House of Independence

Tropical 

Donated by the British crown to the people of Nigeria in honor of its independence in 1960, ‘The Independence House’ was meant to be a legacy for a new era of self-governance and modernization of the country: the construction of the twenty-five-story building with an estimated height of 103 meters was completed in 1961. At the time, it was not only the first high-rise of Nigeria, but also the tallest building on the African continent. In the years following independence, when Lagos Island served both as the State and Federal capital, it became the first Federal Secretariat housing several ministries.

At this time, a new architectural image for downtown Lagos was sought to demonstrate an independent culture and a functional modern state. ‘Tropical Modernism’, an adaptation of the ‘International Style’ for warmer climates, became the preferred language for newly erected prestige government buildings like ‘The Independence House’.

Artists Moritz Fehr and Willy Sengewald went to Lagos in December 2016 and February 2017 to document the Independence Building, an abandoned high-rise structure in the city center. They conducted interviews and collected facts and stories on the history of the building. Senge- wald and Fehr will create an installation that resembles the iconic structure in stereoscopic 3D imagery and surround sound, focussing its importance for the history of the city of Lagos. As if the building was a silent observer, they will be addressing question to it. What are its memories? What did it encounter and observe during its almost 60 years of presence in Lagos? The con- ceptual approach of Fehr and Sengewald is to let the building tell its own story.

Test

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y will be addressing question to it. What are its memories? What did it encounter and observe during its almost 60 years of presence in Lagos? The con- ceptual approach of Fehr and Sengewald is to let the building tell its own story.

y will be addressing question to it. What are its memories? 

y will be addressing question to it. What are its memories? What did it encounter and observe during its almost 60 years of presence in Lagos? The con- ceptual approach of Fehr and Sengewald is to let the building tell its own story.