- Project: Kingsway Tower
- Architect: SAOTA
- Location: Nigeria, Ikoyi, Lagos
- Year: 2020
- Area: 19200 m2
- Photography: Adam Letch
Kingsway Tower, located in the prestigious Ikoyi district of Lagos, Nigeria, is a bold architectural statement that blends international design standards with local contextual intelligence. Designed by SAOTA, this 15-storey mixed-use tower sets a new benchmark for commercial and urban architecture in West Africa’s rapidly expanding megacity.
A Gateway Structure on a Strategic Corner
Positioned prominently on Alfred Rewane Road, one of Lagos’ key arterial routes, Kingsway Tower occupies a corner plot that connects the airport-bound north with the economic powerhouse of Victoria Island. SAOTA’s design rises to the challenge of this strategic placement with a bold architectural form that aims to catalyze urban renewal in the surrounding area.
The tower comprises:
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A basement level
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Two-level retail podium
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Parking deck
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12 floors of flexible office space
Form and Façade Inspired by Place
The sculptural language of the building, with its billowing silhouette, draws inspiration from the square sails of traditional Nigerian fishing boats and the breezes of Lagos Lagoon. This fluid form is accentuated by a wavy, cantilevered canopy that wraps the podium, featuring an intricate woven underside—a nod to local textiles and craft.
Rather than mimic, the building’s perforated aluminium screens abstract patterns found in tropical vegetation. These create a multi-layered façade that not only delivers strong aesthetic identity but also enhances solar performance and ventilation.
“We designed a façade that responds to local climatic conditions rather than replicate Western models,” says SAOTA Director Greg Truen.
Climate-Responsive & Efficient by Design
The building’s north–south orientation and deep slab overhangs optimize solar shading, reducing the building’s heat load. The screen system improves energy performance while allowing for natural ventilation and exterior maintenance access.
The façade strategy mirrors shopfront typologies rather than sealed curtain walls—offering a passive design response that’s rare in commercial buildings in Lagos.
Activating the Urban Edge
One of the tower’s most impactful elements is its transparent street-level podium, which encourages public engagement and activates the pedestrian experience. LED lighting and large storefronts enhance visibility and safety, especially at night—challenging the local norm of blank walls and gated compounds.
The curved entrance canopy and accessible street corner aim to redefine urban interaction in a city where such gestures are often overlooked.
Locally Sourced, Globally Inspired Interiors
The interior architecture continues the building’s expressive language. In the lobby, a faceted timber wall system reflects the diagonal motif of the canopy, made entirely with locally sourced materials. A cone-shaped reception canopy adds visual drama and invites views from outside.
This sculptural yet minimal interior promotes both visual intrigue and cultural relevance, bridging international design ideals with a Lagos-specific execution.
Fully Self-Sufficient Infrastructure
Lagos’ infrastructural challenges—intermittent power, limited municipal water, and sewage access—were directly addressed in the building’s services design. Kingsway Tower operates with:
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On-site power generation
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Water treatment systems
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Sewage management facilities
This self-sufficiency not only ensures reliability but aligns with sustainable development goals in high-growth urban contexts.
Pioneering a New Architectural Language for Nigeria
With Lagos’ population soaring beyond 20 million residents, Kingsway Tower is a beacon of what future developments in the city might become—resilient, climate-conscious, context-driven, and globally competitive.
The tower’s first tenant, Microsoft, underscores the project’s ambition to attract world-class companies, establishing the tower as a landmark of innovation and enterprise in Nigeria.
Drawings
