AN EXPERIMENTAL SMART AND SUSTAINABLE WOODEN TOWER IN LAGOS BY HERMANN KAMTE & ASSOCIATES

Livin Spaces·Feb 6 2017·0

Cameroonian Architecture practice Hermann Kamte & Associates, recently shared with us their shortlised entry for the city above city architecture competition, organised by Metsawood, which drew to a close late last year.

Their design features a multistory mixed use wooden tower, to be built on the roof of Abebe Court, a housing estate located in the heart of Ikoyi, Lagos. Its designed to be an extension of sorts to the old residential property and will be constructed using the LVL wood system.

Here’s a description from the architects,

[dropcap size=big]L[/dropcap]agos is the most populous city in Africa and represents a big deal for architects. City consists of 16 million inhabitants. Situated in the heart of Ikoyi, one of the most popular and wealthiest residential sites in Nigeria, Lagos’ tower is a unique wooden structure which is designed to be a smart and sustainable building.

The old existing building is located on the highbrow Bourdillon Road with picturesque vegetation. It counts 4 blocks of housing units. Each consists of 4 bedrooms and 3 bedroom apartments distributed on 4 floors. There are some amenities: Swimming Pools, Gymnasium, Tennis courts, Children’s Playground, Parking lots, Borehole and water treatment, Sewage treatment plants and electricity Generator

The Lagos tower rises above the town following the sky to cross the limit of wooden construction. The new landmark is composed of mixed residential type used; it is built on the roof of Abebe Court, a housing estate.

The whole is oriented to maximise daylight and natural ventilation. The wooden envelope provides shading from the heat of the direct sun around the shape. Plants belt around each floor contribute to creating fresh air flow and keep a constant microclimate into living space while providing a visual comfort and aesthetic.

The project focuses on the open area. This is an experimental tall wooden structure in Lagos. The apartments are designed around a central core. Building is divided in 4 parts. The existing structure and new are separated by sky gardens and amenities. The top roof consists of 360° restaurants and lush greenery. Sky gardens also contribute in social gathering between users. It gives a new natural footprint face to the historic Centre dominated by massive and heavy building built in ceramic, concrete and asphalt.

The envelope high lights Yoruba culture with their massive presence in the heart of Lagos. Inspiration comes from the history of Edo, Yoruba and Hausa people. Lagos is the oldest site of Benin Empire and it is awesome to see that there is always a traditional hierarchy in this modern city. Obe yet symbolises the king of the man, the king of Lagos state. This tower is influenced by the contest ‘they don’t fuck it’, but it wants to be integrated into the city life.

The entire structure is built by using resistance of LVL wood system. It is used as a load-bearing and a non-load bearing structure. Structural feasibility and sustainability are based on wood. LVL products allow crossing very far-reaching. Wood is known as the fingerprint of Nature into artificial buildings. Maybe will it connects us to nature? Its most powerful comes from the unicity of each piece of wood and it’s wonderful.

This experimental smart tall building is developed through natural, recyclable and local material. It can be a beautiful landmark for Ikoyi and in Nigeria. By consideration of the context and the local history, the design improved lifestyle and reveal all these points: Marketable, serviceable, economical, sustainable, environmental, Ecological and Social.

ABOUT THE DESIGNER

Hermann KAMTE is a Young Cameroonian Architect passionate about culture and self-taught. He was born in Yaounde in 1992 and in 2010 he moved to Ngaoundere to study physics science. In 2011,he traveled to Lome (Togo) to start learning Architecture.

With a great passion for architecture, Hermann constantly feels uninspired if he is only restricted to architecture. Hernann consider architecture as well as philosophy and all other sciences. He strongly believes that a good designer has to be multi-disciplinary, capable of exploring design fundamentals and apply these ideas into his works. Hermann thinks there is no difference between architecture, landscape architecture, interior design or product design because they interacted with one another.

Wishing to contribute to the evolution of humanity and especially the practice of architecture in the world and mainly in African countries, he nourished the ambition to enjoy the collaboration with professionals to achieve the common goal of a world each time better than the last.

Through a series of award projects, Hermann KAMTE always focus to develop sustainable design by integrating local materials and other skills with contemporary aesthetics and modern process. As a student, Hermann received several international prizes and honours including but not limited to; Jacques Rougerie Foundation, Water is life, David Salisbury, recently TAW 2016 or Plan B: The City Above The City as recent graduated. As well as possible, the target is always to create coherent works, through a multi-disciplinary approach; in the field of Architecture, Urbanism, Design, Landscape, Education and Research.

Besides his interest in the art of shaping the life and city; he developed a very special attention to the economy, the cinema, music, astronomy, oceanography and zoology.