This residential architecture project is characterised by the positioning of the building taking into consideration the orientation and views, by the rooms and their circulations, and by the materiality of the construction.
Currently under construction, the university residence is located on the campus of the Pan-Atlantic University (PAU) in Lagos, Nigeria. The building is located on a regular rectangular plot which is well-connected to the rest of the campus.
The idea for the project arose from the building’s location on the plot. In this part of West Africa, the exceedingly hot prevailing winds and extreme solar insolation occur on an east-west orientation, so we attempted to open voids in a north-south orientation, seeking cross ventilation throughout all rooms in the building. In order to achieve this, the voids were supplemented by a series of open courtyards which encouraged air flow and created shaded recreational areas for students.
The residence contains 27 rooms with a bathroom. The catering service and kitchens are located on the ground and first floors, and there is also a large living room and study area, a laundry and a prayer room.
During the construction of the building, local economic and material resources were taken into consideration. For this reason, prefabricated concrete blocks were used as the main material, with a painted render finish. The structure was constructed using in situ reinforced concrete.
Particular attention was paid to the garden areas in this project, including the garden at the entrance and the courtyards, so that they would be pleasant places encouraging interaction between students.
