Open House Lagos opens a new vista in Lagos architecture

The Lagos skyline may not be populated with many imposing skyscrapers, but in and around the city, there are a number of architectural masterpieces with their stories waiting to be told. Yet, not many residents pay attention to them.

But between Friday, 29th April and Saturday, 1st May 2016, thirty of such buildings were opened to the public as part of an architectural showcase organized by the British Council Nigeria.

“It is so easy to take a city like Lagos for granted,” said Ojoma Ochai, Director Arts, British Council Nigeria. “But a festival like this allows us to stop and just wander around and really look at the buildings in which the people of this wonderful city live, work and play’.”

Though all the buildings on show were located on the Lagos Island, Ochai said during a press conference held before the event that the Council would look to extend coverage to other parts of the state. However, the buildings selected for the three-day showcase demonstrated “the best of Lagos architecture,” She said.

Some of the buildings in the festival included Nigerian Railway Compound, British Council, Sterling Towers, Churchgate Towers and Heritage Place, Bogobiri House, Alara Store, Plot G9, Banana Island and Radisson Blue Hotel.

Others were Malaika Mews, Maison Fahrenheit, Freedom Park, Nestoil Tower, GTBank UNILAG Alumni Building and Bayo Kuku, German Consulate and St George’s Hall.

Religious centres such as Holy Cross Cathedral, The Rock Cathedral and Lagos Central Mosque were also on the itinerary.

Open House Lagos, which was first of its kind in Africa, opened a new vista for architecture in the creative sector in Nigeria. It told the story of a progressive growth of architecture in Lagos, exploring the diverse historical buildings protected for years while unravelling contemporary designs.