‘Alternative urbanism: Self-organising Markets of Lagos’ – Photo by Paul Raftery. All photos are by ©Oshinowo Studio.
Architecture. At first glance, Ladipo, Computer Village, and Katangua might seem like just three of Lagos’ famously vibrant markets. But look a little closer, and you’ll discover something far more profound: living, breathing systems of creativity, adaptation, and sustainability. These markets aren’t just spaces of commerce—they’re thriving engines of circular economy and community ingenuity. This year, Oshinowo Studio brings that spirit to the world stage with their exhibition Alternative Urbanism: Lagos Markets at the 2025 Venice Architecture Biennale.
RELATED STORIES: Read more about the Venice Biennale 2025 on Archipanic.
Photo by Paul Raftery, ©Oshinowo Studio.
Responding to curator Carlo Ratti’s invitation for projects that harness nature, technology, and shared intelligence in the face of climate change, the studio shines a spotlight on these uniquely self-organised urban ecosystems.
“Carlo Ratti’s manifesto on circularity immediately resonated with us,” says Tosin Oshinowo, founder of the studio. “In Lagos’ markets, we’ve long observed a sophisticated, informal industry of repair, reuse, and regeneration. It was time to celebrate that.”
Katangua Market in Lagos – Photo by Andrew Esiebo.
Each market tells its own story. Ladipo is a sprawling hub for used cars and auto parts, a place where engines find new life and car bodies are endlessly repurposed. Computer Village, buzzing with energy, handles the trade, repair, and resale of digital technology—smartphones, laptops, and beyond. Katangua, meanwhile, is Lagos’ go-to for second-hand fashion, where global clothing trends are disassembled, recombined, and reborn on Nigerian streets.
Katangua Market in Lagos – Photo by Andrew Esiebo.
These are places driven not by top-down planning, but by grassroots ingenuity. They operate largely outside of formal urban infrastructure, yet they manage to reduce waste, lower emissions, and keep millions of consumer goods in circulation. It’s a form of urbanism that’s adaptive, collaborative, and remarkably sustainable.
Computer Village in Lagos – Photo by Amanda Iheme.
Oshinowo Studio’s Venice installation captures this dynamic through a simple but powerful design: three panels forming an enclosed space. Inside, each market comes alive through immersive video projections. On the outer walls, data visualisations and three beautifully hand-crafted denim maps—made right in Katangua from recycled textiles—reveal the inner workings of the marketplaces: their districts, their flows of people and goods, and the physical logic that makes them function.
‘Alternative urbanism: Self-organising Markets of Lagos’ – Photo by Paul Raftery.
The exhibition also features a thoughtful essay by renowned architect Rem Koolhaas, who reflects on his own deep engagement with Lagos and its markets—spaces he describes as both anarchic and deeply ordered in their own way.
Computer Village in Lagos – Photo by Amanda Iheme.
What Alternative Urbanism: Lagos Markets brings to light is a vital narrative often overlooked in mainstream urban discourse. In many African cities, the most effective sustainable systems emerge not from state planning but from community-driven adaptation. These markets show us how reuse and resourcefulness are already embedded in daily life, offering powerful lessons in circularity and resilience.
As the world races to reimagine how cities can be more sustainable, perhaps we don’t need to look to the future—but to Lagos, where that future is already unfolding, one repaired engine and upcycled shoe at a time.
Ladipo Market in Lagos – Photo by Olanrewaju Ali.
Photos of the Alternative Urbanism: Lagos Markets exhibition are by Paul Raftery. Photos from the markets are by Amanda Iheme, Andrew Esiebo and Olarenwaju Ali. ©Oshinowo Studio.
Ladipo Market in Lagos – Photo by Olanrewaju Ali.
