BENIN DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE “A TABULA RASA” FOR TRANSITION: FROM PRE-INDEPENDENCE TO CONTEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE

Ekhaese Eghosa Noel (Ph.D.)

Department of Architecture, School of Environmental Studies, Covenant University, Ota, Ogun State, Nigeria

Prof. Bayo Amole

Department of architecture, faculty of environmental studies, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

ABSTRACT

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 cross-section 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 documented.

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