15/05/2026
Following the launch of the book Unknown 3: Architect-Developers, we are excited to share details of the first A3 Futures Lab. This initiative investigates how heritage meets social relevance and private capital in a landscape defined by the absence of state intervention and the often inadequate efforts of advocacy groups.
The Context: Yaba 2020–2026
In 2020, a member of the A3-Archnet Collaborative, Ogunsetan Abdullah documented this landmark - Odubela Furniture & Co [in the flyer] at the intersection of commerce and AfroBrazilian Heritage —a building belonging to a family of master cabinetmakers.
By 2026, this site illustrates the current condition of Yaba. A district once distinct for its Afro-Brazilian heritage styles is rapidly giving way to anonymous, characterless developments. This shift is driven by style-agnostic tech capital seeking to remake Yaba into an "island complex"—a mirror of VI or Ikoyi, awash with tech-driven rents and "innovator" premiums, but stripped of its soul.
The Mission: Beyond the Lecture.
We aren't here to mourn or lampoon. We are here to build. The challenge is clear: How do we generate "new futures" that marry heritage with the dire need for housing and the necessity of profit? In the Nigerian context, where the state has largely stepped back, developers are the primary architects of our urban future. We believe these stakeholders don't need lectures; they need visual possibilities that prove heritage and returns can coexist.
Call for Researchers
We are looking for six researchers for the inaugural A3 Futures Lab.
The Mindset: You believe visual research needs technology and that technology is a scaffold, not a gimmick.
The Approach: You aren’t "welded to the past, or manual ways of creating the future.
The Goal: You believe in showing, and tired of talking. You believe creating the visual possibilities proves that better choices are possible. You dont mind Generative AI
The first session is tomorrow, 16 May 2026. 3pm WAT and will focus specifically on exploring Yaba. We are keeping this cohort small to ensure deep, actionable output.
To Apply: Share your LinkedIn or Instagram Profile below in the comments or via DM.
