This is a complete list of all registered (ARCON) Architects in Nigeria currently made available by the regulatory body’s website.
Comprehensive List of Registered (ARCON) Architects in Nigeria Read More »
I was visiting Lagos and came across the Civic Centre and Tower on Ozumba Mbadiwe street. The tower had a large, detailed crown, which made me think of it as the “king” of the buildings. The civic center, on the other hand, had a smaller, more intricately detailed crown, making it the “queen.” The tower’s crown appeared too small for its size, leaving me wondering if another “king” building was planned for the future.
The King And Queen Of Ozumba: Civic Center and tower, Lagos Read More »
I am an architect who decided to change the name of my firm from “e-mage Teamwork” to “Beautiful Buildings” to spark curiosity. I previously offered 3D visualization services but expanded to conventional architectural services and collaboration with other professionals. I chose the name “Beautiful Buildings” as a reminder of the paradigm that should excite us, as beauty in architecture goes beyond form or appearance and can be evident in function and structure.
Rebranding for Success: How I Transformed My Architecture Firm’s Name Read More »
As an architect, I have come to realize that designing can be a roller coaster of emotions. It starts with excitement when getting a commission, then frustration when trying to come up with unique designs, followed by excitement when a great idea is finally found, depression when the idea is rejected, frustration when returning to the drawing board, excitement and anxiety when presenting a revised design, and finally pride when the design is accepted. It is important for architects to be aware of these emotions and manage them in order to have a healthy work-life balance.
Emotional Roller Coaster: Navigating the Highs and Lows of Architectural Design Read More »
In this post, I talked about the architectural design process as an important step for architecture students to develop their design skills and produce high-quality work. This process includes documenting and articulating the design process starting with a design brief, site inventory, site analysis, case studies, design concept and concept development. I emphasized that it’s important to focus on the process rather than just the design as it sets students apart from quacks and helps them produce unique and well-defended designs.
Architectural Design Process for Students Read More »
Thinking outside the box is a metaphorical phrase that means thinking differently or unconventionally in order to deliver novel or creative concepts. It is a process of divergent thinking and playfulness, as well as requiring originality, intelligence, and confidence. It is important to explore many solutions, even if they may seem unserious or impossible, and to not judge ideas during the brainstorming process. The ultimate goal is to create functional, structural, and appealing concepts that are unique and original.
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The article suggests 10 resolutions for architects to improve their professional practice and personal growth, such as developing a signature style, managing their business more professionally, networking more, being more creative, focusing on important projects, benchmarking their fees, looking professional, collaborating more, traveling more for inspiration and reading more to stay informed.
New Year, New Architects: 10 Resolutions for Professional Growth and Success Read More »
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.
Maryland Mall Vs Ikeja Mall, Lagos Read More »
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.
Building an Online Presence: How Blogs Can Help Architectural Firms Stand Out Read More »
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.
3 ways to reinvent your architectural firm Read More »
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.
How a Quack can become an Architect Read More »
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.