INTEGRATION OF YORUBA TRADITIONAL HOUSING ELEMENTS IN THE DESIGN OF OLUBADAN PALACE, IBADAN,OYO STATE, NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

Yoruba traditional housing through semiotic principles using symbolic objects, signs, and elements to create visual expression and linguistic meaning in architecture reflected social,  economic value  and  cultural  heritage of  the Yoruba people.  Availability of building materials, spatial quality and feel of natural environment, sustainability, symbolism, privacy, cultural continuity, and suitability for traditional inheritance were some of its advantages. However, over the years, Yoruba traditional housing lost its identity as most architects in modern society adopt the European house type at the expense of traditional housing which leads to the influx of conventional ways, materials and methods in housing design. This transformation process led to a new housing type termed modern housing and thus led to the extinction of Yoruba traditional elements in architecture in south western Nigeria. Therefore, general comparative research works were done in the past by early scholars to incorporate traditional housing features into modern architecture in Africa context. Unfortunately, no extensive work was done to integrate the lost elements of Yoruba traditional housing in the design of a Yoruba king‟s palace. As such, there exist a gap in knowledge due to the decline of Yoruba cultural heritage and resource preservation in Oyo State, Nigeria. This resulted to the need  to  critically  examine  the  benefits  of  the  restoration  of  a  sustainable  cultural heritage which aims to  explore the possibilities of integrating the lost elements of Yoruba traditional housing in the design of Olubadan Palace in Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria. The research design adopts descriptive and historical with mixed method approach to analyse the quantitative and qualitative data collected. Out of the 350 open ended questionnaires administered to the respondents, 265 questionnaires were returned by the students selected from tertiary institution and building professionals. 10 respondents were also selected for interviews in the field work. Visual observation and review of the relevant literature were used to establish the theoretical framework.  All the respondents were selected using purposive sampling from Oyo and Osun State because these States were known to represent the core central of Yoruba culture and tradition. To control the system of response, questionnaires were delivered to the respondents personally. Descriptive statistical tools such as mean, tables, charts, graphs and tables were utilised in result analysis. Findings from field study supported the literatures from early scholars that African traditional housing elements such as ornamentation, symbolism, spatial layout, and building materials had faded out in most modern housing. The research contributes to knowledge through recommendations such as creative use of Yoruba traditional building materials and cultural practices that are sustainable,  expressive  use of  ornaments,  bright  colours,  rectilinear  form  and  cone shape, are core part of Yoruba traditions, all the spaces must be hierarchically zoned to depict the culture, value and family ties of the Yoruba people and togetherness is an important culture of the Yoruba people which should encourage a link between outdoor living spaces, communal and social activities of the Yoruba people.

CHAPTER ONE

1.0       INTRODUCTION

1.1       Background to the Study

Obateru (2006) stated that the palace of a traditional king (Oba) is the peak of architectural expression in Yoruba land and it is aesthetically designed with complex living spaces and courtyard on elevated ground. Chisomo (2011) and Osasona(2017) broadly explores African traditional and modern housing and stated that traditional housing style had undergone several changes over the years due to a shift in cultural paradigms, influx of modern building materials, ways, ideas and methods as well as African‟s attitude  to  traditional  buildings  in  modern  times  as  they  are  considered obsolete and too archaic. Furthermore, Adedokun and Cythia (2012) and Arenibafo (2017) investigate the relationship between space uses in Yoruba traditional residential housing which shows spatial differences between personal, communal and sacred zones in domestic space while access to strangers depends on the individual and the Yoruba cultural regulations. As such, Umoru (2010) identify the paramount Risawe Palace of culture and tradition in Ilesa, Osun State as a basis of Yoruba traditional residential housing.   His   study  lays   focus   on   ancient   Yoruba   architectural   creativity   and functionality while different courtyard design used in Yoruba traditional housing were also discussed. Therefore, the size, plan, design, and construction materials used for the construction  of Risawe palace had  symbolic interpretation  that  reflects  the cultural importance of Yoruba traditional housing. However, Sonaiya and Dincyurek (2009) were of the opinion that the Yoruba traditional housing through symbolic expression is fast fading out in modern times as they compare Yoruba residential housing of the previous years with some recently built ones within the Yoruba communities. Their findings reveal the significance of symbolic expression in ancient traditional housing when compared to the recently built ones devoid of identity. As such, the influx of modern ways, methods, and ideas had significantly affected the culture, tradition and architecture of the Yoruba people. Tradition and culture had been traded for modern housing  without  recourse  to  cultural  identity as  observed  in  their  study.  However, Chisomo (2011) disagrees with the notion of trading cultural identity in residential housing for modernity as she justifies her argument. For example, England keeps the tradition and culture of her people as reflected in their residential housing to give it stability and development in modern times. She stated that industrialized nations around the world retain their traditional structures, and institutions just exactly the way Assam in Japan integrates its traditional housing elements in modern housing to depicts the culture and tradition of the Japanese people. However, earlier study by Titilayo (2010) shows this decline in Yoruba cultural heritage and resource preservation in Oyo State of the South Western Nigeria. As such, there exists a gap in knowledge as there is need to critically examine the long-time benefits of the restoration of a sustainable cultural heritage and resource preservation in order to explore the possibilities of integrating the lost Yoruba traditional elements in the design of a modern king‟s palace as explained by Arenibafo (2017) and Eze (2018).

1.2       Statement of the Research Problem

Sonaiya and Dincyurek, (2009) observed that traditional housing through semiotic principles using symbolic objects, and signs, to create visual expression and linguistic meaning that depicts the culture and values of the Yoruba tribe of Nigeria is fast fading out in modern housing due to the influx of modern ways, methods and, ideas. As such they compare the Yoruba residential housing of the past with the recently built ones. Their study shows and support Chisomo, (2011) hypothesis that African traditional housing is undergoing total extinction due to shift in cultural  paradigms, influx  of modern building materials, ways, and methods as well as people‟s attitude to traditional buildings  which  they considered  archaic  and  obsolete  in  modern  times.  Therefore, earlier study by Titilayo (2010) identifies the decline of Yoruba cultural heritage and resource preservation in Oyo State of the South western Nigeria. As such, there exists a gap in knowledge as there is need to critically examine the long-time benefits of the restoration  of  a  sustainable  cultural  heritage  and  resource  preservation  in  order  to explore the possibilities of integrating the lost Yoruba traditional housing elements in the design of a modern king‟s palace as explained by Arenibafo (2017) and Eze (2018).

1.3       Aim and Objectives of the Study

1.3.1    Aim

The aim of the study is to explore the possibilities of integrating the lost Yoruba traditional housing elements in the design of Olubadan Palace in Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria with the view to restore the cultural heritage and its resource preservation in modern era.

1.3.2    Objectives

The objectives of the study are:

i.         To describe the elements that defines Yoruba traditional housing.

ii.        To identify and assesses the lost traditional housing elements in the study area.

iii.       To  integrate  the  lost  Yoruba  traditional  housing  elements  in  the  design  of Olubadan Palace in order to achieve a hybrid palace in modern context.

1.4       Research Questions

In order to have a comprehensive study, some questions in regard to the project topic needs to be answered for the purpose of giving proper recommendation on how the research result should be put into use. The research questions include the following

i.         How can one describe the elements that define Yoruba traditional housing?

ii.        How can one identify and assess the lost Yoruba traditional housing elements in the study area?

iii.       How can one integrate the lost traditional Yoruba elements in the study area?

1.5       Scope of the Study

The study aims to explore the possibilities of integrating the lost Yoruba traditional housing elements in the design of Olubadan Palace in Ibadan Oyo State, Nigeria with the view to restore cultural heritage and its resource preservation in modern era. The thesis discusses the history of ancient traditional Yoruba Palaces where the history of Ibadan, her Kings, Palaces and environs were briefly narrated. The thesis also covers vast areas of Yoruba traditional housing and its design principle. The most popular Yoruba traditional Palace in Yoruba land named “Aaafin of Oyo palace” was used as a case. Other case studies were carried out in other towns across Yoruba land. The design principle used in the development of the “Aaafin of Oyo Palace” was briefly explained. Yoruba courtyard design types, methods, spatial layout used in palace design, traditional symbols, signs, materials and the elements that reflects the culture, tradition and values of the Yoruba people as depicted in the palace case studies were also itemised using illustrations and discussed. The influence of culture on Yoruba traditional housing, issues   affecting   the   continuity   of   Yoruba   traditional   housing,   overview   of transformation of residential housing in south western Nigeria, the Adhocist and the Modernist movement were also thoroughly explored and discussed. Finally, the study also itemised and explains the Yoruba housing elements that define modern housing in order to bridge the gap between Yoruba traditional and modern housing. This is necessary in order to integrate the lost elements of Yoruba traditional housing in the design of the proposed (Olubadan) Palace, in Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria.

1.6       Research Justification

The current official “King‟s Palace” in Ibadan opposite („Oja Oba’ market) known as “Ashanke palace” near Mapo hall in Ibadan, Oyo state Nigeria is considered inadequate and archaic to the ruling king because it is too choky for the present-day use, with small land mass for expansion. It also lacks the traditional identity of a true Yoruba palace. As such, the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes (CCII) rose to the clarion call to build a modern palace for their king. The proposed palace is expected to integrate the semiotic principles of Yoruba traditional housing with the aim to promote the culture and identity of the Yoruba heritage. The proposed official “Olubadan palace” is needed to end the reign of multiple palaces in Ibadan where previous rulers convert their personal residential houses to their Palaces due to lack of a befitting official modern Palace for the ruling king of Ibadan land.

1.7       Contribution to Knowledge

The benefits of the restoration of a sustainable Yoruba cultural heritage and resource preservation cannot be overemphasized. As such, to explore the possibilities of integrating these traditional semiotics principles using symbols, signs to create visual expression and linguistic meaning in a modern palace design contribute to knowledge in the following ways.

Adedokun (2014) stated that the Yoruba traditional housing was created to be functional and blend with the environment to reflect the culture, tradition and identity of the Yoruba people through the use of sustainable and affordable traditional materials. The thickness of the wall, material use, ceiling and roof height all acts as thermal control during the cold and hot humid season. The courtyard and veranda allow great amount of light and fresh air into the building interior and make indoor activities possible. The roof overhangs above the corridor tends to reduce glare from the sun. The colonnaded corridor (Odede) also allows visual continuity and harmony in the adjoining courtyards. Mud from lateritic soil is indigenous to physical landscape. Woods, and thatch materials are easily obtained from the tropical rainforest which are utilized in the construction of “Gazebos” within the palace. The mud wall with good compressive strength is also a good heat regulator with low thermal conductivity which is an advantage to the tropical climatic condition.

Sonaiya (2008) and Adedokun (2014) also observed that there is a well-defined organization of spaces in hierarchical order from sizes to arrangement of rooms as seen in most traditional housing such as palace building. There is a spatial arrangement and relationship between the king/ head, wives, children and the rest of the family members which justify the importance of close family ties. The head been the decision maker bears the risk of the compound. His room is strategically placed close to the entrance for the control and restriction of movement in and out of the compound. The corridors running through the inner part of the building encloses the compound in a unifying manner and it is good for air circulation. The spatial flow of corridors is well defined by columns. Also, the courtyard is an active space for commerce, recreation and domestic chores through which members of the family come together. The effective utilization and adoption of symbolic form such as rectangular and cone shape form reflect the simplicity of Yoruba housing. Aesthetically, the stucco texture of walls and the harmonics effect created by the colour of the ground to the walls and decorative pots placed at the entrance of the rooms of modern houses also bears resemblance to the beauty of Yoruba housing which were highly aesthetics.

As  such,  lots  of  these  features  such  as  wall  thickness,  efficient  use  of  traditional building materials, roof height, layout design with centralised courtyard, design concept in terms of effective utilisation of symbolic forms and shapes, well defined organisation of spaces in terms of hierarchy, functional use of interior spaces, and harmonic use of ornaments and aesthetics are some of the elements that should be integrated into the design of the “Olubadan Palace”. Therefore, with the cooperation of building professionals in the built environments, most especially the architects, engineers and planners, a lot of improvements can be achieved when the traditional activities within building spaces, the cultural norms of the people and symbolic importance of Yoruba traditional housing elements are considered during the planning and design stage of building in South Western part of Nigeria.

₦8,000.00 – DOWNLOAD FULL PROJECT DOWNLOAD FULL PROJECT Added to cart

---

---

---

---

Related Project Topics :