Old Lagos Lab Finds New Life as Creative Campus

A former medical laboratory in Lagos has been transformed into Polygon, a 2,000-square-meter creative campus designed to bring artists, entrepreneurs and cultural practitioners together. Designed in collaboration with gallerist Dare Herald, the space blends brutalist concrete architecture with mature mango and tropical almond trees, shipping-container doors, and reclaimed materials, reflecting a growing global movement toward adaptive reuse over demolition.  Founder Taiwo Adeyemi, drawing on memories of communal courtyards from his youth, envisioned the site as a “third place” where people can gather without every interaction needing a defined purpose. Lawns, terraces, a café, an atrium, and informal seating support this goal, encouraging lingering and unexpected encounters. Powered entirely by solar energy, Polygon demonstrates how cultural infrastructure can combine sustainability with community and creative life.