Nigeria: Gwarinpa - a City On Its Own



Leadership (Abuja)

COLUMN
28 May 2008
Posted to the web 28 May 2008

Ramat Omaye Yakubu

There's definitely no way you can talk about the capital city of Abuja without talking about the largest estate in West Africa, which is Gwarinpa, due to its massive landscape, we call it "a city on its own".

According to history, the name Gwarinpa was referred to "settlers on the rock" which was how they referred to the first people who were found settling in Gwarinpa and that is how that area was named Gwarinpa. The name Gwarinpa has a lot to do with typography of the place. The sight of Gwarinpa is a beautiful one, it reminds you nothing short of what you see in the developed countries of the world.

The structures of buildings in Gwarinpa are similar depending on the areas and this adds so much colour to the environment.


Gwarinpa has got all kinds of social amenities like schools, banking facilities, night clubs, joints, restaurants, etc.

Unlike most satellite areas in the FCT, Gwarinpa's accommodation is more reasonable. The residence also claim to have regular power supply, though it has been unusual lately, but believing that the necessary authorities will address the issue soon. Gwarinpa's residence hope that the issue of water supply will also be resolved; some of the abandoned road projects in Gwarinpa has been recently attended to, while some are still in progress.

With the Berger-Gwarinpa flyover bridge in construction[/B[B]], Gwarinpa will be easier accessible in the nearest future, which keeps everyone in Gwarinpa looking forward to the end of that construction.

Exxonmobil: Aweful, atrocious, and 70's inspired brutal architecture. What a shame, considering how much money oil companies have.Well, we'll see. If you look at the portion where they show the glass, it appears rather attractive. I don't think this will be a typical 70s design (not that those are all bad).

It's a piece of crap. We need to start setting standards and stop accepting nonsense.

^^ Words have little effect on development.:lol:

If the market changes for the better, then thats a welcome development, but such things can only change as the economy strengthens.

Architecture is not the benchmark, that is why more futuristic designs can only come as a result of a healthier economy that can then make it a priority. Right now it isn't.

Personally, I think it is just like any other development in Abuja. I doubt that we can be labellings buildings as bland and 70ish if they still appear attractive, we cannot be blind to the fact that the vast majority of buildings today still use elements from that period of creative architectural inspiration.

^^ Words have little effect on development.:lol:

If the market changes for the better, then thats a welcome development, but such things can only change as the economy strengthens.

Architecture is not the benchmark, that is why more futuristic designs can only come as a result of a healthier economy that can then make it a priority. Right now it isn't.

Personally, I think it is just like any other development in Abuja. I doubt that we can be labellings buildings as bland and 70ish if they still appear attractive, we cannot be blind to the fact that the vast majority of buildings today still use elements from that period of creative architectural inspiration.

To me everything you just said is just grammar. I'm not asking for futuristic buildings but for everybody to look at that nonsense and think that it looks good is beyond me.

It's a piece of crap. We need to start setting standards and stop accepting nonsense.This rhetoric should be directed at the energy sector.

To me everything you just said is just grammar. I'm not asking for futuristic buildings but for everybody to look at that nonsense and think that it looks good is beyond me.It's not even a good rendering. We can't be sure of what it will look like.

hello,i admire your knowledge of current architectural situations in nigeria
i am the editor in chief of an architecture magazine (WAAR ) west african architecture review, i would like you to write articles for us and we can dicuss further
the magazine launch is approaching'.
thank you

would you like to write articles for the west african architecture review (waar magazine}
contact patrick at patrickwabia@yahoo.com

I suggest you avoid the name "WAAR" as it recalls warfare and violence.
I suggest:

Archwest
Architerture of West Africa
African Architecture Review (AAR)
African Architecture and Design (AAD)
etc.
etc.

"WAAR" is old fashioned!

i need writers

yes, but we intended to recall a more subtle warfare against the denigrating notion that our architecture is primitive and outdated ,to re-present our architecture as metamorphorical, a state of becoming and to describe its harmony with the behavioral pattern of its african end users,

nice suggestion

Yes but the Aggression that War may symbolize is one of destruction or domination rather than being symbolic of development in any way.

The "domination" aspect of it could work, but it's too profound if you think about it.

If you really want to shed light on Architecture coming out from the region, you might want to opt for something more modern.

http://C:\Users\PATRICK\Documents

i agree with you, i shall initiate a review of the name.
i would like you to write articles for the mag and we can agree on reemborsement terms

i need writers


I am not an architectural writer but a writer on current social and Political issues but will like to ask you to help post photos of proposed, ongoing and completed Projects which have not been posted on this forum. Since you are an EIC of a magazine and probably based in Nigeria or west Africa you will have unlimited access to good photgraphic shots of these projects planned, ongoing and completed.

Cheers

This threads has to be moved into the Nigerian section, please!!!

What's the plan to dissect this thread?

Not all projects in this thread, belong in this forum

Recalls soviet modern architecture from the 1950's...Totally disconnected from its context and possibly a transplanted design from far away!
What's with those totally useless radial beams on top any way? Design should follow function!

Why did you relocate this thread to the Nigerian Forum, I know Nigeria is in West Africa, but we don't usually talk about projects outside Nigeria in a Nigeria-related forum.