traditional building current debates from a skills to the urban areas gives sustainability perspective holds rise to a unique style which vernacular architecture in higher provides the early stages of an regards, health and safety issues evolving urban vernacular are still a major concern. architectural language. The This can be attributed to the very de nition of vernacular nding showed that residents architecture that welcomes were able to utilize rural building continuous practice and the practices (and by deduction development of expertise. vernacular practices) in erecting Ojo-Aromokudu (2019) argued shelter. Of particular signi cance that the word expertise is linked was the use of materials freely available in the local EQ | 12
Decorative labels for local identity in Oyo- source-author 2019 to the Latin word experiri (to try), indigenous knowledge. As such which comes from many the use of vernacular prototypes attempts of trial and error in the is now becoming a viable development of expertise; In self-help housing alternative. It light of the rural traditional is therefore recommended that practices, the peculiar vernacular urban vernacular architecture architectural language is could provide the footing for mastered and transferred when future a ordable housing households migrate to urban prototypes and should be areas. a orded recognition in the study of architecture. By so doing Urban Vernacular Architecture identifying the prototype, In conclusion, the evolution of o ering a variation to the study vernacular architecture over the of vernacular architecture. many centuries is in uenced by migration and ongoing socio Dr. Judith Ojo-Aromokudu economic and cultural practices. Ph.D It emphasises that self-built Former Lecturer, human settlements rely on Kwazulu Nathal University, inherent social practices and Durban. South Africa EQ | 13
A ustria has long been a trailblazer in the eld of sustainable building on the international stage. The Austrian construction industry, together with its suppliers and related service providers and the broad crossover with other sectors such as renewable energy, is making an important contribution to “Green Building” far beyond its borders. The strength of services and innovation of Austrian companies provides a solid foundation for edging ahead of the international competition, thereby allowing them to play a key role in de ning the future of construction, both in Austria and abroad. Austria’s construction sector is well equipped to address the fundamental global challenges, including optimal resource productivity and maximum energy e ciency, by being a provider of ideas and innovation for forward-looking concepts on how to approach resources sustainably. The Lagos Architects Forum (LAF) is one of the major architectural and building events in Nigeria. That is why for the past 3 years, Advantage Austria has been a part of the event. Leading Austrian companies with a wide range of innovative and high-quality products for interiors as well as the construction industry have contributed to the success of LAF. To learn more about innovative Austrian companies in the eld of architecture, construction, and interior decoration, kindly visit our website www.advantageaustria.org/ng or contact us at Lagos@advantageaustria.org EQ | 14
EQ | 15
03 Retweeting Indigenous Architecture: The House is a Hospice for Living in by Mokoládé Johnson Ph.D Intellectual We are living through another epoch-making and de ning emergency in the advent of COVID-19. Like the Spanish Flu about 100 years before, it is expected to also de ne the outcome for cities in coming years. “The house is a hospice for living in” is another metaphor supported by policy protocols across the world to tackle the abrupt invasion of Covid-19. The second wave of infection is now making the impact of the rst wave a child’s play. The year 2020 begins in a new decade of promise according to Global networks, but the dreadful disruption in Nigeria in particular and Africa in general at the fragile end of the equation portends gloom. Economic recession threatens, global depression looms, but by cheer providence, Nigeria has been able to detach from the crisis and muddled along without much devastation compared to stronger economies and established public health care systems. This fortune is widely believed and the adopted use of curing herbs (àgbo), unorthodox e ectiveness of local tropical medicine and the hot tropical climate’s unfriendliness to the spread of the virus is generally touted as remedy. EQ | 16
PohnotUonsbplyaSshhop_slo The “stay at home”, “work from home”, housing shortage and water pollution “self-isolate” clichés appears to be here to stay as a self-defense mechanism that are still largely unsolved in many cities is diametrically opposed to concepts of of the Global South. Ironically, Mr. spatial inclusiveness, multilateralism Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris and global coordination framework are (popularly known as Le Corbusier at the lowest ebb. 1887-1965) put out the design Rich countries with generous metaphor that arguably shaped the healthcare and wellbeing systems are architecture of housing in the 20th matching out with huge scal chests of century closely supported by the stimulus packages to stabilize from the Wrightian version followed by Sullivan’s COVID-19 devastation. What will Nigeria “form follows function” paradigm after do? As the crisis unfolds with no the years of the 1920-1930 Spanish Flu foreseeable end, the home has become and the global economic depression the single most e ective life-saving and that ensued, a situation resonating with anti-spread commodity. the COVID-19 pandemic. This situation places a huge design burden on the architect and the built In the wake of 21st century’s ‘new’ environment professional to rethink the function of the Hagia Sophia in obvious, re-imagine the unknown for a Constantinople, Istanbul after changing new architecture of housing. Existing functions as a Cathedral, to a Museum urbanization issues like congestion, and now a 2020 Grand Mosque, the transformations can be endless. The pertinent question here is: which function did the form follow? EQ | 17
The Sullivan’s paradigm for interrogating the Corbusian metaphor are no architecture of housing. The longer design absolutes. ilé làbọ simi oko aphorism are Architectural movements De paradigms in language with Stijl, Bahaus, Art Décor, meaning and semiotic Japanese Shinchinshastra, understanding of the cultural Modernism, Post-modernism, signi cance of housing as a Indian Vashtu Shatra, Chinese secure place of rest and Feng Shui or Yin and Yan are hygiene, also for maintaining vacillating design notions in the dwelling place heritage as Post-Independent a health commodity in architectural practice in Covid-19 treatment and an Nigeria. e ective tool to curtail spread. Unknown to many of today’s generation of architects, all Earlier propounded design the past design metaphors theories of the 20th century and philosophies were are no longer widely accepted written in foreign languages absolutes, Yorùbá (French, Swiss, Italian, English, philosopher and thinker German, Japanese Chinese...). Sophie Oluwole (2017) posits It behooves 21st century that no culture is perfect, but professionals at the local level also there is no absolutely bad to rewrite a people-based and culture and no totally good culture-oriented design culture. COVID-19 caught the language capable of world completely unprepared rede ning or reimagining with no established or sure Nigerian architecture medical response. meaningful to the people. Experiential learning and Language in Architecture information sharing seems to The Yorùbá language like constitute the strategic other major dialects are package for many Western replete with culture-rooted and European countries. metaphors. The Yoruba Nigeria in the usual practice example “ ìmotótó borí àrùn ‘copied’ and ‘pasted’ cyber mo le” a metaphor for templates and ad-hoc regulating environmental protocols without localizing health and personal hygiene or domesticating measures to Retweeting Indeginous Architecture:The House is a hospice for living in EQ | 18
Reinventing the Brief through Local solution-oriented design briefs can Photo by Nastuh Metaphor objectively change the wrongly Abootalebi on Unspla adopted slogans and tilt Architecture at the local realm paid understanding, meaning and identity little attention to indigenous values for local applications as aptly stated in while taking delight in wrongly the popular Yorùbá aphorism of ilé assimilated foreign styles. The need to làbọ simi oko. What the local shift focus to local art as in Demas construction methods, materials and Nwoko’s perspective (blended art, scale lack in technological sculpture and indigenous advancement, it makes up for in construction labels), meanings in cultural-place a nity, eco-friendliness ornamental fractals, history and the and sustainability. bearings on the architectural In the wake of the pandemic geographies in a metaphoric sense is imperatives, new houses should be the way to go. Le Corbusian, Wright, able to ‘expand’for physical distancing Mies, Sullivan and the rest classically requirements, it should be able to showed that design metaphors ‘contract’ in post-covid times when educates design philosophies and such spaces might no longer be conversely design philosophies necessary, it must adopt ventilation as educates metaphor for hitherto compulsory design parameter for unexplored solutions to changing energy saving low-carbon housing. situations. In tropical conditions, wide overhangs (in place of parapets) against hot or The indigenous courtyard features is a humid adversities will make design major spatial characteristics of Hausa, sense for integrated architecture of Igbo, Tiv, Ijaw and many minorities, care. Global pluses from Europe, the climate-resilient pitched roof America, Asia, and Middle- East can be con gurations ( hips and gables),the infused with local merits for new rustic columns, the mud or adobe autochthonous architecture of the materials are eco-friendly for practical homeland. adaptations. Fusing these architectural tropes into new Retweeting Indeginous Architecture:The House is a hospice for living in EQ | 19
Going by the Spanish Flu and COVID-19 philosophies for transformational archi- experience, a healthy house of the tectural desirables at the local realm. The future healthy cities must embrace outcomes from this discourse encourag- physical, mental and wellbeing of es the architects of this era to focus on ash citizens as vigilant, preventive promoting local tenets for retro tting home-transformational measures as the urban chaos in the architecture of healthcare investments against unfore- housing. seen manifestations of pandemics. Transformational integration of open Reinventing new thinking, detaching spaces, like corridors, multiuse impluvia, from failed templates are useful design and overall openness is advocated for algorithms towards solutions to the design of homes that can function as housing challenges of the post covid-19 hospices. era. Architectural professionals are in uniquely vantage position to oscillate between the sublime arts, the empiri- Appropriately Indigenous In conclusion, the e ects of history, cism of science and cutting-edge tech- foreign, but narrowly conceived archi- nology to eke out design solutions to tectural design metaphors, poorly today’s uncertain and ever-changing adapted design tradition and styles are demands. legible in many cities of Nigeria and The “house is a hospice for living in” is a Africa as well. The ‘copy’ and ‘paste’ is proposed design metaphor for the architectural plagiarism which must be architecture of the dwelling place in avoided for local architectural integrity. these post-covid times. Many local languages are architectural Mokoládé Johnson Ph.D design-resource as demonstrated in the Yoruba example for generating local Department of Architecture, University of Lagos, Nigeria EQ | 20
04 Architecture as Solution for Sustainable Urban Planning - A Case of Lagos by Olufemi Abdur-kabir Shodunke FNIA, MCARB, MPM Introduction This paper is a searchlight and focus on the Lagos State Physical Planning and Permit Regulation, 2019, which provisions mainly determine the e cacy of land use with respect to what maximum number of dwelling units, number of car parking spaces and coverage areas for high, medium and low density residential zones in the State. The main catalyst for this critiquing article was drawn from one of the main quoted objectives of Lagos State’s physical planning permits that states ‘to ensure that development and growth are environmentally sustainable, that is meeting the needs of the present without a ecting the ability of the future generation to meet their own needs” a very apt, and instructive maxim relevant at all material times. Requisite Architectural Responses Low Density Residential Areas: The minimum lot size is 1000 sq. meter. These locations will be found in Victoria Island and Annex, Apapa and GRA Ikoyi and others. The maximum coverage and density per plot will be strictly in accordance with their operative development plan and approval order. EQ | 18
Such coverage and density will however in the Lagos State’s Physical Planning not be less than as stated in schedule 4A. Permit’s Regulation of 2019 in increasing Permissible on such plots are Detached the number of dwelling units (density) Houses, Duplexes, Terraces and permissible on di erent residential lands Maisonettes with Boys Quarter or Guest zones to what they are now, but the Chalets. Luxury Flats are permitted under regulation still needs some improvements certain conditions and not higher than 3 to move it to a more sustainable and realistic levels in a way that can lend the oors. occupancy of each plot to most reasonable maximum number of units High Density Residential Areas that provide most optimum comfort for The minimum Plot size for this 648sq.mts. the users and most e ectively manage the All known dwelling houses such as scarce lands’ resources without Detached, Terraces, Maisonettes, Flats, undermining their e ects on the public Apartments and Tenement Houses are utilities and infrastructure. permitted. The maximum dwelling units For example, the best sustainable per hectare are 90 units. This translates to response to low- income (social) housing an average of 6 (5.8) units per 648 sq. requirements in the regulation is the meter. For Tenement Housing (supposed section that stipulates a maximum of 16 Social Housing, a maximum of 4 oors is Rooms and 2 ats for a Tenement Housing permissible with Ground oor reserved for a High-Density Residential Plot. The entirely for car parking aside Stairs. First 2 following are some of the upper oors are to accommodate a recommendations, which if adopted for maximum of 8 Bedrooms with 2 Toilets, 2 the review of the LASPPPA Regulation Baths and 2 Kitchens per oor. The last 2019, will facilitate the much desired extant’s policy objective of drastically oor is to accommodate 2 ats. boosting both the quantity and quality of a ordable housing for all socio-economic Review of Relevant Provisions for cadres of Lagos populace. Sustainable Housing In addition to the special provision for the Given the limited land’s resources in Lagos Tenement Housing (which presently is State for the ever-increasing population running out of fashion for housing needs) which currently estimated over 20 million speci c mention should be made of and the increasing exponential demand Studio Apartments and 1 Bedroom Flats for new housing accommodations, there is which are likely to gain more traction need to REVISIT and REVIEW the new among the same socio-economic Lagos State’s LASPPPA Regulation 2019 populace that are in need of the Tenement with a view to making it more in tune with Housing because of their better comfort the present socio-economic and advantages. contextual needs for housing by the citizenry from a more practical perspective. While one should acknowledge recent improvement made
PohnotUonsbplyaSshhop_slo For Social Housing of Tenement architectural designs (one for Rooms, Studio Apartments and government’s building approval and 1-Bedroom Flats, requirement for car the other for construction purpose) parking should not be more than 1 for same development. car parking per dwelling unit, given that the target population are those Given a combination of factors such on the lowest rung of the economy as acute limited land resources in (whose majority statistically do not Lagos, astronomical high costs of require more than 1 car parking available lands, continuous huge rise space per household). in young working population and increase in number of economic Conclusion immigrants in need of shelter (smart Presently, across the entire spectrum decent accommodation) and the of the high, medium and low-density need to preserve land resources for residential zones in Lagos, it is a other important land uses common occurrence to see both (agriculture, industrial, commercial, recently constructed residential conservation) and our future unborn buildings and old residential generations need for land, there is a buildings of 3 Bedroom Flats being rather urgent need for an aggressive, renovated into multiples of Studio practical and more proactive Apartments. approach for reviewing the present 1 and 2-Bedroom Apartments in provisions regarding density, numbers far in excess of what are coverage and cars parking legally permitted by LASPPPA requirements for high, medium and (Building) Regulation 2019. Also, to low residential land - areas in the be noted is the common practice LASPPPA (Building) Regulation 2019. where architects and other professionals actively connived with After all, any Law and Regulations the developers / clients to out the that are not in realistic tandem with provisions of the building regulations socio-economic needs of any society by, in most cases, having two and its citizenry, are at best prone to breaches by the same a ected populace. Olufemi Sodunke (PhD) Arc. Olúfẹmi A. SODUNKE is the Co-Principal / CEO at Archi-Text Designs Associates. Lagos EQ | 21
“PLACE AD HERE” Contact Us: +234 802 227 9111 eqmagazine1@gmail.com EQ | 20
05 Igbosere Road: The Vertical City-Street of Lagos Island by Olabode. O Jegede “I gbo osere” pronounced Igbos- and the Airport at Ikeja. The return jour- ere has a long history of ney usually connects Odunlami to partaking in the highs and Igbosere to Obalende. And just like lows of the society. ‘Osere’ is a other rapidly growing cities of develop- kind of tree and the present ing world are noted for unplanned and Igbosere environ has a large informal communities, Igbosere began presence of that tree, hence the place to grow beyond its infrastructure. was called ‘Igbo osere’ which literarily The informal sector maximize self-help, translates as ‘forest of osere tree’. mutual aid and became successful in Having changed role from being a provision of shelter needs of urban former Presidential route to Dodan poor (Bhatt & Rybczynski, 2003). This Barracks till the mid- 1970s when the assertion is valid in the discus of a route changed through Awolowo road streaming populace along Igbosere in Ikoyi. road, which has e ectively bridged the According to Lateef Rasaki who lived in gap between order and disorder in an the 1940s, the head of state protocol ever growing highly urbanized com- normally took o from Dodan Barracks munity like Lagos Island. through Obalende, then Lewis through The organic growth pattern of every Tinubu Square to Nnamdi Azikiwe, human habitation, always began as then Carter Bridge linking Herbert organized response to settlement Macaulay to Ikorodu road to Maryland EQ | 23
Source: Brusk Dede on Unsplash needs and in reverence to rst law of urban migration expand the population motion, the pathway continues, until without commensurate provision by certain equal and opposite expansion government. contradicts the growth, thereby Old photographs of Brazilian Quarters, impacting negatively with resultant slum Tinubu Square, Race Course, Obalende development. and Idumota area in the mid-1960s paints picture of adorable Just like other rapidly growing neighborhoods with few cars and well cities of developing world are laid out lanes for motorcycle/ bicycle riders and pedestrians in an orderly noted for unplanned and manner. informal communities, Igbosere Every trace of order has given way for disorder and chaotic development for a began to grow beyond its largely struggling populace holding infrastructure. tenaciously to survival instinct devoid of any attachment to identity and cultural This was the experience of many Lagos values. Island streets and communities which always began with sanity of a few thousands of inhabitants and corresponding facilities before rural EQ | 24
Open source map of Igbosere Road and Lagos Island in context Source: Jessica Arends on Unsplash Physical Characteristics Informality has been established as the tool to eke out a living in this the one-kilometer long Igbosere road, a one-way tra c that took o from Campos Square to Moloney Street, en-route Obalende. This road succinctly gives a graphic picture of the state of commerce in Nigeria as a nation. The seamless blend of formal business structure represented by Marina and Broad Streets, to the Source: Googlenear chaotic informal business setting of Obalende tells the Nigerian commerce story. It is in Lagos that a working-class could close at 5.00pm in the o ce and purchase grocery for food preparation while in transit. Igbosere is heavily populated; pedestrians jostled for foothold with motorbikes refers to as ‘okada’ and tricycle refers to as ‘Keke’ and other road users in an ever-moving scenario. Though statutorily pronounced a one-way, however, pedestrians, street hawkers, errant motorbike riders and tricycle operators rode with so much frenzy better imagined on a game screen where input is dictated by move of the console. Both sides of Igbosere road is streaming with activities, and few old bungalows and one-sto- rey buildings standing as witness to the in u- ence of architecture of returning slaves from Brazil and Sierra Leone (Saros) who had quar- tered in the area in the late 19th century. EQ | 25
Street views of Igbosere Road (Left) -rows of buildings on the left and the O ce of the Surveyor-General of the Federation to the right: source-author, 2020. Many of the old traditional and vernac- road from CMS area has more of ular buildings of the Brazilian Quarters o cial presence from Goethe Institute were either sold or gone through of Nigeria, Lagos City Hall, King’s change of ownership or through college, Court of Appeal, High Court developer arrangement culminating and Magistrate Court, Federal Survey in mostly 9 m width and 42 m long O ce annex, and Federal Ministry of plots of land developed to three or Works in that order. four-storey buildings of long, but They lined the right-hand side, though narrow width. These buildings are some of this establishments have their multi used commercial, residential, access gate away from Igbosere road. industrial, and religious used with The left side of the road has a whole lot seamless interactions. In Igbosere, all of private residences and developer the six geo-political zones could some- low rise buildings; the Nigerian Law times have representation in a build- School quarters, SCOA’s Lapal House, ing, either as building owner, tenant, Hotels, Bakeries, Hospitals, Elementary or security guard. Schools, Legal O ces and Law book- Igbosere in Context shops in a disjointed row of develop- Further to accommodating move- ments. There are Fuel Station, Restau- ment, the street is noted ‘as a place of rants, Commercial Banks and other work, shopping and commercial activi- o ces as it emptied to Moloney Street ty and the setting for social and to connect Obalende. religious functions amongst its diversi- A discuss on Igbosere Road is not com- ty of activities’ (Bhatt & Rybczynski, plete without mention of the culinary 2003). This is the narratives of most exploits of street food vendors and Lagos island habitations, though with hawkers at every road intersection a dose of government restrictions to including legendary spots where some regulate tra c and manage safety, women had been selling as well as health, and environmental conditions frying ‘chinchin’ for over ve decades. of the inhabitants. Driving on Igbosere EQ | 26
As an occupant of o ce space in Igbosere Road showing Pedestrian Walk, Igbosere road for about two decades, it is a peaceful environ, especially at Critical Appraisal of Igbosere weekends and public holidays where The functionality quotient of groups of people and ethnic associations architecture on Igbosere road has been set chairs and tables in front of their mentioned in terms of being an houses to celebrate and hold periodic informal but residential, commercial, town meetings. Most burial processions industrial, and religious neighborhood. took o from Bamgbose Street which like While engineering structure of the Igbosere is noted for sale of Casket of buildings was a mixed grill of load varying designs. bearing walls and structural frame. Funeral processions, associated mobile bands and musicians are commons Appraising the architecture, therefore sights from Wednesday through lies on the visual element discernible to Saturdays with associated heavy noise informed critique of buildings on the pollution, disturbance to vehicular ow, corridor. There currently has a however entertaining to pedestrians, picturesque of commerce without onlookers and occupants, who either consideration for culture of its step into the road or look through the geographical location which had windows from the comfort of their waned o due to intervention of o ces. developers who operates purely for There are increase incidence of pick pockets, thuggery and petty robbery during events on adjoining Onikan Stadium, now renovated and christened in 2019 as Mobolaji Johnson Arena, Race Course, Tafawa Balewa Square, La aji, political processions or during preparations for major festivities like Fanti Carnival, public holidays and especially few days to Christmas and new year celebrations. EQ | 27
Igbosere Road showing complex /Plaza economic gains. The order and detailing of the buildings in Brazilian quarters have given way to shelters without identity. Deliberate policy of Urban Code is required to preserve heritage buildings in this neighborhood. This is needful to abate the trend of haphazard development and restore cultural identity and city branding. An encouraged use of the people’s historic ornament on their buildings has the capacity to bring this vertical city to better reckoning as a place of valuable architecture. Olabode. O Jegede Department of Architecture, University of Lagos, Nigeria. References Amole, B., & Folaranmi, S. (2017). Architecture: Indigeneous. In T. Falola, & A. Akinyemi, Culture and Customs of the Yoruba (pp. 171-189). Aus�n: Pan-African University Press. Jegede, O. O., & Igwe, J. M. (2020). A Cri�que of the Architecture of Stallion Plaza, Union Bank of Nigeria Plc, Head Office Marina, Lagos. Lagos Journal of Architecture, 4. Unwin, S. (2014). Analysing Architecture. New York: Routledge. EQ | 28
VOX POP: Nigerian Architectural Language & Style Do we have a Nigerian Language in our Architecture? 06If not, how do you think it can be achieved? EQ | 29
VOX POP: Today we are more interested in the financial gain and Feedback 1 “modern aesthetics” of our Architecture instead of designing buildings for our unique climate and culture. I t is my personal opinion that we and high solar radiation, a roof with had a Nigerian language and style deep eaves to protect the building re ected in our architecture façade and steep slopes to drain rain before our independence from water as fast as possible, were seen in the colonial era and shortly after that, older houses or huts in the east, west but with the modernization of our and south-south a long time ago, areas country, it has slowly eroded and might prone to heavy prolonged rainfall. This be even completely absent now. I ensured cooler interiors, lasting exterior would like to approach this topic from a wall nishes and lasting roofs with technical standpoint and not a cultural minimal water leakage problems. All one. the aforementioned design strategies Before our independence, our extinct were taught to us as students of architectural language and style could architecture in Nigeria. be seen in the eastern, western and One should see a residential building southern parts of Nigeria. Today we are and be able to guess if the building is in more interested in the nancial gain Nigeria or in the temperate regions of (developers) and “modern aesthetics” the world, characterized by low rainfall (clients) of our architecture instead of and colder temperatures. But instead designing buildings for our unique we see some residential buildings in climate and culture. Nigeria and there is some confusion A typical example would be in the whether the building is in North adoption of at or low-pitched roofs America or Europe. We are then proud which are then hidden with parapets in to say we design like the foreign our today’s residential buildings. In our architect! Why should we aim to say climate characterized by heavy rainfall that? EQ | 30
We should instead copy their during hot days and warmer approach to solving their interiors during cold nights. unique climatic and cultural Simple thermal massing. Why challenges by developing can we not develop on this up-to date technical details, building material to meet developing local building necessary standards of today? materials and setting up Or is mud no more available? standards and policies that Why were we so quick to guide their construction and adopt foreign materials like design of buildings. hollow cement blocks? Local building materials are utilized We forget the primary in North America (wood and de nition of architecture is bricks) and even in South solving unique site, climatic Africa (double layer brick and cultural challenges, we walls). Where are we in this are problem solvers, not regard? copiers. We are trained for that, if not the public will not We need to develop designs need architects or that address our climate and architecture, they will simply culture again, instead of go to magazines and transfer adopting designs from any building to their site. foreign magazines of temperate regions. In the early days in the eastern parts of Nigeria, thick Oscar-George Emuwa walls of mud were used to provide required insulation. Architect (Ontario Association of This provided cool interiors Architects, Canada) B.Sc. (Arch), M.Sc. (Arch), MBSc., OAA, M.A.T.T.O., MRAIC, ANIA. VOX POP: Nigerian Architectural Language & Style EQ | 31
VOX POP: Feedback 2 Question: Do we have a Nigerian Language in our Architecture? If not, how do you think it can be achieved? Partially Yes. based on forms and functions. This can be seen or found in Be as it may seem, the then some parts of the Northern, Nigerian Architecture had the Western and Eastern parts of Pre- colonial and Post-colonial Nigeria. In the olden days when style. culture and tradition were in high esteem. Houses were built In order to achieve a Nigerian Photo by Jide Ayeni with Mud and Ra a palms (as Architectural Language and thatched roofs) as mode or Style, we must go back to our pattern of construction but this roots and adopt our culture and is not so in Southern part of tradition and infuse it with Nigeria- as for those who reside modern technology pari passu by the riverine areas ( the Ilaje’s). building materials so as to Their houses were built on stilts create our own indigenous (bamboos and planks). Nigerian Architectural Language and Style. My take. Modernisation brought in Neo - Onikoyi Abolore R. O (Arc.) Classical Architecture into Asst. Chief Architect Nigeria design and style and Lagos State Government was imbibed with creativity EQ | 32
VOX POP: Feedback 3 Question: Do we have a Nigerian Language in our Architecture? If not, how do you think it can be achieved? Y es, we have a Nigerian Hausas as a result of the reason Language in our mentioned earlier. Architecture. It is more Nigerian language in architecture is evident in the traditional relevant because aside from architecture of the architecture being a sheet anchor of palaces and residential homes. Though history via which traditional styles of relegated to the background due to the building is grounded, it also provides a advent of Modern Architecture, but the people an avenue to display their Nigerian Language in Architecture unique cultural identities. thrives more in Hausa traditional architecture as re ective in their motifs, It is possible to sustain a Nigerian choice of building materials, and oor language in architecture by: plan layout with hierarchical focus on incorporating it into modern privacy of spaces. architecture via motifs as was done on While the Hausa traditional the curtain wall facade of the CBN architecture is sustained largely due to Headquarters Building in Abuja, an inseparable connection between encouraging our traditional their religion and culture, the Nigerian institutions to understand the pivotal language in the Yoruba and Igbo roles they play as custodians of our traditional architecture is almost lost architectural heritage and nally, by due to their exposure to imported reviewing our school curricula from the cultures in uenced by modernism. primary to tertiary level so as to Sadly, the traditional palaces that are position them as agents of change in supposed to be the custodian of the sustaining and promoting the Nigerian Nigeria Language in architecture are language in architecture. being lost to the same in uence of modernisation except of course the Oluwole A. Alagbe, Ph.D Dept. of Architecture, Covenant University VOX POP: Nigerian Architectural Language & Style EQ | 33
Photo by Rubyspolaroid EQ | 34
VOX POP: Feedback 4 Question: Do we have a Nigerian Language in our Architecture? If not, how do you think it can be achieved? A Language in which birthed the modern Photo by Alesia Kazantceva Nigerian house movement, which on Unsplash Architecture. language persists till this To deal with day, and Frank Lloyd Wright’s this question, Robie House in 1909 which we may need to rst worry established the Prairie style ourselves with a distinction in America. between building for utility To establish a Language in and architecture. architecture, there must be a When we design and build compelling architectural for utility, there is hardly a event, record or monument record of such buildings for that triggers a particular the purposes of architecture. pattern or movement in For a quick example, when which architects are we study the architecture of in uenced to design and ancient civilizations, we do build in a particular way, not know most of their utility di erent from the way they buildings. had been building before. However, we know the Once established, an record of their monumental architectural language runs buildings or architectural for a period until another works that de ned an era or architectural event triggers a introduced a particular new language or variant. technology and thus There are many examples of established a language. this which we cannot go into These are the subject of here for brevity. The two architectural record. examples above should Examples of these are Walter su ce for now. Gropius’ House of 1938 EQ | 35
For Nigeria, we can see 1960’s to date with patterns (languages) of di erent expressions of the buildings through the last international modern style. few centuries we have been erecting buildings. Has the Nigerian architect Zbigniew R. Dmochowski evolved a distinct Nigerian in his three part book; An style? It is neither obvious introduction to Traditional nor recorded for Nigerian Architecture does observation or debate and an amazingly epic job of as such di cult to discuss recording our architectural and debate. What is clear history. to me is that most architects are doing utility There is also is a fair buildings while very few attempt at the Museum of architects are doing works Traditional Nigerian of architecture in Nigeria. Architecture (MOTNA) in Jos. These works of architecture are not being However there remains a recorded and taught so as gap in clear and distinct to create national Nigerian architectural movements and thus a record since the colonial morphisis of a truly era of the 20th century. We national Nigerian see colonial buildings of language or architectural the early century give way character. to in uences of the modern style from the - Anthony Aihie, Architect, Lagos VOX POP: Feedback 5 In my opinion the closest we have to what we can label as Nigerian Architectecture is Hausa. We do not have a homogeneous Nigerian Architectecture. You will not go to Accra, Ghana and come across a building with elements solely identi able to Nigeria and say ‘viola, this is the Nigerian Embassy.’ And it is not only because of our diversity. Or historical in uences from other cultures. It’s hard to put a nger on, really. Perhaps we may get answers with some study and research... And my opinion may be wrong so I look forward to seeing others’ take on this. Ohiare, Otura Jude, Retro t Project Solutions Ltd. EQ | 36
VOX POP: Feedback 6 Question: Do we have a Nigerian Language in our Architecture? If not, how do you think it can be achieved? T he Architectural style ofand is the burst of development brought a building is determined about by colonialism and by external in uences, independence. which shape the materiality As modernity brought about new construction technology of the building technologies, namely period. An architectural style that concrete, which manifested in the develops and becomes recognizable modern international style, it seems over time, is also dependent on the the only recognizable feature to culture of that period. preserve cultural identity in architecture is in our nuanced use of As culture directly relates to identity, I space. think the question should be widened to address the question, is it Architecture style and a Design important there is a Nigerian-style Movement should not be confused as when we are made-up from being the same thing. The Bauhaus heterogenous identities? movement of the 1920s was a very intentional design ideology based on Nigeria is a fusion of ethnicities principles including ‘simplicity and formalized into a collect construct e ectiveness’, minimalists, truth to with the intent of creating a uni ed material, technology and ‘form identity. However, this identity is not follows function’. Very intentionally it based on shared cultural heritage. It is manifests in a physical therefore easier to see Architectural representation. style in our traditional (vernacular) building typologies, which were As Nigerians, as we evolve the based on the localized materials, international style, is there a way we building technologies and culture. can or are creating a collective identity though our building style? Or In Modernity, the style of our maybe we have already done this. buildings have taken little in uence from our traditional architecture for Tosin Oshinowo, many reasons but of important note Principal Architect cmDesign Atelier EQ | 37
VOX POP: Nigerian Architectural Language & Style It is therefore easier to see Architectural style in our traditional (vernacular) building typologies, which were based on the localized materials, building technologies and culture. Photo by Drew Beamer EQ | 38 on Unsplash
07 Architects in Non-Traditional Practice by Tolu Sanusi of Rubyspolaroid I've had a vast number of Clients wonder if the final outcome was really their project EQ | 39 Photo by Rubyspolaroid Photography
Tolulope Sanusi Creative Head Rubyspolaroid Photography Educational Background / 2017 - after 2 and half years in the practice of Why Photography? architecture. I'm Tolulope Sanusi, an Architect, avid nature lover and Architectural Photographer. I fell in Recently I had a chance to partner and learn love with Architecture when I was 14 and with some incredible people at the CIA Lagos pursued it till I bagged my Bachelors in (Creative Intelligence Agency) and in doing so, I Architecture and Masters from the Faculty of had the opportunity recently to publish a book Environmental Design University of Lagos some under the CIA Lagos umbrella, titled - The Lagos 10 years later. Then came the Practice and I fell 5% - a visual Chronicle of the Architecture of out of love. Lagos elite; where they live, work and worship. It was vastly di erent from what I had Tell us about Rubyspolaroid envisioned, and it made me rethink the drive I Rubyspolaroid was created in response to the had for design but something that always kept absence of contemporary Nigerian projects the passion for design was the featured in top global architecture magazines. case-study/concept stage of designing for A brief search right now would pull a handful of clients. I would go online armed with a brief and non-historical projects by local architects/ ideas heading straight for one of the popular designers. One factor is simply that the architecture magazines websites. projects lack high quality photographs. Most architects and interior designers sadly fail in I loved seeing the photographs and concept documenting projects they have spent hours renders of projects from around the world. For and months on. In most portfolios, computer me the photographs were a window to a place renders reign supreme. and time captured beautifully in a home or building halfway around the world. Describe your process I have no set process, so many possible During one of my many lows of working a scenarios of Client and Project situations make grueling 9-5ish (more like 9-9ish) I started it hard to pin down a de ned set of steps. research on what it takes to photograph Getting to scout a project before shoot day has Architecture. only happened a handful of times and they This kickstarted my deeper interest in learning were large scale projects. Most times I get to site and researching the nuances of photographing and have a walk round with the Client, and that Architecture, experimenting with my phone is usually when I get to ask questions, glean and it culminated in getting my rst client what is most important in the project to the under the Rubyspolaroid Photography name in Client and scout possible angles before the shoot starts proper. EQ | 40
Having to photograph a project and show details like schedules, permissions, models sides the Client could not imagine is the or props needed would have to be ironed joy of the job. I've had a vast number of out days beforehand. Clients wonder if the nal outcome was For post-production, for smaller projects I really their project. Usually over the Job select and edit before sending to the Client roundup call or over chat messages. for review. I've found that this saves time. I have a short list of typical angles of any For large projects with a longer project space I am shooting but the more time you duration, I send a selection of images via spend in it the more the architecture an online gallery for the client to make reveals to you. You might have shot an their selection, then I edit. angle and on your way back through the space the same angle looks completely Your most favourite projects di erent because of a change in daylight. As of mid 2020, my favourite projects In some instances, the Client is not are: available to do a walk-through, knowing that a call to discuss what they want to use - WORKSTATION Maryland Mall & the images for and what they want - Clan Store, Victoria Island for their highlighted would be done before the minimal style (Both designed by Contra shoot day. Mundum) For exteriors I check the weather and - Radisson Blu Anchorage for the scope Suncalc days prior to know if the weather of work permits and also the best time to - The Softcom O ce, my rst project photograph the project. For large projects, featured on Archdaily. getting to know the team is important and Gallery L-R: Borough Lagos, Softcom Office, ANAI Foundation Building, 360 Office, CLAN Store, Workstation Maryland Architects in Non-Traditional Practice EQ | 41
Search
