NLÉ's chicoco radio station nearing completion on nigeria's waterfront

the chicoco radio station designed by lagos and amsterdam-based studio NLÉ will empower the nearly 480,000 people living on the waterfront of port harcourt in nigeria with a community media platform. considered a ‘bridge to transformation’ the steel structure is at one end raised off the ground supported by the towering radio antenna, while at the other end floating on the water’s surface as an aquatic jetty and stage. the linear projection is created with large trusses connected by an expansive floor plate. at the water’s edge, a large movie screen faces both the people sitting on the inclined floor as well as the boats around the exterior.

 
all images © NLE

the community-run building includes a radio station, recording studios, computer center, meeting rooms, amphitheater and cinema built of locally sourced materials. the design was a result of years of meetings and reviews with the very citizens of the town, incorporating their criticisms and allowing them to design their own project in part. when complete, the project will stand as part of an ongoing investigation to embrace the eventual aquatic nature of many of africa’s coastal cities- an endeavor executed by nlé in collaboration with CMAP.

a shaded public square is created under the cantilevering structure

under the radio station area

view from the street

waterfront view at night- a large movie screen serves those in the structure as well as on boats

aerial view at night

section

exploded structural axon

project info:

client: cmap
program: radio station, cinema space, community building
area: 560 m2

nlé team: kunlé adeyemi, farooq adenugba, marco cestarolli, martin oreoluwa, berend strijland, olina terzi
collaborators: okrika waterfront community, cmap, akt ii engineers, pinconsult engineers