The John Randle Centre is a major development in the African museum experience. It offers a major true celebration of Yoruba culture and heritage – from the past, in the present and into the future. At the heart of the regeneration of Central Lagos, it is a destination project aimed at local and international tourists.

The vacant site of the historic 1970s Lagos public pool, the city’s first, has been resurrected as a dynamic arts center. Designed by Seun Oduwole of Studio Imagine Simply Architecture (SI.SA), the John Randle Centre for Yoruba Culture and History sits on 18,000 m2 of land in Lagos, Nigeria.

“The John K. Randle Centre is a new kind of museum. It adapts Western Museum practices to present new modes of storytelling inspired by ongoing (or Yoruba) traditions. It celebrates tangible and intangible culture, preserving, enhancing and promoting the cultural heritage of the Yoruba people.

The Centre is actively collecting a broad range of items that will make it far from a traditional museum. It is being assisted by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, and the National Museum Lagos in building the collections, along with private collectors. The John K. Randle Centre is playing a leading role in bringing Yoruba artefacts back from European institutions working in collaboration with the British Museum and the Pitt-Rivers Museum in the UK.” ~ SI.SA

For the 3,000 m2 John Randle Centre green roof, the Net Yapi MaxiDrain 40 Semi Intensive Green Roof system was used. Also, Net Yapi is the Manufacturer/Supplier of these 4 layers: Green Roof Root Barrier, Water Retention/Protection Non Woven Geotextile, and Filter Fleece, in addition to the Inspection Chambers and Aluminum Edge Restraints.

“The John Randle Centre is the first of many initiatives aimed at the preservation of the heritage of the Yoruba through the celebration and preservation of history and culture, the regeneration of decades old public green space, public recreation facilities, and the restoration of civic pride.” ~ Babajide Sanwo-Olu, governor of Lagos State in Businessday