Freshforte by Studio Elementals nominated for the Aga Khan award 2022
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The Freshforte Building designed by Studio Elementals was nominated for the 2022 Aga Khan Award for Architecture and invited to submit the documentation required to present the project for review by the Award Master Jury.
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About the Aga Khan Awards:
The Aga Khan Award for Architecture is given every three years to projects that set new standards of excellence in architecture, planning practices, historic preservation and landscape architecture seeking to identify and encourage building concepts that successfully address the needs and aspirations of societies across the world.
The award and the Aga Khan network work to address the needs and aspirations of rapidly changing societies? investigating how architecture can respond to the diversity of human experience and the differences in local environments while still honouring inherited traditions and engaging with new technological possibilities.
Studio Elementals Director Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher was a speaker at the 9H Design Talk as part of the Open House Lagos Festival 2023, hosted by the G.A.S foundation. The dynamic lecture series- 7 Speakers 7 Minutes -focuses on exploring new directions in Nigerian design with seven acclaimed figures from architecture, product design, art, and art history.
Speakers were Lani Adeoye (Studio Lani, product designer), Akintunde Disu (Artist and Environmentalist), Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher (Architect/Green Building Expert, Studio Elementals), Patrick Akpojotor (Artist), Charlotte Langhorst (Art Historian/Curator), Adeyemo Shokunbi (Architect, Patrickwaheed Design Consultancy) and Chuka Ihonor (Architect/Product Designer, Ci Studio/ARG Studio).
The presentation:
Stefanie’s 7-minute presentation focused around Studio Elementals’ work in a rural area outside Benin City in Edo State that the Studio has tried to positively impact through planning at different scales and with a multi-disciplinary planning team. A 1000ha farm (Large Scale – Masterplan), a 3.6ha food production campus (Medium Scale – Site Plan/ Landscaping), and a Farm office (Small Scale – Building Design / Architecture).
Most architectural works in the industry focus on urban spaces, because that is where most buildings are. In Nigeria it seems as if rural, espacially agricultural and productive spaces are forgotten, not designed and purely utilitarian. Uninformed planning or the absence of planning can have a major impact on large-scale landscapes, rapid deforestation, environmental pollution.
With the production campus the Studio was interested in introducing a wholistic and sustainable approach to the project on all levels: minimal sealed surfaces, protection of existing trees, a climatically intelligent landscape design with focus on autochthonous plants mentioned on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Studio Elements seeks to continue this approach dealing with required natural resources for the production, especially water, rainwater management and the handling of waste.
Studio Elementals Director Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher was a speaker at the Design Week Lagos 2023 panel “Designing a world for everyone”.
Moderated by Adeyemo Shokunbi, it lead an engaging discussion with esteemed speakers, Papa Omotayo and Chuka Ihonor alongside Stefanie, focusing on the importance of having meaningful conversations around rethinking architecture for sustainability, diving deep into sustainable architecture and exploring how it can shape a better world for all.
The panel touched on topics like materiality in Nigerian design, inclusivity and accessibility, challenges in Nigerias architectural education, and the power of prototyping to achieve suitable design solutions for the African market.
The Young Visionaries Exhibition, a project of Gracefield Island, was planned with the aim to give young people a platform to exhibit their talents or business. It was conceived as opportunity to share ones knowledge, experience, and expertise with young individuals and to empower them in a community that facilitates collaboration, entrepreneurship, continuous learning, and growth.
Studio Elementals’ Director Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher was one of the panelists for the panel discussion “Integrating Young Innovators in Building Sustainable Cities” among other speakers such as Ferdinand Agu (Director, Gravitas Investments Ltd), Karn Gulati (Director of Strategy, 9mobile), Mary Ojulari (MD, Weststar Associates Ltd Mercedes-Benz NIG).
In her presentation, Stefanie delved into the elements that contribute to a city’s sustainability. She explored the concept of green buildings, examined sustainability within the specific context of Nigeria, and explained the pivotal role architects play in fostering sustainability. Additionally, Stefanie discussed strategies for integrating young professionals into the endeavor of constructing sustainable cities.
The GVIP Exhibition was a physical event planned on Gracefield Island, Lagos, to promote networking and growth among young professionals through art, culture, technology, and social engagement.
Turning of the Sod Event for the Circular Glass Innovation Hubat UNILAG
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A team from Studio Elementals was at the official Turning of the Sod for the Circular Glass Innovation Hub project, the first of several United Nations International Year of Glass Legacy Projects, including a Glass Research Center and Glass Laboratory.
The Turning of the SOD event for the Circular Glass Innovation Hub took place at the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, University of Lagos, and was aimed at enhancing the support for national research and innovation among Nigerian Universities through Circular Glass Innovation Hubs.
Studio Elementals director Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher gave a keynote speech highlighting the importance of the objectives of the University, affirming the hub would be the first of its kind both in Lagos and in Nigeria.
During the keynote speech, the concept of innovation was explored, emphasizing its transformation from idea to practical reality, its role in introducing change, and its embodiment in buildings. Studio Elementals presented their past projects and activities, delving into how innovation can be integrated into architectural design.
The design concept for the Glass Innovation Hub at the University of Lagos was discussed, focusing on its multi-functional rooms for innovative thinking, meeting rooms, rooftop terrace for urban farming and events, incorporation of solar panels, utility/technical space, and storage. The building will be conceived to embody green building principles, be energy independent/off-grid, serve as a living lab, provide innovative learning spaces, and explore the use of glass as a building material within the climatic context of Lagos, thereby differentiating it from other buildings.
The program commenced with an address by the Dean of the Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Prof. Modupe Omirin, followed by welcoming remarks from Arc. Adeolu Okulaja, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Arcline Beehive Design Foundation. During the event, Arcline Beehive Design Foundation announced their decision to appoint Studio Elementals as the architectural firm responsible for designing the Glass Innovation Center, the Glass Innovation and Research Center, and the Glass Innovation Laboratory at the University of Lagos.
The opening speech was delivered by Prof. Toyin Ogundipe, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, followed by the keynote address by Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher. The event also included goodwill messages from the Green Building Council of Nigeria, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the Lagos State Ministry of the Environment and Water Resources, and The Nigerian Institute of Architects.
One of the highlights of the event was the Turning of the Sod ceremony at the site of the Glass Innovation Centre, where the first block of the building were laid symbolically.
The Emerging Designers roundtable focuses on the importance of having meaningful conversations with designers to drive innovation and growth in the design industry. The event in collaboration with Design Week Lagos sat fourteen creatives interested in joing the conversation about smooth collaborations.
The round table was about how designers can collaborate with the Maker community, with Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher as designer from Studio Elementals and James Adisa as maker from Adisa Design Studio, moderated by Banke Ajagunna.
It was discussed what the barriers to adoption of mutual collaboration in the ecosystem are and how these might be overcome. It was also talked about how a design partnership can be deliberate to increase a successful outcome.
Tips were shared on how to navigate shared contracts where each party’s strengths are not necessarily dissimilar?
Collaboration tip from Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher: “As creatives, collaboration has to be mutual – it is give and take. It is not a situation where once decides, and another executes”.
This event was organised by Décor in Nigeria in collaboration with Design Week Lagos.
Studio Elementals has been nominated to apply for the Lisbon Triennale Millennium bcp Début Award
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About the Début Award:
Is intended to commend the talented architects on their achievements, which should inspire other young and aspiring practitioners, but also to support and invest in their future.
The parameters range from excellence in built work to progressive ideas, exhibitions or written work which we believe marks the beginning of a future career. The first recipient of the award, in 2013, was Jimenez Lai – Bureau Spectacular from Los Angeles. In 2016, the award went to the Chilean studio UMWELT and in 2019 it was the Spanish duo Bonell+Dòriga who got it.
Studio Elementals exhibited at THE BIG 5 Construct Nigeria 2022 – the largest gathering for construction professionals in the country, together with Adisa Design Studio and Adisa Building & Construction.
The exhibition brought together 25 countries and more than 150 exhibitors in Lagos, Nigeria featuring cutting-edge products, innovations, and solutions.
The event featured dynamic displays of advanced equipment, sustainable materials, and groundbreaking technologies.
Big 5 Construct Nigeria showcased the transformative power of collaboration, paving the way for an empowered construction industry in the region.
The Adisa booth featured new furniture prototypes of the Adisa brand.
Studio Elementals works were also discussed by our director Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher during the architecture and design talks session: TROPICAL CONTEMPORARY – REDEFINING SPATIAL EXPERIENCES.
Our director and lead-architect Stefanie Adisa Theuretzbacher was speaking at THE BIG 5 Construct, one of the biggest construction trade shows in Nigeria.
Her talk was programmed as a session with the following title: TROPICAL CONTEMPORARY – REDEFINING SPATIAL EXPERIENCES.
During the session, Stefanie discussed various topics, including the potential and challenges of building with containers and steel in Nigeria, contextual site-specific planning and landscaping, as well as the importance of green building measures in Nigeria, highlighting the overall importance for green building in Nigeria – benefits and necessity.
Stefanie showcased the Studio Elementals Freshforte project and others to give examples of how to make use of indoor/ outdoor spaces, shading, overhanging roofs, natural ventilation, and how to use greenery as privacy screens. She also talked about how landscaping features can be brought into the interior of a building and how to fabricate a complex steel structure without any CNC or other computerized cutting techniques with local steel workers that are not trained in such complex structures.
The importance of landscaping applied to different planning scales was also discussed with the help of project examples.
The talk was a CDP certified design and architecture talk.
Testing Adisa furniture at the Studio Elementals Office
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The Studio Elementals space served as the backdrop for testing a series of Adisa Design Studio prototype furniture pieces.
Prototyping furniture is a crucial step in the design process, offering furniture designers the opportunity to refine their concepts and ensure optimal functionality, aesthetics, and user experience. At Studio Elementals we emphasise the significance of prototyping in furniture design and believe in the potential for architects to contribute to the testing phase, particularly in evaluating proportions and comfort for end users. By engaging architects in prototype testing, furniture designers can leverage their expertise in spatial design and human-centric principles to refine furniture designs, ensuring they harmonize seamlessly within architectural environments while prioritizing user comfort and ergonomics.
Through collaborative efforts between designers and architects, prototyping becomes not only a validation tool but also a catalyst for innovation, resulting in furniture that embodies both aesthetic elegance and user-centric functionality.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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:
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.
The Freshforte building in Lagos, designed by Studio Elementals, was featured in Livinspaces’s “Top ten Buildings of 2020”. The “Top Ten” list, compiled by Yakubu Paul and Olorunfemi Adewunmi, is an annual review of buildings of significant interest in 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.
Currently under construction is our new mixed-use facility in Lagos. The design links the concept of recycling with traditional craftsmanship. Re-used intermodal shipping containers become the main structural element. For sun shading, we investigated the potential of traditional rattan weaving on façade panels, which create a transitional space between outside and inside. Stay tuned and find out all details soon.
Currently under construction is our new mixed-use facility in Lagos. The engineers and craftsmen and women of Adisa Design Studio (general contractor) have worked hard to bring the complex building design to life.
Our latest project, Freshforte, was featured on the Open House Lagos’ website, a non-profit organization that showcases outstanding architecture and good design in Lagos for all to experience.
Studio Elementals Director Adisa (former Theuretzbacher) was part of the launch of the LUDI Library. The Library on African Urbanism and Architecture is an initiative that responds to the lack of centralized information sources on the peculiar rate, style, and trend of design and urbanization in the African Continent.
According to Stefanie, “A library with African content on culture, architecture, and urbanism is very crucial to gain more knowledge on how to develop content and projects that can be more meaningful in the Nigerian context. Books and other media can inspire deeper research and help us understand valuable lost histories for a more informed approach to designing buildings and cities.”
On Saturday 7th of November 2020, the Creative Director, Stefanie Theuretzbacher was part of a virtual panel organized by Open House Lagos. The panel explored the concept of the city from the perspective of the female designer.
Co-panelists included Dr. Thaibat Lawanson, Tosin Oshinowo, and Nana Biamah-Ofusu, with Olamide Udoma-Ejorh of the Lagos Urban Development Initiative as moderator.
New IoA Publication STRUCTURES OF DISPLACEMENT by Baerbel Mueller and Frida Robles, published by Birkhauser, in Die Angewandte’s book series Edition Angewandte.
Structures of Displacement refers to the joint project between the [applied] Foreign Affairs lab of the Institute of Architecture at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) for the conception and design of the Agricultural Training Center in Harsham Camp in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan (2016 -2019).
The project contributes to the overall UN brief of ”integrated stabilization, economic recovery and reconstruction support for displaced persons and returnees”. As part of the project, [a]FA mapped the camp to identify economic networks, habitats, and individual stories. In order to reflect on the project, Structures of Displacement was also organized as an exhibition and symposium that took place at the Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna in October 2019.
Because of our commitment to sustainability and the environment, the Director of Studio Elementals, Stefanie Theuretzbacher has qualified to be an EDGE Expert. She can now lead a project through the green building certification process.
On Wednesday 9th of September 2020, Studio Elementals Director, Stefanie Theuretzbacher was on a live chat with Olamide Udoma-Ejorh of LUDI. The conversation centered around our work at Studio Elementals.
NEW BOOK “Positions – Unfolding Architectural Endeavors”
Ed. by Maja Ozvaldič, Bence Pap, Indrė Umbrasaitė, and the IoA Institute of Architecture presents the works and ideas of graduates from the Institute for Architecture. Edition Angewandte Series
In the context of the 150-year anniversary of the University for Applied Arts, SLIVER presented as “positions” the works and ideas of graduates from the Institute for Architecture created in the course of the last three decades. This publication presents these as a cross-section through time and as a pulsating exchange covering the challenges faced by the teaching and practice of architecture, research, and design culture in the past, present, and future.
A hub for adult education with greenhouses for vegetable production
The Harsham Camp ATC in Erbil, the largest city in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, was officially inaugurated today by Begard Talabani, Iraq’s Minister of Agriculture and Water Resources, Benoit Wuatelet, UNIDO Programme Coordination Specialist, Stefanie Theuretzbacher, project architect. The opening ceremony was hosted by UNIDO, in collaboration with the [applied] Foreign Affairs Lab of the University of Applied Arts Vienna, who conceived the project.
Harsham is the temporary home of 1500 IDPs, who were forced to leave Ninewa and other northern governorates of Iraq affected by the recent conflict with the Islamic State. Women especially, have few perspectives and possibilities in the everyday life of the camp. The new training center consists of an educational hub, green houses and a garden on 8000 square meters of land. The camp’s inhabitants know how to grow vegetable, now they receive adequate space to supply themselves with fresh food, for communal exchange and income.
We just completed physical models for a large-scale planning project in Nigeria. We used laser cutting and 3D printing to visualise how to combine nature protection and production on 2000 ha of land.
On Architecture and the international image of Nigeria
Margit Maximilian, foreign affairs editor at ORF, Austria’s national television, interviewed Stefanie Theuretzbacher in Lagos. They are discussing about the positive aspects of living in Lagos and about the problematic image, that Western media shape of Nigeria and its people.
Together with Aderemi Adegbite, and Olamide Udoma-Ejorh, Stefanie Theuretzbacher was jury member of the logo competition for this year’s German teaching conference in Lagos. We selected the best designs for the German-Nigerian cooperation “Sabi German for Naija”.
Congratulations to the winners Ireyimika Ajala, Blessing Ayomide Adebayo, Sulaimon Adekunle, James Okpare Okemute, Isaac Temitope Busari, Precious Tobore Ohwerhi
800 participants from 60 nations active across all sections of architecture came together at the congress Future of Building 2019 in Vienna, Austria. Among them, spoke Stefanie Theuretzbacher at the panel discussion “EXPLORE THE AFRICAN MARKETS – DIALOGUE WITH AFRICAN COMPANIES AND EXPERTS”. She was invited by “Advantage Austria”, as part of the Nigerian delegation. The conference offered insights in latest technologies, project ideas for sustainable construction and high-quality buildings, smart city solutions, as well as the symbiosis of historical heritage, modern green architecture und high tech.
Studio Elementals hosts a Bridge Series Dinner of the Lagos Urban Network starting at our office. The Lagos Urban Network Bridge Series is a monthly series of talk sessions, dinners, film screening nights, debates and other events that bring together professionals and students interested in their city to come together and get engaged in conversations that enrich and promote their shared interests. This series is a chance for young students to network with professionals focused on city development in a relaxed and informal setting over food and drinks. We had good discussions about practicing architecture, youth involvement in urbanism, public spaces in Lagos, and much more.
The Nigeria Institute of Architects invited Stefanie Theuretzbacher as guest speaker and resource person at Lagos Architects Forum 2019. Visit her presentation and seminar stream on spatial and social peripheries and how to do spatial research as an architect at Lagos 10.0 – Architectural Regeneration 2 – The Lagos Response. At the event, you can learn about sustainable architecture, the current economic climate in Nigeria, and latest trends in design and developments of the construction industry.
Thank you, Fitzgerald Umah and NIA Lagos Chapter for your invitation!
Hello Nigeria on the relevance of architecture in Nigeria
Hello Nigeria invited Stefanie Theuretzbacher and Fitzgerald Umah, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Architects, Lagos State Chapter for a live discussion on Wazobia Max TV. Get to know insights about the Lagos Architect Forum 2019 – architectural regeneration, the Lagos response on energy efficient buildings, sustainable and safe housing, as well as the relevance of architectural expertise in Nigeria.
On the challenges of founding a business in Africa
There are too many limitations for creative innovation in architecture in Austria, explains Stefanie Theuretzbacher. At the same time, Nigeria lacks immensely well-trained architects. Read all about the fascination of working with regional materials and our consultancy work in today’s issue of Kurier, one of Austria’s leading newspapers.
The new agricultural training center in Erbil, Iraq is under construction. The Austrian daily Wiener Zeitung published an article about the collaborative project of the [applied] Foreign Affairs lab (University of Applied Arts Vienna) and UNIDO, and local challenges. Baerbel Mueller, head of the [applied] Foreign Affairs Lab (University of Applied Arts Vienna), and Stefanie Theuretzbacher, the project architect, give insight in the conceptual focus of the project: providing IDPs with the possibility of leading an independent life: by offering training, communal space, food supply and income.
Read about the contemporary architecture and art scene in Lagos, Studio Elemental’s long-term vision and the daily life as an architect in Nigeria in the latest issue of the Austrian magazine Architektur & Bauforum.
Interview on Possibilities for Architects in Nigeria
Today, Austrian newspaper Die Presse published a portrait of Stefanie Theuretzbacher talking on her life and professional practice in Lagos, Nigeria. The interview discusses the unique possibilities and challenges for architects working in Nigeria, urban planning in the mega city Lagos, as well as contemporary dynamics of architecture in West Africa and disappearing traditional building practices.
The [a]FA Lagos Legacy lab is a joint project by [applied] Foreign Affairs, Institute of Architecture University of Applied Arts Vienna with Legacy 1995. We have been investigating the Nigerian Railway Compound in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, a large open space within the city with several unused or barely use spaces, such as its running shed. Based on the notions of HERITAGE, TERRAIN VAGUE, and SCALE we map the fragility, beauty and potentials of the given site. An interdisciplinary team of students of architecture and art, architects and artists collaborated on different projects on site.
The [a]FA Lagos Legacy lab is a joint project by [applied] Foreign Affairs, Institute of Architecture University of Applied Arts Vienna with Legacy 1995. We have been investigating the Nigerian Railway Compound in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, a large open space within the city with several unused or barely use spaces, such as its running shed. Based on the notions of HERITAGE, TERRAIN VAGUE, and SCALE we map the fragility, beauty and potentials of the given site. An interdisciplinary team of students of architecture and art, architects and artists collaborated on different projects on site.
Teaching: Baerbel Mueller, Frida Robles, Stefanie Theuretzbacher Head: Baerbel Mueller Partnering institution: Legacy 1995 Local organization [a]FA: Stefanie Theuretzbacher Local organization Legacy: Sola Akintunde, Mogbolahan Ajala Guest review with: Olamide Udoma-Ejorh, Amritt Flora, Papa Omotayo, Oyindamola Fakeye Works by: Adeola Olagunju, Aderemi Adegbite, Cansu Ergün, Frida Robles, Jon Krizan, Katerina Joannides, Mathias Juul Frost, Stephanie Rizaj, Tito Aderemi-Ibitola, Toms Kampars Curated by: Baerbel Mueller and Stefanie Theuretzbacher
Investigating Spatial Phenomena in Rural and Urban Sub-saharan Africa
[a]FA is a laboratory of the Institute of Architecture of the University for Applied Arts in Vienna, in which spatial, infrastructure, ecological and cultural phenomena of the Sub-Saharan region are investigated. The concept for each project is based on an interdisciplinary and trans-cultural approach. This publication documents three projects that were carried out between 2011 and 2015. GUABULIGA _ WELL BY THE THORN TREE / ON OTHER PLANNING in northern Ghana, STAGING APAM / ON OTHER ARCHITECTURE at Ghana’s Atlantic coast, and LUBUNGAMODE / ON OTHER ARTISTIC RESEARCH in Kisangani, DR of Congo. The book illustrates the projects’ creative processes and contexts, embedded in contemporary discourses – well-known experts from architecture, art, theory, and urban sociology take a stand.
Editor:
Baerbel Mueller, Institute of Architecture, University of Applied Arts Vienna Editorial team:
Juergen Strohmayer, Stefanie Theuretzbacher Managing editor:
Roswitha Janowski-Fritsch Research support:
Chrili Car Layout, cover design and typography:
grafisches Buero
Ddiploma thesis: A hybrid building housing a music school and pedestrian bridge as a complementary structure to the traffic node and broken urban fabric of the Schottentor, Vienna.
The scheme reacts to the site specifically by utilizing an interweaving structure/building set with the landscape and surrounding built environment at the site. By blurring the boundaries the outcome is a park landscape that also acts as urban furniture radiantly forming usable spaces that are then transformed from pavilions to a usable roof-scape as architecture.
The architectural scheme is derived from utilizing a series of wave interference patterns that create the basis for morphology of the terrain and thereby promotve specific directional flows.
An urban, social and cultural condenser as an infrastructure that interconnects pedestrian movements. Programmatically the project covers a range from organized music spaces to impromptu performance venues.The architecture is designed to enhance and promote impulsive and spontaneous musical happenings.
Diploma Thesis project: Design by Stefanie Theuretzbacher University of Applied Arts Vienna: Studio Hani Rashid
2011-2012
“Narrated-environments.com” is a platform that investigates the connection between architecture and the written word.
The act of drawing and the act of writing are similar. They take the same energy and provoke the same hand movement, they require the same strength and will to put an idea onto paper. Writing is an act of drawing, drawing letters. Drawing is an act of writing in the most figurative sense. The act of moving your hand towards a blank page is the conscious movement of leaving a trace, of carving ink itineraries into space and paper. Architecture as literature starts with a stroke, with a figurative intention of transforming nothing into something. Stories and spaces are the raw material of our disciplines. We think that the creation of places to live, walk, write, paint, enjoy, are better when they are thought in a narrative way. Places are narrated in order to become your own. You cannot reside in an unnarrated place. Space becomes livable through narration. We as an interdisciplinary artist collaboration are engaged with binding architecture and storytelling together. Architects make formal decisions, they design beautiful shapes; writers invent worlds or discover them, they trigger an emotional orientation towards space. Architecture benefits from writing, writing benefits from constructed spaces. A built space makes a profound statement when it has a story behind it.
