“…Set a new standard for luxury contemporary living in the powerful African Economy whose growth is attracting significant global investment”.
The Eighteen storey Tower was masterfully crafted to give 360 degree panoramic views of the surrounding environs, from ‘downtown’ Lagos to the five Cowries Creek as well as the Lagos Lagoon out to the Atlantic Ocean.
There are four vertical elements 1 – 4 of similar architectural language, all broadly triangular in plan, with sculpted corners. Seen from above, all four elements spring from the centre of the building, where the vertical core 5 is located. Three of these elements 2 – 4 are oriented towards the west, the fourth is oriented to the east 1, resulting in a ‘butterfly’-shape in plan. This unique form has the benefit of maximising the views from within each flat while providing highly individual apartment layouts. At the same time, the external ‘shells’ create distinctive surfaces facing the sun, both to the east and to the west and shield the ‘internal’ faces from solar gain. The eastern vertical element 1 at only 7 stories tall provides an extraordinary roof terrace at level 8. It is also raised from the ground by 7 metres to form a canopy to the car drop-off and main entrance located underneath. The three western elements 2 – 4 are stacked to form the eighteen storey main tower with stunning views in all directions
“a curvaceous African response to the global vernacular”,
Two dedicated lifts serve two apartments per floor (both 3 and 4 bedroom) from the ground to level 7, while apartments on Levels 8-12 (4 bedroom only) enjoy exclusivity to the lifts. At level 8 most especially, we find a beautiful roof terrace for communal entertainment but not exclusive to the floor (I think). These floors also enjoy an additional reception, aptly named the ‘morning’ rooms, as a result of its orientation that embraces the morning sun. Two duplex penthouses (for the richest of the rich presumably) crown off the tower with stunning views from their roof terraces.
There’s no doubt that this is a big first for the client as well the consultants. The Design is iconic, the engineering and methodology are innovative (somewhat) and the location couldn’t be better. Nigeria is no doubt on the cusp of global relevance and prominence of a positive nature, and Lagos being its economic capital is a great location for a project of this complexity and scale.
The Ramzi will reflect the potential of Lagos and the country as a whole as a major global economy, enhancing the domestic building and development industry. This is even more evident with the establishment of what has been described as “a shadow program”, where foreign skills and knowledge from the expatriate consultants are to be shared and transferred to young, local, Nigerian consultants. This is a big plus and if properly implemented and carried through would yield great dividends for the future of the allied professions within the country.
IMAGES COURTESY NEEZO RENDERS
PROJECT DETAILS
Architecture: SPARK Architects
Project Director: Max Titchmarsh
Team: Arnold Von Storp, Frankie Pringle, Ashley Gilbert
Client: Athena Capital Ltd
Engineering: Battle McCarthy
QS/PM: WT Partnership
Main Contractor: Deux Projects
Total GFA: 9,015 sqm
