Ramzi Towers: Offering Panoramic views, environmental comfort in exclusive location
One important factor in the decision to construct a property is location. According to US based Raleigh Realty, the three most important factors to consider when buying a home are location, location and location.
Explaining why location constitutes one of the prime factors to consider when purchasing a property, Raleigh Realty said the condition and price of any home can be changed; that can change the size of the house, and that factors such as demand and supply play a role in real estate appreciation, but location does not change.
“Location creates desirability, desirability creates demand and demand raises real estate prices,” observed Ryan Fitzgerald, the chief executive officer of Raleigh Realty.
It is this thinking that probably informed the decision of Athena Capital Limited (ACL), a Nigerian real estate company behind the construction of Ramzi Towers situated in an exclusive location in Victoria Island.
Ramzi Towers is planned and designed to be a prime residential address in the vicinity. Max Titchmarsh, chief architect of the property, said of the company’s design ethos:
“Panoramic views, environmental comfort and extraordinary living spaces came about through a simple but innovative manipulation of typical apartment layout, narrowing the waist to open up the views, broadening the shoulders to increase the living spaces and using shell structures to enclose the plan and bring solar comfort. Together, they steer the design evolution towards an expression of the “Genius Loci” (the unique spirit of a particular place) and the sense of the structure of a very African Tower.”
Ramzi Towers comprises 22 apartments on 18 floors with provision for over 50 parking bays. The apartments are broken down into 7 three-bedroom units measuring between 301square metres and 346 square metres, 13 four bedroom units measuring between 315 square metres and 422 square metres and 2 duplex four bedroom penthouses of 488 square metres each with 106 square metres and 49 square metres terrace space respectively.
The property which was approved in 2014 has been designed to give 360 degree panoramic views from 5 Cowries Creek and the lagoon beyond, to downtown Lagos and across the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean.
Each of the 7 three bed, 13 four bed and 2 penthouse apartments are oriented to maximize day light and the tower’s distinctive curved shells provide shading from the heat of the direct sun.
The developers did not hide their intention for an open plan living. Each apartment is designed around a huge central living area giving almost 360 degree views.
Living rooms, dining rooms, bar, library and winter garden areas are all interconnected around a central kitchen hub. This kitchen forms the hub of the spacious common area and anchors each apartment. The master suites are impressive and additional bedrooms are all en-suite.
Dedicated lifts serve only two apartments per floor on lower levels, while upper floors access solitary four bed apartments containing additional reception, or ‘morning’ rooms oriented to benefit from the morning sun.
The top two floors contain exceptional duplex penthouses with stunning roof terraces. The building structure reflects the developer’s desire for wide spaces and panoramic views.
To make the building environmentally friendly, an innovative spray concrete technology with Keim finish was used to avoid the high cost and inconvenience of frequent painting. The concrete technology also meets strict air tightness standards hence the cooling loads are significantly less.
The building is oriented to maximise natural daylight and the tower’s distinctive curved ‘shells’ provide shading from the heat of the direct sun.
The design also incorporates an international acoustic standard which helps to reduce noise pollution.
“Our focus on meeting strict environmental, water, waste, noise humidity, and solar standards means Ramzi Towers will be the first tower in its class to meet and exceed the Lagos State Climate Change Adaptation Strategy,” the developer stated on the company’s brochure.
During its 4th Climate Change Summit in April 2012, the Lagos state government had presented its draft climate change policy as well as a roadmap ‘Towards a Lagos State Change Adaptation Strategy’.
The objective of the roadmap is to achieve the stated of goals of planning, development and disaster risk management while at the same time strengthening institutions and building capacity to foster sustainable development.
ISAAC ANYAOGU