High incidence of design piracy worries Haven Homes

Inability to think creatively for innovative ideas, the quest for easy way to stardom, laziness, low self esteem among others have been identified as reasons for the high incidence of piracy seen in almost every field of human activity including housing construction.

For individuals and institutions who have distinguished themselves for their ability to think and come up with creative ideas, piracy is a crime against ingenuity and, for Haven Homes, it is worrisome.

Tayo Sonuga, Haven Homes’ managing director/CEO, stressed that his company, which is Nigeria’s leading light in the development of lifestyle living, was worried as their house designs were frequently pirated by otherwise professional colleagues.

Sonuga who spoke in a statement obtained by BusinessDay urged his professional colleagues to put on their thinking caps, think more creatively to come up with innovative designs rather than copying his company’s thoughtfully patented designs.

To position itself for whatever opportunities the housing market has to offer this New Year, the company recently unveiled its 2015 House Designs which expresses more sensuality and adaptation to the natural environment of their Richmond Gate Estate.

This is a significant improvement in their style of development and Sonuga explains that the new home designs were curvier and wavier externally showing adaptations to the movement of the sea.

“The choice of colours for the homes is now more subtle and tranquil. This is to adapt to the natural environment around the estate which is dominantly beach-white. Internally, we have chosen the spectacular elliptical staircase design that depicts elegance and also displays grandeur.

“We have also celebrated walls with niches which can be highlighted with various colours to display flowers or works of art. Our lightings have also improved significantly and we have introduced a new lighting concept known as star-lights”, Sonuga said at the unveiling of the new design.

According to him, Haven Homes is already a trailblazer when it comes to distinct home designs in Nigeria, saying that although the 2015 home designs might soon be copied by other developers as was the case with other designs before them, there are a lot of hidden messages within the design concept that might not be easily grasped.

“It will not be easy to copy these new designs. Although there will soon be attempts to do that, I can assure you that the originality behind the concept will still remain with Haven Homes. Our architects, Play In Architecture (Winner of Designer of the Year 2014 Award), are also working on our 2017 designs as we speak’’, he added.

CHUKA UROKO