Scarcity versus Abundance: Adaptability as a Creative Resource in Architecture and Design
October 27, 2022
G.A.S Foundation, Lagos, Nigeria
This symposium comprises conversations around impermanence in architecture from the Global South, highlighting how this focus was inspired by Lagos, Oshinowo’s home city. It explores how these ideas manifest across disciplines, both locally in Lagos and across the region.
The event hosts conversations touching on the edition’s examination of impermanence, adaptability, and scarcity in architecture from the Global South, highlighting how this focus was inspired by the city of Lagos itself. Across the Global South, issues of scarcity have created a culture of re-use, re-appropriation, innovation, and collaboration. These practices propose a new model of thinking - one that is born out of scarcity rather than out of abundance. A model that uses natural materials with the understanding that repair and reconstitution are instinctive, necessary, and desirable. This model embraces that nothing can be permanent, and everything in our environment should adapt to conditions of scarcity to match our realities and needs - creating a progressive, evolving architecture. The symposium explores how this concept manifests across disciplines, locally in Lagos, and across the region.
The symposium began with an introductory conversation between journalist Lola Ogunnaike and Tosin
Oshinowo addressing the goals of the Triennial in shedding light on architectural practice and tradition
from the region.
It featured three panel discussions. The first featured pracitioners Adeyemo Shokunbi, Taibat Lawanson,
Mpho Matsipa, and Rahina Garba.
The second panel discussion involved Lagosian cultural innovators Ndidi Dike, Michael Elégbèdé and
Reni Folawiyo.
Lastly, a panel discussion was convened with members of the SAT Curatorial Advisory Board including
Yinka Shonibare, Beatrice Galilee, and SAT President Hoor Al Qasimi.
By inviting a broad range of perspectives from West Africa, the event added nuance to Oshinowo’s vision
and its implications across disciplines as she continues to build her theme for Triennial 2023 (SAT02).
The symposium follows the launch of public programming for SAT02 at
Impermanence, Adaptability, and
the Potential of Contextual Architecture, an in-conversation in Sharjah between SAT02 Curator Tosin
Oshinowo and SAT President Hoor Al-Qasimi which is available to view
here.
Sharjah Architecture Triennal Website 
