Benin Domestic Architecture "A Tabula Rasa" for Transition: from pre-Independence to Contemporary Architecture

Domestic architecture over centuries in Benin, southern Nigeria has undergone series of transformation. Benin Empire which spread to Ga tribe in Ghana, Dahomey in republic of Benin and Cameroun in eastern coast has an admirable architecture which was compare to the architecture in Amsterdam, Netherlands. But due to urbanization, peri-urbanization, growth and development, there has been neck and neck transition in domestic architecture across the crosssection of the City. Hence the focus of the paper is to examine the domestic architecture transition in Benin, Nigeria from pre-independence to contemporary architecture. For purpose of the study, pre-independence architecture can be captured under: i. pre-colonial architecture and ii. Colonial Architecture. While contemporary architecture was captured as i. independence architecture and ii. Post-independence architecture. The transitions in architecture were identified along timeline and the timelines produced four (4) distinct residential zones in Benin. The method employed for the research was qualitative approach, which means the transitions in Benin domestic architecture were documented through observation from architectural plans, identifiable transition observed from physical characteristics of houses and the use of interviews guide for key stakeholder was documente

From Home Owners Perspective, “Ikun Concept” of Design in Benin, Nigeria: Some Like It Some Don’t

Benin domestic courtyard design is as old as Benin kingdom (40 BC). The Edos built huge mud houses and the Oba (king) lived in large extended palace that could be to compare to Amsterdam, Netherlands. The "Ikun concept" of design (Oto-eghodo Design) is based on cultural considerations. The Edo socio-political structure determines categories of home owners, house size, organization and location across the City. The houses includes: house for commoners / poor, nobles, chiefs, diviners, chief priest, Enigies's palace, Oba's palace and shrines. The paper highlights the internal spaces quality and traditional courtyard house design in order to document the value and relevance from home owners’ perspective. The research employed qualitative and quantitative approaches (questionnaire, interviews guide, architectural plan documentation and observation). The result of findings has helped in shaping the orientation and understanding of all actors’ involved in house provision

Green Agenda: A Socio-Cultural Response to SBS and BRI in African Domestic Architecture

Green agenda is a participatory method for developing and implementing local sustainable development strategies and plans with active involvement of different sectors in the local community where the process is conducted. But Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and Building Related Illness (BRI) are building concerns in African cities, because building designs, materials and styles are alien the culture and climate. The focus of the paper therefore was to deploy sustainability parameters (Green Agenda) to address SBS and BRI in African Domestic Architecture. Taking into consideration the three main aspects of green agenda which includes; identifying local values, process participation and genuinely owned result. The methodology employed was quantitative and qualitative. The findings revealed that the research had addressed the issues of imported design, sick building syndrome and building related illness using sustainability considerations. The study result has shown that the three aspects of local green agenda has socio-cultural nuance in Domestic Architecture that includes the values, beliefs, available materials in the studied community. This pre-supposes that building design necessarily need to have organic content (i.e. it has to be culture specific, socially responsive and environmentally friendly). Organic designs however have proved to be sustainable and also one of the way out of SBS and BRI

Go-Ahead Element of Domestic Architecture: Socio-Economic and Culture Characteristics of the Residents in Benin

The domestic architecture of a traditional settlement is greatly influenced by the socio-economic and socio-cultural characteristics of its residents. Benin City which is the focus of the paper is a case of a traditional settlement undergoing domestic architectural evolution with the changing times influenced by factors of growth and development. The paper has examined the effect of socio-economic and socio-cultural characteristics as factors that partly determine the design, style, pattern, space use, organization, location and meaning as well as land use of the domestic architecture of Benin. The study employed the use of questionnaire administered to residents across the cross-section of the city. In the end, descriptive frequency tables were used to analyse the data collected from the residential zones in Benin. The research has been able to corroborate the theory that socio-economic and socio-cultural factors are some of the determinants/elements of domestic architecture of a place

Seminaling health conditions Associated with Buildings and Life Expectancy of Nigerian Cities Residents

Health issues associated with buildings is an observable fact in research and a concern for longevity. Amongst the outcome of building related concerns on residents are health issues such as Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and Building Related Illness (BRI), but if not detected and treated early enough would ultimately result to reduction in life expectancy ratio of urban residents. Therefore the core of the paper was to examine health questions associated with buildings in order to identify and document it as one of the causes of reduction in life expectancy ratio in Nigerian cities. The paper has provided some form of remedy to the growing occurrence. Hence, the research was conducted using descriptive and experimental/observatory approaches. The result of the findings documented in the paper will improve consumers, manufacturers and property developer choices