LAGOS, Nigeria (AP) — In the waterfront slum of Makoko in Nigeria's largest city where shacks stand above the murky, fetid water on stilts of cast-aside lumber, an architect thinks the neighborhood should float.

Kunle Adeyemi hopes to build a three-story school out of 16 floating platforms lashed together, capable of holding 100 students and teachers in the iconic slum. He said the project, if successful, could be replicated into homes for the more than 100,000 people who live in the slum, clearly visible to traffic speeding past on city's Third Mainland Bridge each day.

However, Adeyemi's project comes as the Lagos state government already razed homes in the slum, putting residents on edge that officials may still try to destroy the entire neighborhood where families have lived for decades.

"If the people don't live here, they'll live somewhere else," Adeyemi said Thursday. "What we're only trying to do is offer them a better solution."
The project involves building the platforms out of locally sourced wood and empty plastic drums, then using wooded beams to build a structure that would have a common area for children to play on as its base, with two floors for classrooms above it. The building would also include bathroom facilities, something lacking in a slum where most relieve themselves by hovering over the water.

The school project, which has received notice from international groups, will cost about $6,250 to complete in the slum, Adeyemi said. While that's not an incredible sum of money, that's far more than the worth of any of the small, single-room homes raised on stilts above the water of the Lagos Lagoon. Those living in Makoko subsist largely as fishermen and workers in nearby saw mills, cutting up water-logged timber that's floated into the city daily. Some work jobs outside of the slum as gate guards and in other industries, though most live almost entirely within its watery boundaries.

The people of Makoko have created their own life independent from the state, with its own schools and clinics, however ill-equipped. But recently, the state government destroyed homes and left about 3,000 people homeless. The government later stopped the demolitions, but many here remain worried they will come back.

Projects like the school, as well as improving the homes already on the water, would make the area less of an eyesore and would rid it of the constant smell of smoke and decay. Adeyemi, who works both in Lagos and Amsterdam, said he's spoken with government officials who seem largely supportive of his project, which also could help the neighborhood survive no matter what environmental challenges come in the future.

"Particularly in view of climate change, there's a need to adapt buildings," the architect said. "We decided to use this as a prototype for developing something whether the water level rises or goes down, the building responds to that."

Copyright © 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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This is good news. . .
If the state of Lousiana can do it. . .so can Lagos State!
The parents will appreciate the children out of the house. . . .period!

No one should be allowed to build new structures on that slum. I propose the slum be destroyed and alternative living location assigned to the occupants of the slum. Say No to slum dogs. Its not a decent way to live or die.

Nigeria my country where many live in the slums but our politicians are building towers and skyscrapers to live abroad
Nigeria my country where members of a church trek to church but the pastor has 3 private jets
Nigeria my country where The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer

Not a good idea..Re-settlement will be far better

Billyonaire: No one should be allowed to build new structures on that slum. I propose the slum be destroyed and alternative living location assigned to the occupants of the slum. Say No to slum dogs. Its not a decent way to live or die.

another rich kid running his mouth,do u think that this people love living in the slums?,its just that the can't afford the high rent charged by lagos landlords that's why the live there,If you can afford a duplex thank your God because there are many people out there who can't.

ebamma: another rich kid running his mouth,do u think that this
people love living in the slums?,its just that the can't afford the high
rent charged by lagos landlords that's why the live there,If you can afford a duplex thank your God because there are many people out there who can't.

why do u all keep calling him a "rich kid?" Is it because u know him as BILLYONAIRE?

If he can do it, then its a welcomed development.its no fun living that place.

Ipso Loquita:


why do u all keep calling him a "rich kid?" Is it because u know him as BILLYONAIRE?

why you dey beef the poor guy for wanting to be a billionaire.

Eko oni baje lailai!!!

Brb, church things

But this Makoko has been marked for demolition. I pity the poor peeps living there.

¤SOBS in a rich tone...

How I hope it's done, and done fast.

ebamma: another rich kid running his mouth,do u think that this people love living in the slums?,its just that the can't afford the high rent charged by lagos landlords that's why the live there,If you can afford a duplex thank your God because there are many people out there who can't.

I guess you didnt notice my recommendation that they be given alternative living condition. You have been blinded by class warfare.

bad idea, two store in the slumb!? hmmm, NEMA be on the watch o. God help us

Interesting

thumbs up for rickross hold me back video, but how will this affect the price of garri and beans na.

Is it me or does that boy look pretty angry ... Mayb he was told to smile 4 a cup of garri

Is it me or does that boy look pretty angry ... Mayb he was told to smile 4 a cup of garri
u neva can tell

A floating school? But why didn't Fashola think of something that will better the lives of the people who live in Makoko rather than destroying the place without alternative homes for them,the idea of a floating school or a floating residential blocks is a great one,beside there are many of such floating structures in Austria.

Floating school? May start well, but what will become of it after ten years?

What fr*aking floating school are they talking about?. Has land finished in Nigeria that people will use wood to construct houses on top of water to live and school in? My heart nearly jumps out of my body seeing such houses and wondering how humans can live in wooden houses above water without walking on solid ground like everybody else. They should go build them low cost houses somewhere and relocate them out of that slum and they are talking of building schools that children will be attending in boats and climbing wooden houses as if they are enwe (monkey or something). Mtcheeeeeeeeeeew, Abeg.

purpinkx: Is it me or does that boy look pretty angry ... Mayb he was told to smile 4 a cup of garri
u neva can tell

IT IS YOU!

That picture is of a GIRL.......not a boy!


......and she looks astonished, thinking in her mind: What da feck are they taking my picture for, after destroying my house?

When you are traumatized like these kids are, ....and you cant do a thing about it,
your pain and anger metamorphoses into a kind of "weird smile"

Lastpage!

lastpage:
IT IS YOU!

That picture is of a GIRL.......not a boy!


......and she looks astonished, thinking in her mind: What da feck are they taking my picture for, after destroying my house?

When you are traumatized like these kids are, ....and you cant do a thing about it,
your pain and anger metamorphoses into a kind of "weird smile"

Lastpage!

How do you know it's a girl and not a boy?

I thought they were destroying the slums. They should destroy it. Those people living on the water are creating a health risk for all Lagos residents. Demolish, and arrest illegal immigrants. They are too many there adding to the filth and chaos. Imagine. .Later they will be yabbing Nigerians. If you cant pay rent, stay in your fathers house.

thats creativity,nija nids more of this to improve her economy and living standard of nigerians

are these nigerians?

I'm not in support until I see the construction drawings and a health and safety report. Is that area safe environmentally? What will the school building look like and be supported on?

A floating school is good news? So, all the floating schools that were recently destroyed by the government, what were does? "Floating above water" schools?

lastpage:
IT IS YOU!

That picture is of a GIRL.......not a boy!


......and she looks astonished, thinking in her mind: What da feck are they taking my picture for, after destroying my house?

When you are traumatized like these kids are, ....and you cant do a thing about it,
your pain and anger metamorphoses into a kind of "weird smile"

Lastpage!

Loling at the "weird smile"
This Mr lastpage dey funny o-o.

Onegai: I'm not in support until I see the construction drawings and a health and safety report. Is that area safe environmentally? What will the school building look like and be supported on?

EIS

too bad and painful my brother. may God help us all.

ebamma: Nigeria my country where many live in the slums but our politicians are building towers and skyscrapers to live abroad
Nigeria my country where members of a church trek to church but the pastor has 3 private jets
Nigeria my country where The rich are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer