Nigeria’s Airplane House: “Very Strange, but Nice. Very Nice.”

Travel Blog  •  Michael Yessis  •  11.20.06 | 7:50 AM ET

Liza Jammal had a vision for an airplane house long before “Monster House” took on the task. Jammal lives in Abuja, Nigeria, with her husband Said, and, according to Craig Timberg’s story in the Washington Post this weekend, in 1980 she asked her new husband to build her a house in the shape of an airplane to symbolize her love of travel. In the flush of young love, Timberg writes, he agreed.

“That was my wife’s dream,” Said Jammal said, smiling sheepishly as he puffed a cigarette at the end of a dark plastic holder. “You know, she likes to travel a lot, fly a lot.”

The vow went unfulfilled for the first two decades of their marriage, as the demands of seven children and a fast-growing business consumed the Jammals. But in 1999, they spotted a piece of land on a rise alongside the main highway heading north out of Abuja.

Said’s ensuing creation—you can see a photo of it here—has become a tourist attraction in Nigeria’s capital city, and there’s more to come. Timberg writes: “The Jammals have also built a two-story guard post in the shape of a control tower, and they plan to add a smaller replica of the plane on a guest cottage.”

Tags: Air Travel, Tres Loco, News and Briefs


1 Comment for Nigeria’s Airplane House: “Very Strange, but Nice. Very Nice.”

sandra George 11.21.07 | 5:06 AM ET

I visited the aeroplane house, after all manner of thought of why the design and who lives there, out of curiosity i eventaully visit liza and her husband, and i was so impress to meet this wonderful couple, it’s a wonderland place of be and know. Liza must be a woman with crazy ideas. it’s fun!!!Nice family

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