Studio Contra
Studio Contra is an architectural, urban, and interior design practice based in Lagos, Nigeria, founded in 2016 by Olayinka Dosekun-Adjei and Jeffrey Adjei. The studio is committed to delivering innovative and thoughtful architecture, working across West Africa and collaborating with international practices to bring contemporary African interpretations to challenging briefs and new contexts.
Design Philosophy
Studio Contra emphasizes the importance of three core elements in their projects: concept, culture, and craft. They believe that respecting these elements leads to human-centered design and long-term value creation in the built environment, essential for the flourishing of cities and other environments. Their approach involves directly confronting the challenges of each brief, seeking to unlock hidden value through all stages of the project. They are client-centered, inclusive, and collaborative, working closely with other designers, consultants, and clients every step of the way. The firm respects the need for buildings to respond to their context, stand the test of time, be environmentally sustainable, and continually inspire, delight, and engage users
Notable Projects
- Institute of Contemporary African Art & Film: Located in Ilorin, Nigeria, this project consists of low-slung interconnected pavilions topped with swooping roofs and arrayed around light-filled courtyards. The design seeks to undermine the rarefied connotations of contemporary art by creating an informal and inviting space that includes galleries, media workshops, and other public areas.
- Ilorin Museum and Garden: A modern update of the old and dilapidated Kwara Museum of Ilorin, this 35,000 sq ft space will house classical Nigerian sculptures, while the derelict colonial building is to be redeveloped into a café and gift shop.
- Sugar Factory Film Studios: This project involves repurposing a decades-old disused sugar factory into film studios, exemplifying the firm’s approach to adaptive reuse—a more sustainable approach to building by transforming undervalued structures and offering them back to the city.
Leadership and Recognition
Creative Director Olayinka Dosekun-Adjei has been involved in academia, teaching a Harvard Graduate School of Design Option Studio in the Fall Semester of 2023. The studio explored potential new attitudes toward historical preservation, transformation, and adaptive reuse, focusing on Fort Kongestein on the Eastern Coast of Ghana. Additionally, Studio Contra was honored among Architectural Record’s 2023 Design Vanguard, recognizing emerging practices advancing issues of form, construction, sustainability, and community engagement.
Professional Affiliations
Studio Contra is registered with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects Registration Council of Nigeria (ARCON), reflecting their commitment to maintaining high professional standards and adherence to regulatory requirements.
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