floating school in Makoko (Lagos) by NLÉ

Architecture has always had the ability to shape how we live our lives and our relationship with the surrounding environment. For the residents of Makoko, Lagos in Nigeria, the threat of flooding is a part of their daily existence, with the July 2012 floods in Nigeria killing 363 people and displacing over 2 million residents. Out of this devastation and the subsequent eviction of residents from slums built on the waterfront, a floating school and a floating town is being created in this water community, designed by NLÉ Architects.

The Makoko Floating School: a floating building prototype for African water communities

According to the architects, ‘pioneer sustainable development in coastal African cities’ 

The Makoko Floating School is built on a flotation platform and is being constructed using local materials.
 A 3-storey high wooden structure with space for rainwater storage, it also features PV cells and a playground and green area on the ground floor, together with two further classrooms on the first and second floor. 

Speaking to architect Kunlé Adeyemi of NLÉ about the design of the floating school, he said that using floating devices meant they were not relying on the total strength of the soil, as the soil around Makoko is particularly loose. He spoke of the adaptability of the design, as the water level changes frequently in the area so they 'wanted a design that would adapt to the changing conditions' and added that the area has now become a public, communal space with the community interested to see materials that they are familiar with used in a different way.

Brooklyn’s New DeKalb Market is Made from 22 Salvaged Shipping Containers

Dekalb Market endeavors to meet the following criteria in the planning and ongoing operation of the market:

 

 

Entrepreneurship: To provide an economic opportunity for (and connect the community with) independent entrepreneurs and creative people in four broad categories: Makers, Artists, Farmers, Chefs.

Quality: To carefully curate the quality, originality, and value of offerings to deliver a compelling experience for the community.

Community: Through outdoor placemaking and juxtaposition of uses to create a community gathering and marketplace – not just for products – but also for the intangibles of culture, education, senses, and ideas.

Sustainability: To consciously consider, design and disclose the various systems and resources used by the Market, vendor, product, and visitor (such as water, waste, energy, capital, knowledge, health) to reduce both reliance and impact upon distant places.

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MVRDV. capítulo 1. MONTECORVO

MASTER PLAN MONTECORVO (LA RIOJA)

About
Masterplan for a sustainable city

The beautiful site is located just north of Logroño on the two small hills of Montecorvo and la Fonsalalda. The south facing hills not only provide beautiful views of the city, but also provide optimal conditions for solar energy collection using PV-cells. The windmills stand at the top of the hills, catching the wind; a landmark for the area. Combined, the solar and wind energy collected are capable of fulfilling the energy need for the 3.000 units of social housing.

Only 10% of the site is occupied by buildings. This minimizes the impact on the landscape and simultaneously minimizes building costs. Like a snake, the linear urban development meanders through the landscape both horizontally and vertically. By making use of the height differences, every apartment takes maximum advantage of the views. The roofs of the lower situated slabs are accessible and offer possibilities to create a magnificent public space overlooking the landscape of La Rioja; a Mirador!

In 2007 MVRDV worked with the Spanish office GRAS to enter a competition for a sustainable urban extension of the city of Logroño. Logroño is a medium size city of approximately 130.000 inhabitants, in the wine region of La Rioja in the north of Spain. The program consists of approximately 3.000 units of social housing and its complementary program:  schools, social buildings, and sports facilities. The goal was to create a sustainable development. By producing all the energy needed on the 56 hectare site, the new neighborhood achieves a CO2 neutral footprint. The space made available by building compactly becomes a magnificent eco-park, a mix of landscape and energy production.