MrCrackles:

What nonsense are you talking about?

generator house, gateman house?

How can you tell or show a window is burglar proof from a mere architectural drawing?

Since when has a borehole and tank become a necessity in order to effectively design a home?

WTF?!

oyb:


you've been out of naija for way too long, .if you've ever been there. houses/building are effectively one man local governments that must include a generator, borehole, water treatment plant, diesel tank, , high wall fence etal.

topelenege:

[size=8pt]It's one thing to get the perfect design, it's another to get it done perfectly. The problem here in Nigeria is not the civil work in terms of structures but the FINISHING. Believe me the standard here is way too low. So leave the issue of contractors redoing anything; it doesn't work that way here. They'll be wondering "what defects are you seeing" that they can't  notice. I've been to the US once(just six months ago), with the homes you've got there, it will be difficult to get the right quality driven contractor that will handle the Project 'US standard'.

MrCrackles:

That is not my point dude!

topelenege:

[size=8pt]It's one thing to get the perfect design, it's another to get it done perfectly. The problem here in Nigeria is not the civil work in terms of structures but the FINISHING. Believe me the standard here is way too low. So leave the issue of contractors redoing anything; it doesn't work that way here. They'll be wondering "what defects are you seeing" that they can't  notice. I've been to the US once(just six months ago), with the homes you've got there, it will be difficult to get the right quality driven contractor that will handle the Project 'US standard'.

Jairzinho:

They may not sell. The naija concept is  gated secured facility ,not necessarily elaboarate,butwith really big living rooms.

earTHMama:

They don't have winter in Nigeria. I don't think some of the houses will sell in Nigeria because of the climate. Try something with more balconey, shorter beams(for armed robbers/security) and longer cantilevers(for sun rays) besides, Nigerian builders are more comfortable building on level surfaces which helps our maintenance ethics. Structures built in uneven grounds are more prone to cracks and all that because of moment of a force.

Sisi Jinx:

What do you mean they won't sell because Nigeria does not have winter?

Is it not the design that we are talking about here?!!!  


@ Topic
I think are beautiful designs and it is about time we start building homes in Nigeria like we actually know what we want instead the building for building sakes most people do.

cabali:

pls help me ask them. I wonder if they are really into real estate to tell me the design will not sell because we dont have winter. Like the weather does not change in the US. So when it it summer in the US are the buildings collapsed for a summer structure??

Please u guys should visit someone in parkview estate and tell me if we have finally got winter in nigeria

damola1:

THe simple truth of the matter is you need to come and test the market yourself.

But I tell you this from my tiny experience, professionalism is well appreciated in Nigeria. Very much appreciated. Because there are few professionals. very few.

So, if you are good at what you do, and can deliver well, the market is yours to take.

Take it!, Take it!, its yours!  

oyb:

offtopic - cool  - sketchup 6 or 7? and is that tree from the free render plus tree maker addon? er. . .do you have any . . .smustard plugins i could er - borrow

what renderer are you using?

do some 3d myself, though it's mostly conceptual

you've been out of naija for way too long,  .if you've ever been there. houses/building are effectively one man local governments that must include a generator, borehole, water treatment plant, diesel tank, , high wall fence etal.


you don't want to put too much of the latest building technology into a house in naija  - no support/local spare parts available .

those houses will do - see plenty like that in lekki - as long as they aren't wooden (or as HRH stated - their materials are suited to nigeria). the considerations you face in building design in naija are different - eg you want to keep heat out, not in.


to the best of my knowledge, 3d modeling in naija is more for conceptualization than outright design - (and i'm inclined to see sketchup the same way) - ie builders will be more comfortable with good old @D drawings.

warning - nigerians are mostly cheap bastards who see nothing wrong with drafters/technicians(referred to as 'engineers') designing their buildings - so you need to understand where your competition may be coming from, though i do know that nothing blows nigerians away like 3D. . and if its rendered. . .you just might have them eating out of your hand

algood:

Nice building though, as a structural engineer and has work in lekki, parkview and oceaon view, we have similar nice design built according to BS81100 code.

U can import ur design to banana Island, thats a prety expensive area in Laos state now owned by People who love America design.

Just get the right set of team, and u can make ways pretty fast.

Dont also forget Nigeria buildings are reinforced concrete  and not the timbers and steel used in US.All rooms , kitchen are partition to the ceilings, not the half parting done here in US

Thanks Sista for the encouragement, and Bigups to Houston Texas. As mentioned earlier, I see these designs in a Perimeter fenced large subdivision with Acre Lots. In regards to construction process, Timber and Steel were used by the Colonials and the homes are still standing. The problem usually lies in the application process today. Many are not aware about issues such as wood being in contact with Masonry. The wood will have to be of Pressure treated stock, and well damp proofed. This does not mean that I will use wood. However, I don't see why interior walls (non-load bearing) cannot be done with steel studs and gypsum boards. I have found that in many hotels in Nigeria, you will find wood entry doors all warped. However, in places like the Nicon and Ikoyi hotels, you will not find this. It all stems from the inexperience of contractors who have no clue of why 'Oyinbo' does things, and are quick to eliminate them to save costs. I have walked many job sites in Lagos and Abuja to checkout their process, and found many application flaws. People rarely pay attention to ventilation and insulation. insulation works both ways and could be used to reduce energy costs in cooling spaces.

sojioguns:

@poster, Firstly I want to say thumbs up for even thinking outside the box. I am not much of an architect but your designs are fantastic and got me sold out. Why are people so concerned about the climate when people that can afford such houses would probably have secondary sources of power (standby generator and co). What I would advise is just make the ventilation adequate and make sure that all the materials required are readily available locally.
Well done bro.

gidig:

@poster,

It all depends on your audience. In the Lagos area alone, there are various housing needs and diferent audience. The varuious response you havev received here are areflection of that. Just know your market. The guy who managed to buy a plot of land in Akowonjo may not go for your design but the guy who paid 850million for a plot of land on Banana Island may look forward to working withn you. You will not apeal to everybody! That is a fact. You have a huge market i NIgeria and in the corporate world.

Our company has produced print communication for estate company in the past and I have a fair idea what the marketing end is like. You are in the business of construction. Your risks are limited. You are not selling. package yourself and know your audience. It is all about positioning. When next yopu come to Naija, drive around IKoyi, where I think your audience will be. Maybe a few in Lekki but mainly Ikoyi and other location as decied by the client. I know one guy who brought in someone from Italay just to work his marbles. another example: there is a land in Banana island that the seller is asking 1.2billion for. A company has offered 850 million and he is not shifting ground. My point: You will get your own audience. plan your sntrance strategy right and you are in!

you could get in touch for more discussions. The beginning may be tough but you just need one breakthrough and you are in. Trust me on that!

topup:

I think the houses in the OP are really beautiful however, I just don't believe they are doing Nigeria justice. I understand that the goal is to give people what they want, and to fill the demand in the market, however, all it seems developers are doing is taking something that works somewhere else and placing it in Nigeria, Nigeria is not America, and though we admire America for certain things, its architecture being one of them, I just don't believe that we are doing justice to Nigeria. Looking at the pictures, they mean nothing to me, they do not provoke any emotional response, other than, "that looks nice" and I don't connect with the building as it does not connect with its surroundings.  Materials which we could harvest and use which are home grown are thrown aside for bricks and mortar, which have never been native to our country.

I think it is very important for every country to have its unique and distinct character. Those buildings could be anywhere, they are not unique to Nigeria. Why try and replicate an American neighbourhood in Nigeria, surely if people wanted gated communities they would just visit the authetic place?

By focusing on bring out the best of Nigerian design, we can begin to define our own architecture, by researching into what people really want we can continue to develop from the traditional houses and rooms.

There's nothing saying we have to copy what others are doing, so why don't we be inventive for once?

sugabelly:

Here's the thing. Every country is known for among other things, its unique architecture. Nigeria must be the same. It is the height of tastelessness to have Nigeria dotted with American looking houses. No doubt you are a good architect, but your current architecture is inappropriate for Nigeria. I don't know about you but I DO NOT want my country to be a clone of an American suburb. If I were you I would do research on Nigerian traditional architecture and then put your skills to good use by developing modern twists on our traditional buildings.

That's what would sell.

saintvalx:

On the average, how much would these designs cost?

larez:

Side view of my dream home. (rendering)