Architects to leverage best practices in urban regeneration

Plans are underway for the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architect (NIA) to work with experts in technology innovation ecosystems on best practices in urban regeneration.

The move is one of the pragmatic steps mapping strategies to implement recommendations from last forum termed: Lagos 8.0-An Architectural Autopsies”. This year’s edition comes on stream this week.

Chairman of the chapter, Fitzgerald Umah said, it is predicated on the matrix of relevance, value and positioning for architecture, urban regeneration and new opportunities, succession planning, architecture and social advocacy, global outlook of recession and business building.

Umah also said it will highlight contemporary issues including the rethinking going global, new directions for building material technology, with life case studies of successful business models, projects and thought leadership as well as interaction with renowned scholars.

Participants will have several opportunities to interact and establish bilateral ties as well as follow on contracts with affiliated companies, service providers, manufacturers, corporate bodies prospective end users and other relevant stakeholders”, he said.

He stressed that the move was energised by the successes of the last year edition and need to create innovative strategies to recreate the practice in line with the present day realities.

“For instance, there is a partnership with an Austrian American, who was a speaker in last year event for a technology transfer between Austria to regenerate Ijora Badia and Ilaje area rather then relocating them.

That partnership will lead to drawing from $1 Million development grant to over see the regeneration programme”, he said.

The three-day event themed Lagos 9.0-Architecural Regeneration: Lagos Response 1, he said, is specially targeted at renewing the processes and systems in which built environment endeavours are being conducted in the light of present realities.