For generations, people have lived in the sprawling slum of Makoko on stilts above the lagoon that surrounds Nigeria’s largest city, Lagos. With the aim to bring much needed education to the children of Makoko, Nigerian architect Kunlé Adeyemi designed a school that floats on 256 recycled plastic barrels with support from the UN Development Fund. The three-storey, A-frame structure accommodates 100 children who travel to and from the school by boat. When classes are out, the lower platform is used as a community space: fishermen sit and mend their nets or take naps in the shade.
The floating school has been nominated as one of the 2014 Designs of the Year as part of the London Design Museum’s annual and prestigious Design of the Year Awards: the winners will be announced in June and Architect Kunle Adeyemi would be representing Africa, as the only African nominee and the only project driven by and specifically delivering innovative African design solutions.
A model of the school has been put on display in the Designs of the Year 2014 Exhibition, which opened to the public on Wednesday 26 March and runs until Monday 25 August. Visitors to the exhibition will be allowed to pick their favorite design from the exhibition and new for 2014 is the Social Vote which will allow international supporters to cast their vote online.
This innovative design solution has created a futuristic fantasy of a water world of homes. Could this be a new way to go for Nigerian real estate?
Written by Temitope Longe
No comments:
Post a Comment