Studio Elementals and the Adisa Construction team went on a site visit to an ongoing project located at Ilashe Beach, Lagos.

Proposed as a Beach Resort and currently a work in progress, the project consists of an 8-room hospitality development along the Atlantic Ocean, featuring 1-bedroom chalets, a 3-bedroom chalet, a reception building with back-end staff spaces and services, a restaurant, and a pool with integrated pool bar.

Check-list for Site Supervision and what to look out for:

  • Protective gear such as steel cap shoes, helmets, reflective jackets
  • Measuring tools: 8m measuring tap, 30m measuring tap
  • Drawings, clip board, pen, note pad, camera for photo documentation, drone for areal views if available
  • Personal items: water, sun glasses, fresh coconut water as snack from around the site

Photos: Deji Adejuyigbe, James Adisa

About/Mission of AnotHERVIEWture Award

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AnotHERVIEWture is a platform which works to introduce women and their work to a broader public in order to raise awareness of the female contribution in the building industry and to highlight role models in order to transform this field of profession towards equality and diversity.

Studio Elementals and its director Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher have been featured on the AnotHERVIEWture platform, highlighting the work they have done in developing innovative, sustainable and design driven building designs and planning expertise for outstanding projects while having a positive impact on the built environment.

There are 1,119 female architects and chartered engineering consultants registered in Austria and 744 of them are actively working in their field of profession. 1,119 women, representing 10% of highly trained and officially accredited experts in Austria who design and create the built environment and develop engineering projects.

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Click here for more information on AnotHERVIEWture

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Glass + Building Information Modelling (G+BIM) ‘glassunlimited 2022’ – Virtual Event 

The ‘glassunlimited’ online seminar was part of a series of activities that celebrated the United Nations International Year of Glass 2022 in Nigeria. Arc. Adeolu Okulaja served as the facilitator for the event.

The speakers included:

  • Studio Elementals director and lead-architect: Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher (Mag.Arch, RIBA, EDGE Expert): Stefanie provided innovative, sustainable, and design-driven building designs and planning expertise for outstanding projects, aiming to have a positive impact on the built environment.
  • Adegboyega Sotunbo, University of Lagos, Building Department: Adegboyega, an expert in BIM, Studies Safety on Construction Sites, Sustainable Construction, and Efficiency, taught Building at the University of Lagos Akoka, Lagos.

The closing remarks were delivered by Prof. Mrs. Modupe Omirin, Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences at the University of Lagos.

The event was organized in collaboration with the Arcline Beehive Design Foundation, the United Nations Information Center Nigeria, the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources, and the University of Lagos, represented by the Faculty of Environmental Sciences.

Link to Lecture:

Yabatech Radio:

Studio Elementals’ Director Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher joined host Dr. Tenigbade Odu on her weekly radio show “The Built Environment” at Yaba Tech Radio 89.3 fm to discuss Contemporary Architecture in the Nigerian Context. Dr. Tenigbade is a Green Building Expert and former lecturer at Yaba Tech.

To begin, Stefanie reflected on her architectural journey in Nigeria, offering insights into past and current projects at Studio Elementals that illustrated the dynamic nature of architectural practice in the country. 

Addressing the prevalent “Lagos-container-myth,” the discussion emphasized the importance of acknowledging both the potentials and challenges associated with building using containers and steel in Nigeria. Demystifying this myth allowed for a more nuanced understanding of these materials’ suitability within the local context.

Stefanie underscored the significance of contextual site-specific planning and landscaping in architecture, highlighting the importance of integrating environmental and cultural considerations into design processes.

In discussing green building practices, the conversation touched on their pivotal role in Nigeria and the global South, offering benefits such as energy efficiency and cost savings while addressing the imperative of environmental sustainability in rapidly urbanizing areas.

Exploring alternative building materials, Stefanie recognized opportunities for innovation, yet acknowledged the challenges inherent in their adoption, including logistical and regulatory considerations.

In summary, the reflections talked about in the radio show concluded that contemporary architecture in Nigeria could embody a blend of tradition, innovation, and sustainability. By embracing contextual planning, green building practices, and exploring alternative materials, architects have the opportunity to contribute to the evolution of Nigerian architecture in a manner that is responsive to local needs and global trends.

Radio Website: www.yabatechradio.com.ng

National Glass Day Panel at University of Lagos:

Studio Elementals Director Stefanie Adisa Theurtzbacher was part of a panel discussion about the importance of glass for the building industry, moderated by Mrs. Adesuwa Onyenokwe

The panel featured other distinguished speakers such as Prof. Timothy Gbenga Nubi, Director of Research & Innovation, University of Lagos; Mrs. Sade Hughes, Managing Director, MIXTA Africa; Arc. Tunde Sanni, Cupola Architects; Arc. Babatola Akinkugbe, Arabella Landscape; Mr. Abiodun Shonubi, Loomash Investment Group; and Mrs. Temilola Sunola, IFC EDGE.

The National Glass Day Seminar took place on April 28th, 2022, at the J.G Ade Ajayi Auditorium, University of Lagos, Akoka, Lagos. This seminar was a significant aspect of a year-long series of events celebrating the United Nations International Year of Glass 2022, as initiated in May 2018 during the last United Nations Congress in Geneva.

The event was organized in collaboration with the Arcline Beehive Design Foundation, the United Nations Information Center (UNIC) Lagos, and the University of Lagos, represented by the Faculty of Environmental Sciences. Notable industry leaders in glass manufacturing, architecture, building construction, information technology, biomedical sciences, creative arts, engineering, and academia attended the seminar.

The program covered various topics including the role of glass innovation and development in packaging and the circular economy, glass in sustainable building design, construction, and smart cities, innovative use of glass in creative works, the role of glass in 5G communication and optical fiber technology, entrepreneurial potentials in glass development and manufacture, glass evolution, challenges, and opportunities for sustainability and strategic economic development, glass for a sustainable environment, opportunities, and challenges, and glass as an enabler in biomedical and pharmaceutical industries.

The seminar concluded with closing remarks from Prof. M. M. Omirin, the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos.

Photos by Arcline Behive Foundation

Open House Lagos Tour of Freshforte:

In April 2021, a few months after the official opening of the Freshforte project in Lekki, Lagos, the building was selected by Open House Lagos for a public tour that allowed participants to experience the spaces and learn more about the architectural concepts behind the design.

Open House Lagos is a non-profit organisation that showcases outstanding architecture and good design in Lagos for all to experience, completely for free. OHL offers residents, local and international visitors an enriched cultural experience by providing an opportunity to access buildings not normally open to the public and bridges the gap between the physical city and its environment.

For more Information about the building project, click here.

Video Footage of the Tour from one of the tour visitors:

Photos by Open House Lagos

Freshforte featured on multiple YouTube vlogs

The Freshforte building continues to pique the interest of the Nigerian YouTube space. It has become a prime location for vlogs and reviews such as Steven Ndukwu and others ,who are constantly being fascinated by its refreshing use of shipping containers and its internal ambiance.

Link to Videos:

Freshforte, a Landmark in Lagos, Nigeria

The Article titled “Freshforte, a Landmark in Lagos, Nigeria” was published in the Austrian print magazine “ARCHITEKTUR.AKTUELL” – The Art of Building – September Edition 2021.
Written by Brigitte Groihofer, the arcticle talks about the Freshforte building, about creative recycling, containers as building material and contemporary architecture for the tropics.

It is mentioned that the building was commissioned by Farmforte, a business committed to revolutionizing agricultural practices and supporting small-scale farmers for future sustainability and economic prosperity. Freshforte, their flagship store is strategically located in Lagos’ bustling Lekki District Phase 1. Constructed from repurposed shipping containers, Freshforte embodies themes of freshness, sustainability, and zero waste, serving as a landmark in the city. The architectural design, inspired by recycling principles, incorporates a complex three-story spatial system, emphasizing cross ventilation, translucency, and sun protection. The article also mentions that unlike European construction practices, the implementation in Nigeria demands flexibility and creativity, collaborating directly with local building firms. 

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To see the journal preview click here:

https://www.architektur-aktuell.at/news/freshforte-eine-landmark-in-lagos-nigeria

For more information about the project, click here:

www.studioelementals/nproject/freshforte/