Lagos architects seek relevance in urban regeneration

Spurred by the need to renew the processes in the built environment, the Lagos State Chapter of the Nigerian Institute of Architect, has embarked on innovative strategies to recreate the practice in line with the present day realities.

The move is predicated on the matrix of relevance, value and positioning for architecture, urban regeneration and new opportunities, global melt down in economies and the business of building, issues surrounding incessant building collapse and new directions for building materials technology, urban regeneration and rethinking going global and a host of others.

Chairman of the chapter, Fitzgerald Umah explained that the move has been integrated into the 2017 Lagos Architect Forum (LAF 2017), scheduled for next month

The three-day event themed: “Lagos 8.0-An Architectural Autopsies”, he said, is about taping into the architects and designs that are shaping the industry as well as devising new ways of running the practices, stakeholder engagement and adaptation to local economies.

According to him, sessions at the event will highlight contemporary issues such as regeneration of architectural designs and practices in view of the current economic recession.

Activities include review of case studies of successful business models, project and thought leadership as well as interactions with renowned scholars like, Bishop Matthew Kukah, Igwe Nnaemeka Achebe, Theo Lawson, Aramide Francoise Akinoso, Kunle Adeyemi, Ghanaian Joe Addo and Jennifer Mpysi from Uganda.

Expounding on the theme, Chairman of the Education Committee, Mrs. Ibitola Okuboyejo, said that there is need for architects to recreate and reinvent themselves for the preservation of the profession. “If we do not regenerate, the only option is to die”, she said.

Okuboyejo said the branch is in tune of the present realities and decided to come out with the theme in realization of the fact that number 8 is biblically number that represents a new beginning.

On the impact of past programmes, the General Secretary of the branch, Samson Akinyosoye said the programme, which started 10 year ago has led to the establishment of a building collapse tribunal.

He revealed that a document that will address incidence of collapse in Lagos state will be presented to the governor at the event and expressed hope that it will be adopted throughout the country.

Akinyosoye also hinted a lot of colleagues from the allied profession in the built environment will engage in discussions on how to direct the activities of the profession in Lagos as well as suggest ways to address the cumbersomeness of approval process in the state.