Contemporary Wooden Tower

WORDS Cheri Morris

Cameroonian architect Hermann Kamte has designed an aesthetically arresting experimental smart building made almost entirely from wood as part of the Plan B: City Above the City competition.

Bagging first prize at Rethinking The Future Awards 2017 and a finalist at the World Architecture Festival 2017, this proposed sustainable design will be situated in the heart of Ikory in Lagos, Nigeria’s wealthiest residential suburb. The monumental wooden structure would be built above an existing housing estate, Abebe Court, separated by a pool, children’s playground, tennis courts, parking lots, water and sewage treatment facilities, and a generator.

Made entirely from natural, recyclable and locally sourced materials, the wooden tower’s design sees the use of LVL techniques; a mixture of load bearing and non-load bearing structures. The holes in the frame of the tower maximise natural light and airflow while the structure simultaneously provides shade from direct sunlight. A belt of vegetation on each floor helps to maintain a comfortable micro-climate while encouraging inhabitants to connect with nature.

Inspired by the history and culture of Edo, Yoruba and Hausa people, the contemporary wooden tower makes for an interesting contrast against the original concrete, ceramic and asphalt structure on which it would be built. The rooftop of the tower will be a social mecca of restaurants and luscious gardens that boast 360-degree views of the city.

Want to see more projects by Hermann Kamte & Associates? Visit them here.