Scene of a collapsed building in Apapa, Lagos. Credit: Eniola Daniel
As World Interiors Day holds this Saturday, stakeholders in the design and building industry have advised Nigerians against patronising inferior products that contribute to building collapse in the long run.
They canvassed a reduction in fire and toxic smoke hazards for the safety and health of the citizenry. The concerned Nigerians noted that involving interior designers at the conceptualisation stage would drastically reduce the incidence of collapsed buildings and infernos.
President of the Interior Designers Association of Nigeria (IDAN), Mrs. Jennifer Chukwujekwe, said the global event is an opportunity for designers and enthusiasts to create awareness about the industry, regardless of areas of specialisation. It is an avenue to showcase the value of the industry to the world and other relevance in the built environment.
She said: “We are professionals, who are focused on the well-being and productivity of any individual, businesses, and the society at large.”
Chukwujekwe said this year’s theme, “sustainability design and beauty,” is an opportunity to play up sustainable designs while incorporating beauty and vitality in any space and environment worldwide.
This is where design thinking and creativity come into play, she noted, adding that interior designers impact the health and safety of the public at large by the decisions they make daily on how they design homes and offices to satisfy clients.
“When incorrect design decisions are made and improper materials installed, people can be exposed to unnecessary risks. Hence, Nigerians should understand the role of an interior designer in designing spaces, which are aesthetically pleasing, functional, and safe,” the IDAN president submitted.
She said the role of an interior designer is to ensure safe evacuation from interior spaces in emergency situations. Chukwujekwe said statistics of building collapse in Nigeria, according to Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG) report, were 61 across the federation. Lagos State is top with 20 incidents.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Panto Interiors Company and National Vice President, IDAN, Freda Anegbe, urged interior designers and architects to create designs that would impact the health of Nigerians.
The Guardian
