Photo Credit: Olajide Ayeni)

Lagos, Nigeria—November 27, 2024—HTL Africa has unveiled its groundbreaking pavilion, Site Office: Approaching Low-Tech Digital, as part of the “Generations” Exhibit at the 2024 EcoBank Design & Building Expo, held at the EcoBank Pan African Center. The pavilion reimagines bamboo scaffolding—the unsung hero of African construction—as a sustainable and innovative architectural element.

As the world of architecture evolves, bamboo scaffolding—traditionally a cost-effective, locally sourced, and handcrafted building material—has gradually disappeared from construction sites. Despite its crucial role in shaping the country’s most sophisticated structures, bamboo scaffolding remains the unsung hero, often discarded after use. In Site Office: Approaching Low-Tech Digital, HTL Africa invites visitors to reimagine the material as both a historical artifact and a symbol of sustainable innovation. The pavilion transforms bamboo into an immersive space that feels both ancient and futuristic, constructed entirely from locally sourced materials and designed with sustainability and innovation in mind

Photo Credit: Olajide Ayeni)
Photo Credit: Olajide Ayeni)

“We wanted to highlight bamboo scaffolding’s quiet yet vital contribution to modern architecture,” says James George, architect and curator of the installation. “This project aims to inspire reflection on how traditional materials can inform contemporary practices, making a case for sustainability in architecture that is both functional and beautiful.” 

Following the Eco Bank Build and Design Expo, the pavilion will be transformed into an outdoor reading room, extending its life and benefiting the community. This adaptive reuse reflects HTL Africa’s commitment to sustainability and creative design, creating a lasting legacy of environmental responsibility.

Photo Credit: Olajide Ayeni)

About HTL Africa

HTL Africa is a visionary architecture and design firm renowned for its inventive approach to building. Informed by tradition, our practice explores new modes of architecture for which the foundations have long been laid. Innovative uses of local resources and participatory design methods allow us to work beyond the boundaries of most established design practices and shed dominant norms to set our own precedents. Working across diverse geographies, our portfolio spans a wide spectrum of projects, from civic infrastructure to temporary installations, from concept to execution. Founded by James Inedu-George in 2011, with a dual focus on design and social commitment, the studio’s scope encompasses building, design, and knowledge sharing. 

Notable projects include; The Event Factory by Trancorp (Nigeria), Icon Mosque (Dubai), The Village at Webb (Nigeria), the Presbyterian Church (Ghana), and many others. 

 HTL Africa Website: www.htlafrica.com