We are in the early stages of the
year with most of our sights firmly set on ‘smashing’ those New Year goals (as if the goals dey follow us fight sef).
While on the goal smashing quest, here are some top design trends in the
Nigerian built environment to watch out for in the course of the year.
Co working has been defined as a
style of work that involves a shared working environment, yet independent
activity by individuals from different organizations and professions. With sometimes
exorbitant rates for both standard and premium office accommodation, co-working
spaces are the viable option for the small business owner. Technology start-ups
are raving fans. Asides from being cost effective and the flexibility of usage,
other benefits include increased creativity, improved standard of work and of
course, excellent networking opportunities. Popular co working spaces in Abuja and
Lagos include Ventures Park, Civic Lab, Aivon Co-Working Lab, Lagos Co-work,
Cre8Space.
Container Architecture
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| Reception area of The Ventures Park, an Abuja based co-working space |
2018 will see the continued rise
of the Transformers use of repurposed shipping containers. Their
versatility truly knows no bounds with well-appointed contemporary homes and
offices being designed from these modular shipping containers. Long gone are
the days when their usage was restricted to temporary gate houses, construction
site offices, provision stores, etc. Available in sizes of roughly 2.4m x 6m
and 2.4m x 12m, their easy deployment, structural stability, portability and
turnaround remodelling time of shipping containers is steadily making them get
more than a glance from local architects and designers. Yours truly happens to
operate from the cosy and cool interior of one!
3D Printing
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| A proposal for an automobile workshop utilizing shipping containers located in Abuja |
This disruptive
form of technology (think the smart phone technology) which has been described
as the fourth industrial revolution is rapidly making its imprint Nigeria. An
additive form of manufacturing, 3D printing is the process
of creating a 3- dimensional object either from a digital or virtual file or by
the process of scanning an existing object with a 3D scanner. Plastic in the
form of PLA (Poly-Lactic Acid) is at present the most common ‘ink’ used. In
December 2017, the Nimi Akinkugbe owned Bestman Games, distributors of the
Lagos Monopoly Game launched a board game - The
Bible Game: Saints and Sinners which had all its pieces 3D printed in
Nigeria. Even though 3D
printing is still very much in its infancy stages compared to places like Dubai
(which has 3D printed buildings), expect to see more of this technology
deployed in various sectors from home décor to fashion.
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| 3D Printers at a design workshop organized by 3DV Studio in Abuja |
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| 3D Printed objects on display at the design workshop organized by 3DV Studio in Abuja |
These are residences that have
appliances, lighting, air conditioning, TVs, computers, entertainment audio and
video systems, security and camera systems that are capable of communicating
with one another and can be controlled remotely by a time schedule from any
room in the home as well as remotely from any location in the world by phone or
internet via an installed app. Provision can also be made for home irrigation
systems for gardens as well as kitchen and utility appliances. The concept depends
on two fundamental elements – electricity and Wi-Fi.
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| Infographic showing smart home products |
Black Walls
It is safe to say that black is now
officially the new white. Never mind that Dulux’s 2018 colour of the year is
Heartwood(a shade of pink tending towards lavender).Hitherto forbidden on
walls in these parts due to its strong association with mourning, in recent
years, black has made a quite a splash and bold entrance on both exterior and
interior walls as local designers have learnt to embrace the forbidden and
mysterious qualities inherent in this colour. It is also gaining popularity due
to its ability to evoke strong emotions and of course, not forgetting that it is
also the colour of sophistication, sexiness (think of the little black dress)
and luxury.
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| Office interior with black accent wall |
Geometric Metal Furniture
Metal has made a huge comeback in
furniture design, but this time in pared down, slimmer and simple geometric
forms, worlds apart from the organic and winding patterns which articulated
themselves in wrought iron in the years past. The geometric contemporary metal
furniture is as much art as being functional and common combinations include
metal & glass or metal & wood.
House plants and gardens:
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| Geometric metal stools |
It’s back to the basics for most
Nigerians if the renewed interest in gardening is anything to go by. Maybe it
was the recession that forced us to look inwards and explore hitherto forgotten
habits where common vegetables were grown in our backyards. Asides from the obvious
benefit of beautification, plants act as air purifiers of harmful household and
office cleaning agents. With knowledge as they say, comes wisdom. Now that
people are aware of suitable tropical plants that are low maintenance and
hardy.
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| Sanseveria otherwise known as Snake plant a.k.a Mother-in-law's tongue, a popular and hardy tropical house plant. |
There you go, my design trend
list for 2018, which I may quickly add is by no means exhaustive. Have you
noticed any trends in the built environment you strongly feel will dominate
this year? Kindly share.
Read this article here on Bellanaija
Read this article here on Bellanaija
Photocredits -
1,3,4,6- Vervepoints
5- Pinterest
2- Ventures Park
7,8- Google Images.
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