Building Materials
Nigeria experienced the great downfall of concrete, the world's most widely used building material, because of unavoidable cracking caused by exposure to water and chemicals, as well as the resource drain in terms of the amount of water necessary to produce concrete. In Makoko and Lagos, the concrete now only requires ¼ the water normally needed to produce concrete, and the lifespan is expanded. These technological advancements were the result of bacterial spores that patch the concrete wherever the elements seep through.
Sweating Rooftops:
Conventional HVAC uses up massive amounts of water, so the rooftops in Lagos absorb water when it rains and only release it when the heat is raised to a certain temperature. Some of these technologies are being tested and installed in Makoko by the hacker community.
Hygenic Surfaces:
In 2015 the chemicals and soaps used to disinfect hospitals and homes used a lot of water and also polluted our water supplies. In Makoko and Lagos, scientists developed a 'slippery liquid-infused porous surface' that lets bacteria slip right off. It also wards off dust, ice, and graffiti. The Makoko Clinics, which include pop up clinics within the Floating School, have evolved dramatically within our population since the interventions of 2022, and these clinics utilize 'slippery liquid-infused porous surfaces.' The surfaces are slowly making their way into more Makoko cooking establishments, food preparation industries, and other medical industries.
Insulation:
This is a huge topic of interest in Makoko and Lagos. Scientists and engineers have come up with a cloud like gel, which is not only light but is also an excellent insulator for conserving water.
Saltcrete is also an important building material within Makoko and Lagos.