Afritecture » Nigeria

Butabu

admin — Mon, 08 Jun 2009 23:19:39 +0000

James Morris, a photographer, and Suzanne Preston Blier, professor of Afro-American studies at Harvard authored Butabu: Adobe Architecture of West Africa. This a well-researched and beautifully presented study of the sculptural mud architecture of West Africa is stunning. These often beautiful buildings were designed and built by architects for kings and emperors, making the best of local materials and know-how.

In Mali, and in Niger, Nigeria, Togo, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Benin, mud is not just used for making pots. It has been used for hundreds of years to build sensational structures -houses, mosques, palaces, temples, entire communities - which are repaired and remoulded every year during engagingly splashy mud festivals. And the very viscosity of this most malleable material has produced some highly inventive forms that seem to encompass ancient cultures, the spirits of the Sahara and even a touch of Surrealism.

British Council, Lagos

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 23:43:40 +0000

New offices for the British Council in Lagos, Nigeria both respond to, and challenge local conditions. Embrasing openness in the hot, humid tropical climate, alongside security and accessibility, the designer's response is subtle, yet practical.

AIST-Abuja Campus

admin — Sat, 09 May 2009 19:13:57 +0000

Situated in Abuja, Nigeria, the African Institute of Science and Technology is a master planned campus designed to mimick the geographic patch work of the area, taking inspiration from traditional and cultural values.