How Freedom Park became Lagos’ iconic hub

By :Onome Amawhe

Culled from Business Day

Theo Lawson, the visionary architect behind Freedom Park Lagos, is the mastermind who transformed a former colonial prison into one of Nigeria’s most beloved public spaces. Located on the site of Her Majesty’s Broad Street Prison, where independence activists like Herbert Macaulay and Chief Obafemi Awolowo were once held, Freedom Park is a testament to the power of preserving history while creating space for community and creativity.

Lawson’s design philosophy was bold: repurpose the prison’s elements, turning gallows into a performance stage and cells into stalls and kiosks. This innovative approach has made Freedom Park a hub for arts, culture, and recreation, attracting locals and tourists alike. But behind the scenes, challenges persist. The park’s journey is one of resilience, innovation, and a passion for preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage. From navigating restrictive government agreements to finding ways to sustain growth, Lawson’s vision for Freedom Park continues to shape Lagos’ cultural landscape, making it a beacon for creative expression and public engagement. Freedom Park embodies Nigeria’s resilience and creativity, blending history, culture, and community spirit.

How did the idea for Freedom Park first come about?

The idea for Freedom Park originated in 1998, when about twenty architectural firms, including mine, came together under the Creative Intelligence Agency (CIA) to develop visionary “millennium” projects for Lagos. Working with university students, we compiled our ideas into a booklet submitted to government in 1999, though it was not immediately adopted.

Nearly ten years later, I revived the concept in a discussion with a special adviser to Governor Babatunde Fashola, who encouraged me to resubmit the proposal. By then, my firm had identified the former Broad Street Prison as a potential site and reimagined it as a public park—what would eventually become Freedom Park.

After presenting the concept and preliminary design to Governor Fashola, the project received approval, and a formal proposal was submitted to the Executive Council. Following almost a decade of incubation, the project was finally approved. Despite funding delays that pushed construction to August 2008, we were given just 18 months to deliver the park for its opening on 1 October 2010, in celebration of Nigeria’s 50th anniversary.

How did the unique blend of history, art, and community contribute to Freedom Park’s rapid success?

Freedom Park’s success stemmed from a deliberate fusion of history, public space, and a living arts ecosystem. The former Broad Street Prison (1872–1972) was demolished after closure, erasing a potent symbol of colonial oppression. Abandoned development plans during years of military rule left the site derelict, first as a dump and later a shanty settlement.

By the late 1970s and 1980s, an increasingly congested Lagos needed an urban oasis—a place for relief, reflection, and recreation. The Park evolved beyond a memorial through the integration of the arts community. Performance stages, galleries, a museum, food courts, studios, and sculpture gardens brought vitality, relevance, and sustainability. This active blend of memory, culture, and community life defined Freedom Park’s character and secured its strong public acceptance and lasting impact.

What inspired you to design Freedom Park as a blend of historical preservation and modern recreational space?

Freedom Park was inspired by the idea that absence can be as powerful as presence. By the time we began the project, almost all the prison buildings had been demolished in the 1970s, leaving only the exterior fence wall. What remained was not architecture, but memory. The challenge—and the opportunity—was to translate that memory into space. Rather than attempt a literal reconstruction, we chose symbolic representation, embedding history within a contemporary leisure park that allows people to engage with the past while fully inhabiting the present.

How did you balance the need to preserve the prison’s history with the desire to create a vibrant public space?

The balance was achieved through interpretation rather than imitation. Using original prison plans, we re-established the spatial logic of the prison—its axes, proportions, and relationships—without recreating it as a replica. These symbolic traces sit within a park designed for openness, culture, and recreation. The result is a space where leisure and remembrance coexist without competing.

What significance did the prison’s history hold for you, and how did you incorporate it into the design?

The prison was a site of colonial authority, punishment, and political repression, particularly during Nigeria’s nationalist struggle. Since the physical buildings no longer existed, the responsibility was to reconstruct meaning rather than fabric. Using archival drawings, we mapped former cells, courtyards, and service areas as spatial markers—allowing visitors to walk through history without being enclosed by it.

How do you think Freedom Park contributes to the preservation of Nigeria’s colonial past and struggle for independence?

Freedom Park preserves history by making it legible in the landscape. It does not rely on nostalgia or reconstruction, but on narrative and symbolism. By hosting cultural events, debates, and performances on ground once associated with incarceration, the park reframes colonial history as something confronted, understood, and transformed—rather than erased.

What were some of the biggest design challenges you faced while transforming a former prison site into a public park?

The greatest challenge was designing around what was no longer there. With the buildings gone, we had to avoid inventing history while still giving it spatial form. There was also the emotional challenge of acknowledging a difficult past without turning it into spectacle. The design needed restraint, clarity, and sensitivity.

How did you adapt the existing infrastructure to fit the new purpose of the space?

The perimeter wall became the primary historical artifact anchoring the project. Within it, we reintroduced the prison’s former layout as a spatial diagram—paths, walls, and voids corresponding to original structures. These were then integrated into gardens, performance areas, galleries, and cafés, allowing contemporary use to sit lightly on historical memory.

How do you envision Freedom Park contributing to Lagos’ cultural scene, and what role do you see it playing in promoting arts and culture?

Freedom Park was envisioned as a civic stage—a place where culture, memory, and everyday life intersect. Its power lies in contrast: creative freedom unfolding within the outline of former oppression. This makes it a uniquely potent venue for music, theatre, literature, and public discourse in Lagos.

What kind of cultural events or activities would you like to see more of in the park?

More work that consciously engages history—site-specific theatre, spoken word, archival exhibitions, and youth-led reinterpretations of national narratives. I am particularly interested in events that use the park not just as a backdrop, but as an active participant in storytelling.

What impact do you hope Freedom Park has had on the surrounding community, and have you seen any positive changes?

I hoped it would reconnect Lagos Island residents with a part of the city that had been dormant for decades. The Park has brought people back—not only for events, but for quiet reflection and everyday use—restoring social value to a historically charged site.

How has the park influenced the local economy or tourism in the area?

Freedom Park has become a cultural landmark, attracting visitors, artists, and institutions. This has supported local businesses and reinforced Lagos Island’s role as not just a commercial hub, but a cultural and historical destination.

What steps were taken to preserve the historical integrity of the prison, given that most structures no longer existed?

Preservation in this case meant intellectual and spatial fidelity. We relied heavily on original plans, historical records, and oral accounts. Rather than reconstruct buildings, we reconstructed relationships—between spaces, functions, and movement—ensuring the story remained accurate even as the architecture became abstracted.

How did you decide which elements of the prison to symbolically represent and which to let go?

We focused on elements that carried the strongest narrative weight—cells, courtyards, circulation routes—while allowing others to dissolve into landscape. The aim was clarity, not completeness. What was left out was as intentional as what was represented.

What sustainable design elements were incorporated into Freedom Park?

Adaptive reuse of the site itself was a sustainable act. We emphasized passive design strategies—shade, natural ventilation, minimal built mass—and extensive landscaping. The park’s low-rise, open-air nature reflects both environmental responsibility and historical sensitivity.

Looking back on the project, is there anything you would do differently if you had the chance?

With today’s tools, I might incorporate more digital and archival interpretation to complement the spatial narrative. But fundamentally, the decision to work symbolically rather than reconstructively remains one I fully stand by. It allowed Freedom Park to be about meaning, not mimicry.

What were some of the key milestones that stood out during Freedom Park’s early years?

Freedom Park’s early years were defined by key milestones that quickly established it as a major cultural destination. Within five years, it earned TripAdvisor’s Certificate of Excellence and ranked among the top five places to visit in Lagos.

The Park emerged as a vibrant festival hub, hosting over ten festivals annually, including the Black Heritage Festival, alongside regular music and theatre programmes, giving it one of the city’s most active arts calendars.

Its cultural importance was further reflected in its visitors, who included Chief Lateef Jakande, Chief Alex Ibru, the President of Germany, ambassadors, state governors, international media, celebrities, schools, and the general public. A defining symbolic moment was the recognition of Nobel Laureate Professor Wole Soyinka as an “honorary inmate,” encapsulating the spirit of Freedom Park.

What specific investments or support does the government provide to ensure Freedom park’s sustainability and growth?

Lagos State’s direct involvement in Freedom Park was largely limited to funding the basic infrastructure. Beyond that, all investments required to bring the park to life—furnishing, staffing, programming, and curatorial development—were borne entirely by our management company. We built the park’s ethos, operational systems, and brand identity without any financial subvention from the state. This commitment constituted our equity contribution, alongside an obligation to make quarterly remittances to the government.

In 2012, a formal management contract was prepared by the Office of Public–Private Partnerships. However, its revenue-sharing structure proved restrictive. The agreement required the management company to remit 25% of gross income to Lagos State in the first year, rising to 40% in the second and third years, and 50% by the fourth and fifth years. By the fourth year, half of all revenue would go to the government, significantly constraining reinvestment, growth, and long-term financial sustainability—even at the initial 25% level.

What specific actions or policy changes are you hoping the current governor will implement to address the unresolved issues surrounding Freedom Park?

Our foremost request is the renewal of the management agreement for a minimum tenure of ten years. A stable, long-term framework is essential for rebuilding on the original foundation of Freedom Park and for attracting the kind of corporate and institutional funding required to deliver new capital projects and meet the financial objectives set by the administrator.

In addition, we seek formal recognition of Freedom Park as a Lagos State cultural asset. Such recognition would enable the park to benefit from government support, policy backing, and official endorsements, reinforcing its public value while strengthening its sustainability, growth potential, and contribution to Lagos’s cultural and tourism landscape.

What measures can be taken to address the current limbo situation and ensure a fair review of the contract, considering the original agreement’s intent for a two-year review and the park’s ongoing operational challenges?

To resolve the current limbo and create a path forward, we would ask that the Office of Public–Private Partnerships formally review the management agreement in line with the original intent for a two-year performance review. This review should take into account the park’s track record, its cultural and economic value, and the practical realities of operating and sustaining a public heritage asset.

A revised agreement with fair and equitable terms would restore confidence and provide the leverage needed to reinvest, plan long term, and address ongoing operational challenges. With a balanced framework that supports sustainability rather than constrains it, Freedom Park can be repositioned to fulfill its founding vision and stand among the world’s great public spaces.

What provisions were made for review or renegotiation?

The management contract was originally proposed by the Office of Public–Private Partnerships, and we expressed strong reservations about its terms. We were ultimately persuaded to proceed on the understanding that it was an experimental PPP model that would be reviewed after two years. Unfortunately, that review never took place, leaving the arrangement unresolved and uncertain.

The absence of a formal review or renegotiation has had serious consequences. Without a valid management contract, we have been unable to secure partnerships or attract investment to improve and expand the park. As a result, we have had to rely almost entirely on operating income and personal funds simply to keep Freedom Park running.

In 2017, the initial five-year management contract expired and was not renewed under the Ambode administration. A subsequent commissioner even proposed removing the trees to convert the park into a concrete concert arena—an idea that ran counter to the park’s founding vision. Since then, successive administrators have allowed the situation to persist without a formal agreement, effectively operating in a regulatory vacuum. While some administrators have acknowledged our efforts, they have continued to demand increased revenue remittances without renewing the contract or investing in the park’s rehabilitation, placing the management in an increasingly difficult and unsustainable position.

What specific strategies or initiatives have been instrumental in maintaining Freedom Park’s operations and visibility, particularly in navigating administrative challenges to ensure its continued relevance?

In spite of persistent administrative challenges, Freedom Park has remained operational through a combination of resilience, consistent programming, and strong cultural advocacy. Over the years, we have faced multiple threats of termination, none of which were ultimately acted upon. The presence of Professor Wole Soyinka as patron has been especially significant—his moral authority and international standing have helped keep Freedom Park visible on the global stage and have likely restrained more drastic actions by successive administrators.

Equally important has been our commitment to active and regular programming. In the past year alone, we hosted close to ten festivals spanning music, dance, theatre, and the visual arts. These were complemented by weekly live music performances, guided tours for schools and visitors, and ongoing environmental advocacy initiatives. By ensuring that the park remains animated, relevant, and accessible to diverse audiences, we have sustained public engagement and reinforced Freedom Park’s identity as a vital cultural institution, even in the absence of formal administrative stability.

What do you hope Freedom Park’s legacy will be, both as a historical site and a public space?

Fifteen years on, Freedom Park remains one of Lagos’s most popular tourist and cultural destinations, even as it now requires significant repair and reinvestment. Despite sustained engagement and ongoing discussions with government, the issues surrounding its management and future remain unresolved. Assurances have been given, and while we are hopeful that Governor Sanwo-Olu will honour his commitment to intervene, our advocacy for Freedom Park continues unabated.

Freedom Park is more than a physical space. It is a democratic common—one of the few places in the city where people of all backgrounds and social standings can gather, coexist, and feel a sense of belonging. It serves the affluent and the underprivileged alike, offering shared ownership of history, culture, and public life. That enduring civic value is why we will continue to push for its preservation, protection, and renewal.

I hope it stands as an example of how architecture can mediate memory without monumentalizing trauma. That it shows how difficult histories can be held gently within everyday life, allowing society to remember without being imprisoned by the past.