Africa Quote by Rem Koolhaas
![“Lagos was a city that had been turned against itself. There was a bridge that became the perfect trap for crimes, which began with nails being scattered to cause flat tyres. If the driver stopped, the car would be dismantled in 20 minutes and the parts thrown overboard [to people waiting below]…” quote by Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/05d/rem-koolhaas-5371_bridges_lagos-was-a-city-that-had-been-turned-ag_1402665.jpg)
“Lagos was a city that had been turned against itself. There was a bridge that became the perfect trap for crimes, which began with nails being scattered to cause flat tyres. If the driver stopped, the car would be dismantled in 20 minutes and the parts thrown overboard [to people waiting below]. The system had turned into a kind of destructive device that could be used against people. That was the narrative.”
About This Quote
A city turned hostile, where infrastructure becomes a weapon, illustrating systemic breakdown and urban decay.
In simple terms: Urban systems can become harmful.
Key Takeaway
Design resilient, humane cities.
Themes
urban decay
infrastructure
systemic failure
Mood
critical
urgent
analytical
Type
critical
theoretical
When to use this quote
- city planning
- policy making
- community safety
Key Concepts
architecture
social engineering
public safety
Questions to Reflect On
- How can infrastructure be protected from misuse?
- What policies can prevent such traps?
A Different Perspective
Solutions must address root causes, not just symptoms.
![“That has been another interesting discovery: that basically a city [Lagos] could recover from a really deep, deep, deep pit.” quote by Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/61e/rem-koolhaas-5371_cities_that-has-been-another-interesting-discov_15915.jpg)
![“The beauty of my profession [architecture] lies in its randomness and surprise. And don't think I can choose my projects. I have to build what's offered to me.” quote by Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/712/rem-koolhaas-5371_architecture_the-beauty-of-my-profession-architecture_97486.jpg)
![“Nigeria [in 1990] was all rumour, an unbelievable amount of rumour - largely about crime and almost mythical manifestations of evil.” quote by Rem Koolhaas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/72f/rem-koolhaas-5371_amount_nigeria-in-1990-was-all-rumour-an-unbeli_125862.jpg)
