Built environment professionals and their associates will, by the first week of May, gather in Lagos for the seventh edition of the annual Lagos Architects Forum (LAF) which, for four days, will be exploring various dimensions to the business of architecture as a professional practice.
LAF is hosted by the Lagos State branch of the Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), and this year’s edition, also tagged ‘Lagos 6.0’ and slated for Wednesday, May 6 to Saturday, May 9, promises a bouquet of opportunities to be derived from a combination of events packaged for the forum.
“In the past seven years, we have taken this forum through various themes with emphasis on housing and urban development. This time, we have decided to take architecture beyond mere practice; we want to leap-frog and learn from other aspects of the profession from our colleagues outside the shores of Nigeria”, said Samson Akinyosoye, the institute’s Public Relations Officer.
Akinyosoye who spoke at a press conference jointly addressed by himself, Ladipo Lewis, the chairman of the branch, Titilayo Adeleye, the vice chairman, and Innocent Okoli, the Finance officer, disclosed that the theme of this year’s event—The Business of Arcitecture—was carefully chosen to suit the new thinking in the profession.
According to him, in line with the theme, discussions at this year’s forum would be based on such sub-themes as setting up and running an architectural practice, types of partnership, design and build in construction industry, office management, joint ventures, marketing architectural services, architectural practice in foreign countries, among others.
The institute has assembled a galaxy of speakers who would be giving insights into these sub-themes. Among the speakers drawn from diverse professions across the world is Femi Falana, a senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who will be delivering the key note address.
Others are Paolo Zilli of Zaha Madid Architects, Italy; Theodore Liebman, Principal Partner, Perkins Eastman; Ayo Yusuf, an architectural and urban designer; Olusegun Paul Adetokunbo Ladega, Principal Partner, Interstate Architects; Ayoola Tokunbo Onajide, the Principal Partner and Managing Director of ATO Architects, etc.
In his remarks at the press conference, Lewis noted that opportunities in real estate were unlimited, explaining that “real estate is one business that never dies because for as long population increases, for so long will real estate assets be required; as you have more people, you need more buildings—homes, offices, shops, schools, hospitals, warehouses, industries etc”.
According to him, the business of architecture required taking the profession to where it was supposed to be and preventing quacks or pseudo-professionals from high-jacking it, stressing that there was the need to distinguish between flair and training for the profession.
CHUKA UROKO
