December 2016

Maryland Mall Vs Ikeja Mall, Lagos

I sometimes wonder about the emotional impact architecture has on people. Recently, I observed the Ikeja and Maryland malls in Lagos, Nigeria and wondered what personality they would have if they were people. The Ikeja mall reminded me of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Falling Water house and I found it to be “mature, quietly bold yet relaxed.” On the other hand, I was disappointed by the design of the Maryland mall and described it as a “big black box” that did not fit in with the surrounding neighborhood. I found that these buildings evoked strong emotions in me and I will not forget them easily.

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Building an Online Presence: How Blogs Can Help Architectural Firms Stand Out

This blog post discusses how blogs can be used as a free platform to showcase works, specifically for architectural firms. It compares blogs and websites and mentions popular blog sites such as Blogger and WordPress. It also mentions how to change the domain name of a blog from a .blogspot extension to a custom domain name for a fee. I mentioned my personal experience creating a Blogger website for my architectural firm and then moving to a WordPress site for a more impressive and “website-like” design.

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3 ways to reinvent your architectural firm

Architects need to reinvent their firms as new professions are taking a bite from the big cake of architecture. Young architects should devise a unique method of staying relevant, especially in today’s ever-shrinking world of architecture. Collaboration, information technology and latest software and hardware and getting your work out there are the key to re-invent architectural practice. Collaboration can help you outsource specialized fields and save unnecessary overhead costs. Use of modern software can make practice easy and save thousands of unnecessary printing costs. Embrace 3D printing and utilize the internet as a resource to stay ahead of the competition.

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How a Quack can become an Architect

Quackery in architecture is the practice of providing architectural services without fulfilling the requirements to work as a registered architect. This can include professionals from other fields, partially trained architecture students/graduates, individuals who have acquired architectural skills on-site, and untrained individuals who use design software. To become an architect, one must acquire a degree in architecture and be licensed by the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON) or the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA). The process of registering with ARCON involves passing professional practice exams and working closely with both ARCON and NIA.

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Navigating the Road to Building Ownership: A Step-by-Step Guide for Procuring and Constructing Your Dream Building

The article explains the process of procuring a building in Nigeria, where mortgage services aren’t readily available. The process involves several stages and several professionals trained to assist a potential building owner, including building professionals and building contractors. The article also outlines 5 stages to follow when desirous of a building, starting with contacting a professional in the building industry, and ending with the nominated contractor being mobilized to the site where he works under the routine supervision of the professionals.

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