A Factory Fusion

From an old German sausage factory to an artist hub cafe bar.

Nestled in the heart of the old town of Lagos, Factory Fusion Hub is a unique cafe that beautifully blends the former factory’s old industrial aesthetics with an artistic atmosphere, creating a sanctuary where industrial style meets artistic expression.

Alexandra Marques’s passion project encapsulates her love of art and determination to preserve Lagos’s historic past while creating something unique and more memorable than the archetypal modern café. Alexandra aims to provide a haven for creative souls who love coffee, conversation and culture. As I enter the space, there is a welcoming vibe, and a dog comes to meet me (the café is dog-friendly). I sit down to enjoy a delicious iced coffee and a chat with Alexandra.

“I found this old factory which made bread and then German sausages in the middle of Lagos, with 130 sqm and high ceilings. This place caught my attention and without hesitation I dived into this new project with so many ideas in my head. I found some investors and we decided to move forward with my dream, with success as a goal but mainly to have a lot of fun with it.” Alexandra’s day job is owner and manager of Meraki, a real estate and property management company, formerly Amazing Houses, but this new café is giving her a chance to exercise her creative spirit and meet with fellow art lovers.

As Alexandra shows me around, her face lights up every time she points out a design feature, from the holes drilled into the wall as you enter, filled with plants and bottles, to a light fitting rescued and given a new lease of life. I admire a huge mural by graffiti artist Elsio Menau, which depicts a concept imagined by Alexandra of a child holding the earth. It symbolises the need to preserve the planet for future generations. It is clear that every aspect has been carefully thought out and lovingly created, and is intended to create a stimulating blend of visual impressions and stories.

“I love art,” explains Alexandra. “I love the way that art makes you feel and how it creates an emotional response in you. I want this space to give people something to engage them or stimulate a conversation while having a delicious meal with a special cocktail or smoothie in their hand.” Alexandra has found that some of the digital nomads using her space prefer to work in a stimulating environment, while others feel isolated working from home. 

“Our mission is to provide a space where coffee lovers, artists and the community can come together to enjoy, create and inspire.” Wandering around the space, I take in the artworks on display. I am delighted to see that Diane Jeffrey’s works are displayed on one wall. She was featured in the August edition in an article titled ‘The Undiscovered Artist’, and it is great to see that this new space has allowed her to display her art for the first time. There is also a rail with hand-made vintage-style clothes by Retro Kitty, along with their retro-style artwork, which is adorned with glitter from an eye-catching canvas of a tiger to a repurposed surfboard. Next to Diane´s striking portraits are a selection of abstract works from Natasha Singh, an art therapist who intends to do some workshops in the space. Claudia Escobar’s textile work is also displayed, ensuring that all forms of creativity are represented.

And every creative mind needs sustenance, so the Fusion Factory offers good coffee and cakes, craft drinks and signature cocktails, plus delicious snacks made from quality ingredients. The list of toasties sounds delicious, and Alexandra assures me they are a level up from the usual tostas mistas

Alexandra is now set on using the space for workshops, live music events and poetry readings. New Forró classes started at the end of September. In the upcoming months, look out for a poetry reading day, a creative art workshop, art classes, salsa classes, sound therapy and art battles.

As I am about to leave, we reflect on how this street contains some other art or creative-related spaces and Alexandra agrees that she is excited that fellow innovators are opening up new businesses in the backstreets of Lagos. “Many people just go to the main squares which are full of tourists but visitors should explore the back streets. It’s where exciting things are happening.”

So, the next time you are in Lagos, make sure you explore the less-frequented streets, where you will find the Fusion Factory or maybe another exciting project as unique and creative as this one.

Factory Fusion is open from 10.30 am to 10 pm every day, except Sunday.

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