This assignment called for designing beachfront properties for two strong hospitality brands, Hard Rock Cafe and Shiro, on Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria. The two have very different personalities and target audiences: one is deeply entrenched in the rock and roll music genre, while the other is a pan-Asian restobar. Both stand united, however, in delivering impeccable spatial experiences and service to their guests. Given this, the two brands are housed in separate buildings with a shared deck that celebrates panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Additionally, Hard Rock Cafe features its own swimming pool, oriented towards the same oceanic vistas. Together, Hard Rock Cafe and Shiro constitute the largest night club set-up in the African continent. The former is articulated as a lofty, metal-framed, dark volume with a pronounced warehouse flavour.

The interior combines contemporary design with elements of rock such as guitars, costumes, and memorabilia. With the opening act by Sade, who is of Nigerian descent, the club applauds the country’s talent as well as celebrates greats from the western world. Shiro, its neighbour, travels to the orient for inspiration and possess an Asian vibe, embodied through enormous statues — including Buddha heads — that act as focal points within a lofty envelope rendered in rustic materials. In both cases, lighting design elevates the ambience, giving it a sense of theatre.