Freshforte is a mixed use grocery store and restaurant / bar in the Lekki region of Lagos, Nigeria. Jeanne Schultz was hired by Studio Elementals to create the facade; the design resulted in what appears like a veil draped over the assemblage of used shipping containers beyond it.
The facade is comprised of a series of deconstructed diamond shapes, broken down in scale to allow for the 3- dimensional woven wrapping effect it wields over the confinements of the building. Apertures are made to allow for the shipping containers to penetrate the boundaries of the facade, and to allow for thresholds.
Particularly special breaks in pattern include the entrance to the store, where large panels are removed to allow for a direct encounter with the facade, and enjoy the spatial experience of an unordinary threshold.
The building has been regarded as a “state-of-the art ultra modern store” in Lagos by local newspaper Pulse Nigeria, and welcomed the Edo State Governor, celebrities, and locals alike at its Grand Opening in 2020.
The new addition to Lagos city’s home of 21+ million residents sets itself apart in the urban landscape with angular forms that cut into the sky and foreground, framing views of not only the shipping container building inside, but the harbor and new growth around it.
Team:
Facade Lead Designer: Jeanne Schultz Design Studio
Architect of Record and Building Designer: Studio Elementals
Construction: Adisa Design Studio
Photo credits: RubysPolaroid
