Architectural Designs by Howells House Studios

Tuesday, 9 December 2025

Monday, 12 April 2021

ARCHITECTURE VILLAGE ABUJA NIGERIA

Thursday, 19 September 2019

ObiWan Elementary

Project: Proposed Elementary School
Location; Owerri, Nigeria
Client; Obinna Okoro

Architects; Howells House Studios
Lead Architect; Arc. Howells N. Onyema

In a tropical landscape and an almost flat land of the municipality of Owerri, this school was built as start up for a visionary elementary and secondary school. Around a wide area of residential buildings this building stands out a home away from home for children, asymmetric composition of regular forms forming a most unique facade on a landscaped perimeter, with corridors to the interior, and silent facades to the outside.

Reception 1

Junior Class Room

The school derives its character and identity from a warm and inspiring colour scheme that is present on the exterior as well as the interior; the colours of the building’s facades and windows are also found in the colours of the interior.

Reception 2

Reception 3

Senior Class Room

The learning environment is designed to be stimulating, permissive and promote collaboration through its organization of space and attention to details. Acoustic panels and colourful soundproofing boards are important elements in the interior while at the same time contributing to an excellent acoustic environment.

A generous number of windows and exits to the gables’ balconies provide visual contact with the surrounding greenery and the schoolyard’s vegetation.

A frame structure in reinforced concrete, receives solid block walls finished with brick and metal roof beams. All classrooms have cross ventilation, and enjoy the distant landscape. From a distance, the building behaves like a singular mark in the landscape.

Monday, 10 December 2018

CREAM De La CREAM

Location; Abuja, Nigeria
Client; Classified

Architect; Arc. Howells N. Onyema.

Perched just above the Hilltops, this Delicate 6-room Duplex features divine views of the villa-scape

and plenty of outdoor exposures. Throughout, the sun-flooded rooms are perfectly suited to major

entertaining and a most gracious lifestyle.

Superb original details abound, and include immaculate Marble floors and graceful hand carved

moldings, hand painted doors with bronze cast hardware throughout this extraordinary residence.

The impressive marble Entry foyer opens to a magnificent anteroom that boasts a much

celebrated sweeping staircase

The upstairs private quarters boast three room suits and a superb Master Suite with largely southern

outlooks. The suite includes a Dressing Room, a Sitting Room, and a lovely Bedroom.

Then downstairs the private wing includes two more bedrooms. The vast back of house within

the apartment includes a truly massive sun-filled Kitchen.

This marvelous duplex proposed at Abuja is literally a delicate mansion within the environs of a

full service prototype buildings, and its scale and facilities allow for a life style that distinguishes

the apartment even amongst the best and grandest residences within FCT.

Tuesday, 17 July 2018

ADAPTABILITY the IWE RESIDENCE

ADAPTABILITY

THE IWE RESIDENCE

Location; Abia state Nigeria
Client; Classified
Architect; Arc. Howells N. Onyema

When shacks are built, residents will often start with a one room home. Over time, they will add onto their shack as income allows. As a family grows, the home will grow, change, and evolve with them. New housing options are likely to be unsuccessful if we ignore this part of their culture. If we do not plan for additions, residents will have to move and relocate every time their needs change. New buildings will become insufficient and useless for growing families. Furthermore, many residents will not be able to afford four room houses as their first investment. For this reason, plans for redevelopment should be flexible or focus on a rental intensive system.

When developing new building plans, it is important to anticipate growth and keep the community’s needs in mind. New building plans should allow residents room to grow. At the same time, growth should not disturb roads, free space and common areas (Osman, 2005).

The IWE RESIDENCE originally a 3bedroom bungalow over time has functioned optimally until now. A growing family, need for additional domestic functions, significant environmental and socio-cultural changes over the years and of course higher income, gave rise to the need for an expansion.

From a 3bedroom bungalow to a 5bedroom duplex + 2bedrooms semi-detached bungalow to accommodate 2 families springing from one (Option I). At the same time exploring the possibility of a remodeling of the existing building to achieve more spaces without adding a new storey (option II).
Adaptability plans for the future today and affords the users of the built environment the ability to choose and grow.

OPTION I - 5bedroom duplex + 2bedrooms semi-detached bungalow

OPTION II - 5 Bedroom Bungalow

Adaptability plans for the future today and affords the users of the built environment the ability to choose and grow.

Friday, 15 December 2017

THE GULL

4 STAR HOTEL ENUGU, NIGERIA

As hotels and resorts around the world have introduced meeting spaces and conference/banquet centers among their services, they have seen a significant increase in business and margins. The Gull is a combination of a professional meeting space, corporate conference facility and ballroom enables a resort to become a multi-seasonal, multi-use destination that appeals to many types of groups. Many hotels are adding informal "break-out" meeting spaces, lobby gathering areas, and restaurants complete with indoor/outdoor views and garden areas.

Customer’s tastes are changing at an accelerated pace. In today’s sophisticated hotel and resort communities, a much wider array of features and amenities is required to satisfy the demands of discerning guests.

Sustainability:

Hotels are, more than ever, establishing a strong identity with their surroundings. Environmental responsibility is embraced by many, making it important to combine full sustainability and compatibility with the natural surroundings.

Technology:

Guests are engulfed with changing technology in their day-to-day lives. They expect to find the same high-tech services when they travel, whether for business or pleasure.

For these reasons, the design of the hotel spaces and conference facilities incorporates modern hotel technologies and cutting edge equipment. The hotel and banquet facility have a clear vision of the technical side of the equipment to be offered as well as the intrinsic experience expectations of the guest and group using the space.

The design of the corporate training facility or meeting space incorporates the functional and asthetic aspect of the facility. The environment is soothing and relaxing, free of distractions and noise, leaving the guest with an unforgettable experience.