HLN win big in Calabar

Henning Larsen Architects Sculptural conference centre design from Danish firm to be realised in Nigeria Henning Larsen Architects has won the international architectural competition for the new Calabar International Conference Center in the southeastern part of Nigeria. The Center will stand out as a spectacular building in the scenic river delta of the Cross River State bordering Cameroun. Nigeria is the most populous country of Africa and one of the continent’s fastest growing economies. Calabar is already hosting numerous conferences and, with the completion of the new Conference Center, the city hopes to attract even more international meetings and tourists. The multi-functional and flexible building will also offer the citizens of Calabar a new cultural centre that will provide the setting for concerts, film festivals and exhibitions. The Calabar International Conference Centre consists of four adjoining, sculptural volumes. The building is situated on top of a hill and has a panoramic view from the foyer. The location on the middle of the hill creates a natural amphitheatre with a room for several thousand people on the one side and a spectacular view of the river delta on the other side. “Nigeria is developing rapidly at the moment and, as an architect invited to contribute to this development, you have a special obligation to consider architecture as more than a question of geometry. Architecture also contributes to the development of society”, says International Design Director and Partner, Louis Becker, Henning Larsen Architects. “When we work at an international scale, we take with us an architectural tradition where the design is based on dialogue and dedication. We do not hide at the company office in Copenhagen but go into the world to be inspired and contribute with our experience where it makes a difference.”