Beyond the city: Architects reimagine, see Lagos as unfolding story

In their bid to capture the rapid transformation that Lagos is undergoing, architects in the state have taken an imaginative look beyond the state as an emerging megacity defined by sheer numbers.

They have, instead, reimagined and seen the state as a story that is unfolding; a living and breathing narrative where every building is a character, every street a scene, and every space plays a role in shaping the identity of the city the residents call home.

Lagos, according to them, is not designed on a blank canvas, but layered with history and ambition, with permanence and constant change. From the colonial facades that whisper stories of the past, to the glass towers that project aspirations, to the informal settlements that reveal the realities of our urban condition, Lagos has really evolved.

“Lagos is, in every sense, a film still being written. And as architects, we are not just observers of this story, we are contributors, we are editors of space, directors of experience and sometimes quiet negotiators between vision and reality,” Moniba Odunlami, vice chairman, Nigerian Institute of Architects, Lagos State Branch, noted.

Odunlami stated this at the just-ended three-day Lagos Architects Forum 2026 (LAF 17.0), which had as its theme, ‘Lagos Architects: The Movie.’

The forum, which was the 17th edition, examined how architecture shapes perception; how urban density influences narratives, how culture, economy and environment leave their imprint on our built forms, and how the future of Lagos might yet be imagined.

The vice chairman noted that the forum was not just about learning from one another, but also about inspiring one another to think differently, to challenge the status quo, and to strive for excellence.

The forum, which brought together architects, developers, designers, creatives, and thinkers, each with a unique perspective on the conversation, requires collaboration, demands reflection, and above all, calls for responsibility.

Odunlami reasoned that Lagos is not just a city, but also a living script. Its architecture is therefore constantly being written, rewritten, and reimagined. As architects, she said, “we are not merely observers; we are also storytellers, the designers, and the directors of what comes next.”

Earlier in his welcome speech, Abiodun Fatuyi, the Branch chairman, had disclosed that the forum would spotlight the transition from architecture as a passive backdrop to its role as functional catalyst for the entertainment sector.

He stressed that Lagos is more than a city; it is a living and breathing set. “This pillar explores our responsibility in shaping the experiential environments that define our urban identity,” the chairman said.

He noted that every skyscraper in Marina, every renovated heritage building in Yaba, and every emerging structure in Eko Atlantic City, represents a scene in a continuous, blockbuster production. “Our city is a living set and its inhabitants are the protagonists of a story that is bold, chaotic, resilient, and undeniably vibrant,” he said.

In their presentation at the forum, Safety Consultants and Solutions Providers (SCSP) emphasised the need for safety in the built environment, advising that safety must be a foundational concept, not an afterthought.

Antonia Beri, the SCSP Technical Director, noted that architecture has long been described as storytelling, but a story without safety is incomplete.

“In high-density spaces such as cinemas, concert halls, and event venues, safety must be embedded from the design stage, not added as an afterthought. By making safety a starting point, architects safeguard not just lives but also business continuity and long-term investment,” she stated.

According to her, as architecture evolves, safety is no longer a supporting function, because a building that isn’t safe won’t stand, and neither will the business inside it.