EgunMogaji:


It seems like a fair amount of setup time, all the waste which I guess can be collected and reused.

I'm all for automation but we have to be reasonable.

If we can first get rid of adult men carrying poun poun of concrete mix on their head and old women fetching water then I'll be happy.

segcymoor:

Absolutely! D word ante here literally means before. A small space or lobby is required before the main living room.
It's the beauty of Architecture! It wouldn't ve being introduced in the world of Architecture if not necessarily in the first place
However, one may decided to skip it in his personal project . After all, it's not structural affected. But the fact remains that it does makes sense!

KolaShangOne:
The argument about ante room, high pitch roof etc.. Its all about CHOICE..

Those saying it's useless are talking in relation to FUNCTIONALITY.

Those saying its useful are arguing on the side of AESTHETICS and the beauty of aesthetics is CHOICE.

abdulwastecx:


I don't really consider high pitch roof aesthetics, its more like waste of resources. I love flat roof

segcymoor:

Absolutely! D word ante here literally means before. A small space or lobby is required before the main living room.






It's the beauty of Architecture! It wouldn't ve being introduced in the world of Architecture if not necessarily in the first place
However, one may decided to skip it in his personal project . After all, it's not structural affected. But the fact remains that it does makes sense!

abdulwastecx:


I don't really consider high pitch roof aesthetics, its more like waste of resources. I love flat roof

KolaShangOne:
The argument about ante room, high pitch roof etc.. Its all about CHOICE..

Those saying it's useless are talking in relation to FUNCTIONALITY.

Those saying its useful are arguing on the side of AESTHETICS and the beauty of aesthetics is CHOICE.

abdulwastecx:


adult men carrying cement in the head can be replaced by men fully kitted with hand cloves and rain boot shoe carrying cement in wheel barrow....

Women fetching water from well can be replaced with a pumping machine connected with hose long enough to get to any part of the site....

problem solved....

OnetimeOnly:


100 % agree. But when choices that do not add much function start costing money and I can save 35% on roofing costs, then the client has to reevaluate.it is a balancing act.

EgunMogaji:
A question for Nairalands Architects and builders.

“How would you design a home if based on your behavior, not architectural convention…for singles, couples, families, etc.?”

segcymoor:

Oga. U are the least person I am expecting this question from
In Morden duplex, Just a definate answer we suffice.
Do you expect every visitors to ve direct answer to ur living room? .I think ur personal project is a duplex.

If I can count at least I ve built and design nothing less than 15 duplex in the course of my practices. Besides, we are not responsible for all the design.


Non without an ante room!

KolaShangOne:
The argument about ante room, high pitch roof etc.. Its all about CHOICE..

Those saying it's useless are talking in relation to FUNCTIONALITY.

Those saying its useful are arguing on the side of AESTHETICS and the beauty of aesthetics is CHOICE.

segcymoor:

Do you expect every visitors to ve direct answer to ur living room? .I think ur personal project is a duplex.

If I can count at least I ve built and design nothing less than 15 duplex in the course of my practices. Besides, we are not responsible for all the design.
Non without an ante room!

KolaShangOne:
The argument about ante room, high pitch roof etc.. Its all about CHOICE..

Those saying it's useless are talking in relation to FUNCTIONALITY.

Those saying its useful are arguing on the side of AESTHETICS and the beauty of aesthetics is CHOICE.

erico2k2:

If you r using a roofing material that's is subject to rust and leakage the a high roof is desirable cos of the high gradient.

EgunMogaji:


Mi oga, in 2015 one should be able to have a non rusting and none leaky roof of any pitch.

Heck some folks have live plant/grass roofs.

segcymoor:

To buttress my point. Is now seems to go beyond duplex original created for.




We supposed to have received glory of being project Architect for one of blocks of flat under construction here on NL.But why not?
Based on brief given we presented the design to 'our beloved client' but unfortunately the client in question is difficult to please
He shared our concept with one First class material of OAU. The 'advanced brilliant fellow' pointed the fact that we didn't introduced An ante room.............we lost d deal!
















Although we eventually dropped the construction too..........for the reasons best known to us

abdulwastecx:


adult men carrying cement in the head can be replaced by men fully kitted with hand cloves and rain boot shoe carrying cement in wheel barrow....

Women fetching water from well can be replaced with a pumping machine connected with hose long enough to get to any part of the site....

problem solved....

If Mr EgunMogaji (a Nairaland friend) visits me, I'll take him to the Public Zone and that starts from the Social Activity Areas. I won't take him straight to my dining or TV room because he's a first time visitor.

If my mom visits, I'll take her straight to the Family Area in the Public Zone.

If Mr EgunMogaji had so much fun in the house and needs to ease himself. I'll take him to the Individual area in the Private Zone.

If Mr EgunMogaji said he'll like to discuss business right away, I'll excuse the family and lead him straight to the Home Office in the Private Zone.

If the PHCN guy knock (sorry he can't knock), pressed the bell that he wants to take meter reading, I'll open the gate and show him the Maintenance room which is by the driveway. Neither will Taju (the gardener I engaged on contract) knock my entrance door because he already knew the lawnmower is in my store by the maintenance room.

brabus:
I'm not a building engineer or certified building expert as you already know but I do designs and I know a good one when I see one.

Here's my thing for a well-designed space planning. I mark out my space requirement in each design I do based on types of activities.

Social—involve people from outside the family. (Patio, Terraces, Outdoor Garden, Lounge, etc)
Family—involve family members (Living room, Dining room, Theatre, etc)
Individual—involve only one person (toilet/bath, dressing room, wardrobe etc)
Private—require visual & audio privacy (office, study, studio etc)
Work—accomplish a specific task (laundry, kitchen, pantry, maintenance/service room, storage etc)

Now, each activities are further mapped into 3 zones

1. Public zone (Social/Family activities happen here)
2. Private Zone or Family area (Individual/Private activities happen here)
3. Work/Zone area (Household activities and services happen here)

Now, whoever visit the house must be there for any of the 5 activities above and as such his boundary line has been set in the design.



My Design Rules

Household members or visitors should not have to cross through the middle of one zone to get to another. So my PHCN guy has nothing to do at my doorstep unless I lead him there.

So, to answer the Big Question "Do you expect every visitors to have direct access to your living room?" NO, we've zoned every activities in the house. No one cross through the middle of one zone to get to another except by the owners instruction.

Mr EgunMogaji may not enter into my family area if he's only on casual visit. I can entertain him in the patio comfortably.

This may not be acceptable industry standard, its just common sense at work. We live by rules.

EgunMogaji:

Bravo.
You guys shouldn't take every project that lands on your desk. You should choose projects that offers your growth and also will satisfy the client.
I think some clients forget that it's not the builder or architect or learned fellows that will live in the house but their families.
My wife and I along at with a local architect here (1 hour fee and posted an ad on Craigslist) went to a local park armed with construction spray and I marked out our entire floor plan in full scale and we walked from room to room in order to get a good feel. Then and only then did I have changes made by the my Nigerian Architect.

brabus:
I'm not a building engineer or certified building expert as you already know but I do designs and I know a good one when I see one.

Here's my thing for a well-designed space planning. I mark out my space requirement in each design I do based on types of activities.

Social—involve people from outside the family. (Patio, Terraces, Outdoor Garden, Lounge, etc)
Family—involve family members (Living room, Dining room, Theatre, etc)
Individual—involve only one person (toilet/bath, dressing room, wardrobe etc)
Private—require visual & audio privacy (office, study, studio etc)
Work—accomplish a specific task (laundry, kitchen, pantry, maintenance/service room, storage etc)

Now, each activities are further mapped into 3 zones

1. Public zone (Social/Family activities happen here)
2. Private Zone or Family area (Individual/Private activities happen here)
3. Work/Zone area (Household activities and services happen here)

Now, whoever visit the house must be there for any of the 5 activities above and as such his boundary line has been set in the design.



My Design Rules

Household members or visitors should not have to cross through the middle of one zone to get to another. So my PHCN guy has nothing to do at my doorstep unless I lead him there.

So, to answer the Big Question "Do you expect every visitors to have direct access to your living room?" NO, we've zoned every activities in the house. No one cross through the middle of one zone to get to another except by the owners instruction.

Mr EgunMogaji may not enter into my family area if he's only on casual visit. I can entertain him in the patio comfortably.

This may not be acceptable industry standard, its just common sense at work. We live by rules.

hcsproperties:
Are you looking for house in Lagos?

EgunMogaji:


The similarity is uncanny.

The garage/flex room space will turn into a full guest suite in the future once a garage that will hold about 12 cars is contructed on the lower part of the property.

Interestingly enough I used a local Omo Onile tough guy that I've befriended as my "arms length guest" as example in separating sojourns into ultra private and semi private areas. We'll call him "Akogun"

He'll never get past the "inporch" a generous area in itself. Other friends in the "inner circle" can come into the semi private (not ultra private but higher than private) for boys hang out in the man cave.

Okay so now that it's totally confusing, who's on first?

Only those in the inner circle walk past the the porch. ~ EgunMogaji 2015

brabus:


It really doesn't matter if the whole world is doing it wrong. I don't need or want multiple redundant rooms. Like ante room, family room and a formal living room upstairs. Or a dining room and a breakfast area. Or kitchen and a separate store and laundry. Just give me one good space for each function. Quality over quantity. That's functionality!

Is there a decree or rule in Nigeria that guests or visitors must be entertained in a particular room? What happened to the patio, the outdoor garden, and the BBQ area?

Give me theatre. If there's more space, give me courtyard. If theres even more, give me Office/Chapel.

NL1960:


There is no decree or rule. Is it a must that i have to entertain my guest in the patio, the outdoor garden and the BBQ area. That is why somebody said that it is matter of choice.

brabus:


Hmm! Akogun is truly a arm-length friend. Fast forward to 2016, I foresee him driving Hajji Mufutau55 to a birthday party in your wonderhaus. Yet he couldn't get past the inporch as you've already made provision for the league of chauffeurs and attaches coming to the party in the garage very close to your Boston Terriers in case someone gets intoxicated.



_____

The dedicated guest suite is just too cool. No more feeling of uneasiness.



Pic: My dedicated guest chalet at the far end of the fence. The kitchen is strategically positioned for outdoor entertaining and dining.

brabus:


Hmm! Akogun is truly a arm-length friend. Fast forward to 2016, I foresee him driving Hajji Mufutau55 to a birthday party in your wonderhaus. Yet he couldn't get past the inporch as you've already made provision for the league of chauffeurs and attaches coming to the party in the garage very close to your Boston Terriers in case someone gets intoxicated.

mufutau55:


Yeah! I might visit the man... if I am not too old to move around then... But if the man got dogs of any size (even chiua-chiua) or any breed, I will never step in that house... I have bad experience with dog when I was small... and the evidence is in my finger... Sorry guys, no dog for me.

Hajji M.