James Cubitt Architects and James Cubitt Interiors Hosts Industry Mixer

James Cubitts Architects and James Cubitt Interiors hosts The Mixer an industry visioning event with the theme Connection, Conversation and Forward Motion in Lagos.

The curated evening gathering focuses on the anchor project which is the recently completed Afrexim Bank Africa Trade Center with the aim to reconnect with community of built environment professionals, past collaborators and future allies consequently sparking off bold conversations about design-led solutions that respond to todays challenges.

The AfricaTrade Center is a landmark project that embodies over-arching possibilities that signifies an emblem of integrated thinking, cultural depth and continental relevance.

According to the organisers of the event, Were opening up space for thinkers, builders, and believers in African design potential.

Design impact is strongest when the inside and outside are in dialogue.

The Center shows how collaboration between disciplines elevates results.

The Chairman Mr. Alan Davies in his opening remarks highlights sustainability as a core value for the organization. He affirms that for every building undertaken by the firms sustainability remains key. This is demonstrated in the latest building which has double brise soleil terracotta.

According to Davies some of their project buildings span more than 50 years equaling two generations.

Continuing on sustainability the Australian Honorary Consul cites that inclusivity of the younger generation to project formulations provide good quality detailing.
Whereas detailing a building is paramount as this determines whether the project is run to budget and program.
In his words:

“You can come out of university as a young architect you are not a competent architect for a good 10 years after that and you need to be trained in a good office where systems are used where there is very strong impetus for good quality detailing.”

Pointing that some buildings are recyclable without having to be demolished and rebuilt, Davies iterates that, we are expecting that more buildings will be renovated externally as risked to being renovated internally.

Being globally aware of rising temperatures Davies stresses curbing of emissions means the more you can protect a building from heat gain and excessive use of energy and reducing the amount of energy expended on air conditioning and things like that, obviously is going to create a lot more energy efficient environment within the building and “that’s a win-win.”

Meanwhile, Jacqueline Aki speaking on her role as Managing Partner James Cubitt Interiors highlights how the firm helps clients articulate their business goals as the spaces reflect what they do which leads to a higher return on investment.
‘We do a lot of research, ask a lot of questions, do a lot of listening and sometimes we have to plug ourselves into the spaces of people who we are working with. Our approach to designing is not like the typical way we do it here which is a lot of decorating,’ she describes.

“It is actually how the space makes you feel, how it helps you move, how it responds to you because all of that is a strategy. It is almost like programming the space to reflect what it is you are trying to achieve.”

Anticipating emerging challenges the recently inaugurated Interior Design Association of Nigeria President, Aki admits there is an aversion to adapt to technology in a lot of businesses.

Most business executives are not natives of technology she iterates. Unfortunately, as we would have it, people who work for them are mostly natives of technology- millennials, Gen-Zs. These ones understand it.

The Director of Strategic Partnerships Green Building Council Nigeria she advises business owners to adopt a reverse-mentorship approach as a forward thinking mechanism simultaneously involving the tech-savvy generation who would help them see through their lenses.

Because when you are doing business you are not doing it for yourself you are doing it for people and if the next set of people are not aligning what it is you want to do then you are going to have a big problem.

The solution to emerging challenges in the global design space, Aki urges to embrace technology early enough and understand what it is it represents.