Residential · Modern African Minimalist
Alexander House
A three-level Ikoyi house replanned around lagoon light, two adult children, and a ground floor that can host without becoming a lobby.
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The structural challenge
The existing duplex dated from the late 1990s. Its stair landed on the only wall that could take the lagoon light, so the principal room was always the darkest. The clients, a couple whose two adult children return for long stretches, needed three degrees of privacy and a ground floor calm enough for a Tuesday and generous enough for forty people. Ceiling voids were shallow, the generator changeover was noisy, and a staff door opened directly onto the dining room.
The execution
We moved the stair against the party wall and gave the east elevation back to a double-height living room, which reopened the natural light pathway through the house. The execution juxtaposes rough, unpolished natural marble with soft, light-toned oak millwork. The marble is honed only enough to walk comfortably; the oak is used for every door, the library wall, and the handrail. Bronze mesh on the west side of the stair takes the afternoon heat out of the tall room. The staff route now enters from the side court and reaches the kitchen without crossing dinner. Lighting stays at a warm colour temperature when the house transfers to generator.