SOCIO-CULTURAL TRANSFORMATION FROM TRADITIONAL TO MODERN ARCHITECTURE IN NIGERIA, 1915- 2015

Abstract

Traditional ways of building houses have been the order of the day since 1915 - 1950 through the period of transformation from traditional to the contemporary housing 1960 - 2015 in the history of Nigerian architecture. Through this period of traditional housing provision, Nigerians with the use of locally sourced building materials have devised a traditional method of self-help, whereby people came together with the spirit of mutual co-operation and communal participation to help others to acquire houses of their own at affordable means. Modern architecture appeared in Nigeria from 1950 to date as result of European influence that geared the interest of many Nigerians to copy such style of architecture. This paper x-rays the socio-cultural effects of changing from the traditional to modern buildings and proffers ways of encouraging traditional architecture. The research design employed was descriptive and historical research, adopting qualitative approach data collection through observation and in-depth oral interview in the three geopolitical zones namely Southeast, Southwest and Northern Nigeria. The research found that modern architectural style brought rapid increase of urban and rural development but also has its numerous effects in Nigerian architecture such as fading away of housing identity, loss of traditional architectural elements and material culture, building form, change in aesthetics, loss of cultural environmental setting and environmental degradation. It concludes that Architects in Nigeria should design houses taking into cognisance the culture and communal lifestyle of the people through specification of traditional materials, planning and other architectural elements that are acceptable in such region.