To remain relevant in the future, architects and notable eggheads in the construction industry have called for innovative ideas that will preserve cities in Nigeria.
They said only the creative and innovative minds are best suited to take charge of the new digital world.
According to them, the construction sector is contending with new roles with more problems while the new field is emerging, hence the need for adoption of these technologies.
Pioneer president of the Association of Consulting Architects of Nigeria, (ACAN) Olusegun Ladega, who led discussions at a symposium themed: “Future Trends in the Architecture, Engineering and Construction Industry, noted the challenges poised by technology in the future of architecture.
He urged practitioners to embrace technology to leapfrog the challenges, as the world is now a global village.
According to him with the developing trends leading to competition with foreign firms, architects in Nigeria should not be afraid but must devise strategies to outsmart their foreign competitors.
Ladega also said since technological breakthroughs like artificial intelligence and blockchains will not replace men, therefore, architects should leverage them to deliver solutions to their clients’ benefits and the economy.
“ Architects should adopt the level of technology that makes them to work in enough efficiency. Leveraging the new technology as far as possible to provide cutting edge services”, he said.
Noting that models are changing, he urged architects to modify the way they work by reinventing the wheels to survive the new trends.
Also former president of Africa Union of Architects, Chief Charles Majoroh, said evolution is taking place in the profession and making the era of T-square and pencil going extinct.
He called on architects to take a comparative analysis of other professions, and involve them in the design of new materials.
According to him, the democratization of expertise has eroded the conferring of the exclusivity of design on architects.
He urged architects to accept the incursion of artificial intelligence and virtual realities in their works and venture into fabrication. “There is a need to align with the younger generation and take over artisan based production.
“We need to merge design with engineering and develop more interest in the creation of finished materials. We should rethink our cities and remodel our urban areas and preserve their blueprint as a city that works.
“Urban designs should be a core area that should be our focus through creative designs”, Majoroh added.
For the Managing Director, Design Group Nigeria Limited, Bayo Odunlami, since the principle of success never changes only the tools do, architects should enmesh themselves in the thinking behind your design.
Contributing, Past President of Nigeria Institute of Structural Engineers, (NISTRUCTE), Kunle Adebajo, said professionals need to do something different by having a mindset that adds value on what they met.
Architect, he said, should embrace coding rather than paper which is the language of digital technology. The language must be brought to the classroom now; it is the language of the future.
Others like Managing Director El-Alan Construction Company Limited, Mr. Andrea Geday
Ms. Tola Adegbayi, the executive director, Leadway Assurance Company Limited noted the changing future of architecture and construction and called for now thinking of building insurance.
In his address the president of Association of Consulting Architects of Nigeria (ACAN), Mansur Kurfi Ahmadu stressed the need to protect the society from quacks and undesirable foreign incursion, especially firms not legally registered to offer services in the country.
Source: Guardianng
