Lekki Beach House

Lekki Beach House

Location: Lagos, Nigeria
Area: 1,500 m2
Local Architects: James Cubitt Architects
Structural Engineer: Eckersley O’Callaghan
Local Structural Engineer: Morgan Omonitan & Abe Ltd
M&E Engineer: Atelier Ten
Local M&E Engineer: PowerField Consulting
Lighting Consultant: IBU Lighting
Quantity Surveyor: Tilyard Nigeria Ltd

Lekki Beach House is a private residence located east of Lagos in Nigeria. The client set a very high sustainable agenda outlining the requirement for off grid utilities and sustainable construction using local materials and sustainable building techniques such as earth walls.

Aiming for a zero-carbon dwelling in the African climate was a key objective for this project. The Studio investigated the use of sea water for cooling, as well as harnessing solar and wind technologies to provide self-sustaining power to the house.

The building rests on a raised platform which offers a new ground plain, elevating you above the green landscape and offering longer views of the sea. From the platform, stairs that provide access to the house during the daytime can be lifted at night like a drawbridges, for security. The house sits on a cloud of green. In plan, the building’s curved form responds to the natural habitat, echoing the swaying palms, wild vegetation and ocean waves.

Transparent volumes further facilitate the feeling of living in nature and are punctuated by floor-to-ceiling louvres that provide additional privacy and shading.