Studio
We are a creative design practice working out of Lagos Nigeria. Founded in Nigeria as MOE in 1990. In 2013 MOE Ltd merged with O+O Design, and became MOE+ Art Architecture
MOE+ Art Architecture has over 20 years experience in strategic innovative design with a focus on value driven implementation and delivery. Over the years, our extensive experience has allowed us to help define and identify many of our commercial clients’ aesthetics and workplace culture.
We have a strong affiliation with the art and creative ecosystem which gives us an understanding of the unique time and cultural landscape in which we exist. This allows us to provide positive solutions and valuable experiences that capture the language of our enduring zeitgeist.
Our current portfolio of work within Nigeria can be defined as architecture searching to redefine a pragmatic ‘African modernism’, We explore the culture of living things and our material balance within the current conditions, seemingly set by our all encompassing global urban context and mindset. Our core principles are based on – exploration and collaboration within the specificity of our local context. This allows for dialogue and the formation of strong ideas that are durable and resilient.
Navigating between small and large-scale, civic, private and commercial projects. Our first task is always to understand who our clients and end users are, and what they need. This in-depth strategic study, explores civic, business and personal cultures. This forms how we approach defining the program. We then try to highlight what we term the ‘UNIQUE’ gene. What ultimately, separates.
This has allowed us to help establish and re-define some significant changes within both the commercial and public realm. From defining GTBank’s architectural and cultural aesthetics, to civic projects such as Falomo ‘Under Bridge’ with the artist Polly Alakija.
Our challenge with every project will always be driven by the collaboration between ART and DESIGN. How to RE-DEFINE and then RE-FINE a design ideology that is highly contemporary but always contextual. Though our language remains inspired by the ‘modern’ world, our voice is resoundingly our own; inspired by our people, culture, art and our engagement with the environment (whether it be Lagos, Cotonu, Dakar etc). Thus working within these existing conditions, we aim to provide places within the diversity of African cities and beyond.
MOE+AA has an office of urbanists, architects, artists, interiors + product designers. The office is about not just about the need to express creativity. It’s ultimately about people, our environment and the constant dialogue between need, aspiration, design, sustainability, exploration, collaboration and the process of making places and objects.
We are driven by the collaboration between ART and DESIGN.
MOE+AA is growing in reputation and exposure as one of the leading architectural and design ateliers in Africa, working locally and globally. With the goal of drawing the best young minds in the field of design and creativity.
MOSUN OGUNBANJO
CEO/BUSINESS DIRECTOR
About:
“Simplicity is the glory of expression.’ – Walt Whitman
Mosun OGUNBANJO is an architect, designer, entrepreneur, environmentalist, and hotelier. Based in Lagos, Nigeria, she is founding CEO of the design and architectural firm, MOE+ artArchitecture, which for over 20 years has designed and developed a wide range of building projects. She designed The Plaza, the first branch of Guaranty Trust Bank, which became a catalyst for Nigerian bank architecture.
Mosun conceptualized, developed and sought investors for The Wheatbaker boutique hotel, which opened in 2011, quickly becoming the number one hotel in Nigeria (Trip Advisor). She identified the international South African hotel group, Legacy Hotels & Resorts, to run the Wheatbaker, and is an active member of the board.
She has served on the board of Lagos Island Millennium Group on the Environment – LIMGE -the first environmental pressure group in Lagos, since the 1990’s and is Chair of the Urban renewal Committee which is responsible for steering sustainable development of the Central Business District of Lagos.
Believing that “good design is a catalyst for human and urban development”, Mosun has always been involved in cutting-edge arts & culture projects. She is a consultant for the yearly Lagos Carnival and was led a production team for the celebrated This Day Music Festival which featured local and international stars including Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Missy Elliot, Asa, Seun Kuti, amongst others. Since 1998 Mosun served as Trustee and Chairman of the Board of Communicating for Change, a leading Nigerian media non-profit producing films & radio programs and doing media training on education, health, environment and other development themes.
Mosun is a graduate of Kingston College of Art and Design and The Architectural Association School of Architecture, London.
PAPA OMOTAYO
CEO/CREATIVE DIRECTOR
ABOUT
Papa Omotayo is the CEO/Creative Director of MOE+ artARCHITECTURE and the founder of A Whitespace Creative Agency (AWCA)
As Creative Director of MOE+ and AWCA, Papa’s focus can be defined as working seeking to redefine a pragmatic African modernism through collaboration with contemporary artists. Papa works with a strong focus on context, culture and nature, creating ideas and work engaged in participation and collaboration that tries to find new possibilities for architecture within Nigeria’s (and Africa’s) urban centres and beyond. Ideas that connect to the complexity of identity and place making which look beyond the realms of form, function and the application technology.
Papa’s architectural influences range from a transatlantic duality inspired by past and present African writers and artists such as Drum, Chimurenga, Olu Amoda, the Mbari Mbayo club, Wangechi Mutu, Demas Nwoko to highly technical and specialist buildings and installation. This fusion enables him to draw on diverse themes and is demonstrated through his material palette supported by simple technological innovations.
Papa is a founding member of AAND (African Alliance for New Design), ‘bukka’ a UK based education and research trust. He is on the board for Open House, Lagos, the advisory board of ArtX Lagos, African Heritage Group, Oxbridge College and is a committee member of the Child Life Line Charity
BSc (Hons), BArch RIBA: a graduate of the Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, United Kingdom.
ADEFOLARIN SALAMI
HEAD OF ADMINISTRATION
About.
A pen is to a writer what my SMARTPHONE is to me. A revolutionary tool for business and pleasure.
ISI ETOMI
GROUP DESIGN LEAD
About.
“Our opportunity as designers is to learn how to handle the complexity, rather than shy away from it, and to realise that the big art of design is to make complicated the simple things” – Tim Parsey
OLUWADAMILOLA AKINNIYI
DESIGN TEAM LEAD/ARTIST
About
‘Someday, I hope to share with people, through design and art, the feeling of utmost comfort and tranquillity my black sweater gives. It is almost surreal!’
ADENIKE BAREK
EXEC. ADMIN ASSISTANT/CARD PLAYER
About
‘Yes, they say play your cards right, but! the order of the ranks depends on the game being played. I am always the Queen of the pack/deck.’
FOLAKEMI OYEWUSI
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT
About
At any given moment, you have the power to say: This is not how the story is going to end.” –Christine Mason Miller
If things are not working out the way you want; SCRATCH THAT, Start again…
USHANG ACHU
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT
About
‘The world is a tree of ideas and there is inspiration everywhere you look…even on a Tee-shirt.’
ABDULQUADRI ADEMAKINWA
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT
About
‘A pencil can be used to achieve great things. It leaves a mark on any surface no matter how it’s held. As you sharpen, it sheds a little skin. That is all. ’
MOBOLAJI OGUNROSOYE
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT
About
‘Music rocks. Can’t go anywhere without it and I most certainly cannot work without it. It fuels my creativity hence, my earphones. (It’s also how we’ve been gifted with the awesomeness that is The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, but that’s neither here nor there). Never leave home without a pair.’
BOLAJI AJALA
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT
About.
To find the real value of a thing, divide it by FOREVER, it will amaze you how many things aren’t worth it
QUADRI SORUNKE
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT/ARTIST
About.
I love how beauty makes me feel, and I’m drawn to simulate it, in as many forms as possible. I’m helpless against this urge, so I comply.
NAHEEMAT MUSTAPHA
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT/PRODUCT DESIGNER
About.
Life…it’s all one big experiment anyway.
BASSEY EZEKIEL
ARCHITECTURAL INTERN/ENABLER
About
‘If you listen to good music and it doesn’t affect your emotions positively, you should consider changing your headphones.’
ANDREA CHAANINE
ARCHITECTURAL ASSISTANT
About.
“When I’m working on a problem, I never think about beauty. But when I’ve finished, if the solution is not beautiful I know it’s wrong.” – Buckminster Fuller
HAFSAT YUSUF
FRONT DESK ADMINISTRATOR
MOE+ run two social and capacity development programs, ‘Made Better by Design’ and ‘Building Women’.
MADE BETTER BY DESIGN
Working with a series of NGO such as ChildLife Line and Sesor Africa, we aim to use design to help create sustainable and viable futures for our partner organisations. Whether that be creating vocational centres or working to restructure and redesign IDP camps.
BUILDING WOMEN INITIATIVE
A woman is a change-agent. She can inspire sustainable transformation for herself, her family and her entire community. But first, she needs to be given an opportunity.
BWI is a Foundation established to empower women with skills and competencies in the building construction trade
Aims/ Objectives:
- To empower women through skills acquisition in the building / construction sector
- To raise a new generation of female entrepreneurs in a traditional male work environment
- To provide and create awareness and advocacy of the need to encourage girls and women to go into the building / construction sector
- Encourage the players in the sector to adopt a gender- friendly approach programmes and encourage schools and institutions to increase female intake
photograph copyright Yagazie Emezi
