1. in Nigerian Architecture
Images of Tradition and Modernity
in Nigerian Architecture
Mr. Shaibu Bala Garba

2. Content of Presentation
Introduction – Geography, Social, & Historical
Architecture – A reflection of society
Society and Architecture in Nigeria
North
West
East
Format:
Geography; physical and social
Materials and Construction Techniques
Architecture; Vernacular & Urban

3. Introduction Location: West Africa Area: 923 Sq Kilometers
Population: Estimated at 110 million
Political: Federation of 36 states and a federal capital
Vegetation: Varies from equatorial forest in the south to Savannah in the north

4. Social and Cultural
More than 250 ethnic groupings, but three main tribes, Hausa, Yoruba & Ibo
Main languages- English (official), Hausa, Yoruba & Ibo
Capital- Abuja
Main Economic Resources
Petroleum- Main source of revenue accounting for almost 85%, 6th Largest producer of oil in the world
Minerals- tin, coal, and steel
Agriculture- rubber, wood, cocoa

5. Architecture in Nigeria
Architecture is usually a reflection of Society
Architecture in Nigeria reflects the Diversity and contrast that is evident in the country
Diversity because of the different nationalities that make up the country
Contrast in terms of differences between
Urban and Rural
Traditional and Modern
Poor and Rich

6. Northern Nigeria - Geography
The physical terrain in the north is generally flat, though there are predominant mountainous areas
The vegetation is made up of savannah grassland with scattered trees
The people are predominantly Hausa-Fulani and Muslim
The most important Historical event was Jihad of Uthman Ibn Fodio in the 18th Century; created the Hausa caliphate with a sultan and emirs
Letter from The Sultan seeking for help in Jihad

7. N. Nigeria – Construction and architecture
Diverse materials of construction reflecting location and status
All types of modern materials including concrete, stone, glass, marble, granite, steel etc are commonly available
For people in traditional and rural areas and also poor people, the most common materials of construction is mud or adobe
Adobe construction is carried out in the form of sun dried block construction, wattle and daub or the use of a special brick called tubali reinforced with palm branches
Example of the use of sun dried brick in construction

8. Northern Nigeria – Urban Vernacular Architecture
urban vernacular architecture is rooted in old city states existing since the 15th century
Most prominent are the Hausa city states organized as a caliphate
The architecture is mainly in mud, reinforced with palm stems
Master craftsmen evolved a structural systems using mud to its structural limits
Also evolved a practice of decoration using abstract arts
Layout of cities has as a focus, the emirs palace, market and Friday mosque

9. Urban Vernacular Architecture
Kano one of the prominent Northern cities in the 15th Century

10. Hausa cities were usually walled with gates leading to a central area containing the emirs palace, Friday mosque and market

11. Examples of Built Form

15. Interior of A palace

16. Interior of a compound

17. Exterior Decoration

18. Modern Decoration on the Emirs Palace

19. Decoration etched on Cement

20. Many of the urban houses usually also have elaborately ornamented interiors
A mud building stylishly treated creating a modern setting

21. Interior decoration

22. Interior decoration

23. Interior work showing how structure is used to advantage in decoration

25. In the bid to preserve, a concrete shell has been superimposed on the mud mosque

26. Nigeria has a museum dedicated to traditional architecture; this is one of the exhibits

27. The fallacy of adobe lies in its susceptibility to rain, making it very expensive to maintain

28. Rural Vernacular
The rural landscape is predominantly grassland broken in some places by mountains and interesting rock formations
Rural buildings are usually round huts made of mud built into very serene and interesting landscapes.

34. Lifestyle of the rural people is very simple, usually centered on agriculture and animal husbandry

37. A lot of interesting forms

40. The Fulanis are a unique nomadic tribe

41. They construct all kinds of temporary shelter

43. Urban architecture
The urban architecture is usually no different from what you will find in many developing country cities
The predominant difference lie in the use of prominent pitched roof because of the high tropical rainfall

44. A commercial building

45. Office building

46. Office complex

49. Markets are common in Nigeria

50. Example of an industrial complex

51. The Federal Capital The Nigerian Capital is Abuja
The capital was designed by Kenzo Tange
Located in the center of the country close to the confluence of the rivers Niger and Benue

52. National Plaza and Three arm zone

55. Sheraton Abuja

56. A typical View of the capital city

57. Housing Area

58. Transition to the South

59. Ajaokuta Steel Works

60. Ilorin, The last predominantly muslim city to the south

61. Western Nigeria Area is predominantly rainforest
People are mainly Yoruba and are split evenly into Muslims and Christians
The array of local material increases with the availability of good timber
Traditional and vernacular buildings are still in mud

62. There is also a large animist population making shrines a very common type of structure
The Yoruba are artistically very expressive, mainly in the form of sculpture, dance and drama

63. Example of a vernacular building in the west

64. A very old residential house

65. Houses in the old quarters of a city in the west

66. Influence of Brazilian architecture

67. Lagos is a huge city of about 6 to 12 million
It is the commercial capital of the country

68. The commercial center in Lagos

69. A street view in Lagos

70. A view across Lagos mainland

71. A busy commercial Lagos street

73. The famous Lagos go slow

74. Eastern Nigeria Benin in 16th century
Eastern Nigeria is mainly tropical in vegetation
Predominant tribe is Ibo, but a large number of smaller tribes
Predominantly Christian
Vernacular architecture predominantly in wood and adobe

77. Research activities
Ahmadu Bello University Carries out extensive research into Traditional and Vernacular Architecture
This takes the form of documentation, improvement studies and also use of new technology and materials

80. A demonstration project built in front of the architecture department

81. Built with cement stabilized soil blocks