Team Olympus, comprising three final year Architecture Students of the Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA has emerged winner of a competition tagged Creative Architects for 2018. For the 2018 event, over 106 registrations were made for the competition and only 26 of those that registered came up with designs that were vetted by the panel. Entries came from University of Lagos [UNILAG], Federal University of Technology, Akure [FUTA], Obafemi Awolowo University [OAU] Ile Ife, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye [OOU], Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria [ABU], amongst others. However, Team Olympus, (FUTA) comprising
Awopetu Akindapomola Philip (Team Leader), Omotoriogun Olumide and Holyvine Olukitibi – emerged the winner of the competition, winning the grand prize of N240,000 with a bonus of N60,000 from Ade Shokunbi (founder of Patrick Waheed Design Consultancy a.k.a PWDC). Team Olympus came up with an innovative and affordable housing development scheme that involved using shipping containers (which will later be transformed into homes). The design focused on providing affordable housing for the low, middle and high level income earners in Akure, Ondo State, with the low level income earners as the target clients. The end product of the design brought about a rent price of less than N200 per day (approximately N5,000 per month) for a One Bedroom Ensuite Prototype structure. The competition spread over a month of intense planning and team work from June 28th 2018 till July 31st 2018. An online submission was made on the 31st of July, and on the 3rd of August Team Olympus got an email congratulating the team for reaching the final selections. Coming in second place was OOU (Olabisi Onabanjo University) having a grand total of N150,000 and in third place was Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria [ABU] winning a total of N90,000. The Competition was the 7th edition of the Creative Architects event and Team Olympus got to know about it via the internet (Social Media Posts and Broadcasts) The competition was not taken as just a regular competition, but rather, the team took an entrepreneurial approach into it and research was made into the possibility of truly providing homes that can have rent costs lower than N200 per day which will be able to shelter even the lowest of income earners in Akure. There are plans by Team Olympus to develop this dream design into reality as the team has been contacted by individuals as well as private organizations that are willing to see the design come to life and help tackle the issues of housing in Nigeria. The trip to Lagos State would not have been possible without Akindeko Ayomide (Architecture 500L) who handled and secured accommodation throughout the Team’s stay in Lagos State for 2 days. The assessment was done by a panel of Jurist consisting seasoned Architects and practicing professionals all over Nigeria. The Panel membership led by Faustin Moukala include Hassan Anifowose; Olumide Ayodele and Tofarati Gbadamosi The Creative Architects is an annual event organized by Chronos Studeos, a complete creative team of architects and 3D visualizers with custom-designed building and
presentations located in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, Nigeria. The event also brings about an annual competition that is open to graduate Architects in Nigeria (with not more than 4-years post BSc/Btech/Mtech/Msc University, Education/Work Experience); Interior Designers, Landscaping and other design professionals, and must team up with at least 1 Architect; and Architecture Students in selected Nigerian Tertiary Institutions (students in all levels (OND/HND/Undergraduates and Postgraduate/Masters). In a chat, Awopetu Akindapomola Philip said the aim of the competition was to design innovative home prototypes for a desired region, preferably immediate environment to the designer. The most important feature of the exercise however were the questions which the designer(s) solutions are able to answer by ‘Design Thinking’ which can be, but are not limited to – Who are the building owners/recipients? What are their lifestyles? What is their earning power? What building types do they need? How would they want to live? How much will the buildings/apartments cost? What construction materials will optimize construction costs? What payment plans should be made available? The Vice Chancellor , Professor Joseph Fuwape has congratulated the trio describing members of Team Olympus as worthy ambassadors of the University in whom the institution is well pleased.
