Comparative Study of Traditional and Contemporary Architectural Morphologies in Nigerian Settlements

• Author(s): Mike Ikemefuna Nwafor; Daniel Obokhai Uduokhai; Gil-Ozoudeh Ifechukwu Desmond Stephen; Adepeju Nafisat Aransi
• Paper ID: 1712234
• Page: 138-152
• Published Date: 31-03-2019
• Published In: Iconic Research And Engineering Journals
• Publisher: IRE Journals
• e-ISSN: 2456-8880
• Volume/Issue: Volume 1 Issue 7 January-2018

Abstract

This study presents a comparative analysis of traditional and contemporary architectural morphologies in Nigerian settlements, exploring how cultural heritage, material adaptation, and environmental responsiveness have evolved within the nation’s diverse built environments. Nigeria’s architectural landscape reflects a complex interplay between indigenous building traditions—rooted in local ecology and communal values—and modern design paradigms shaped by globalization, technology, and urbanization. The research critically examines how these two morphological systems coexist, intersect, and diverge in form, function, and sustainability. Traditional Nigerian architecture, exemplified by vernacular forms such as Hausa mud compounds, Yoruba courtyard houses, Tiv timber structures, and Igbo adobe dwellings, is characterized by contextual adaptation to climate, material availability, and social organization. These systems embody passive design principles—natural ventilation, thermal mass regulation, and spatial flexibility—that ensure comfort, durability, and communal cohesion. However, with the advent of colonial and post-independence modernization, contemporary urban morphologies have increasingly adopted Westernized materials, geometric regularity, and aesthetic uniformity. These newer forms, while representing aspirations for progress, often disregard cultural symbolism, ecological suitability, and affordability, resulting in housing typologies that are energy-intensive and socially alienating. Using a comparative analytical framework based on spatial configuration, material composition, climatic responsiveness, and socio-cultural integration, the study highlights the trade-offs between tradition and modernity in shaping Nigerian settlements. Findings reveal that while contemporary architecture offers technological advancement and structural standardization, traditional systems remain superior in ecological sustainability and cultural identity preservation. The research underscores the necessity of hybridized architectural models that synthesize indigenous wisdom with modern innovation. Ultimately, this comparative study contributes to the discourse on sustainable urbanism and cultural continuity in Nigeria. It advocates for context-sensitive architectural policies and educational reforms that promote vernacular-modern integration as a pathway toward resilient, affordable, and culturally meaningful built environments.

Citations

IRE Journals:
Mike Ikemefuna Nwafor, Daniel Obokhai Uduokhai, Gil-Ozoudeh Ifechukwu Desmond Stephen, Adepeju Nafisat Aransi "Comparative Study of Traditional and Contemporary Architectural Morphologies in Nigerian Settlements" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals Volume 1 Issue 7 2018 Page 138-152

IEEE:
Mike Ikemefuna Nwafor, Daniel Obokhai Uduokhai, Gil-Ozoudeh Ifechukwu Desmond Stephen, Adepeju Nafisat Aransi "Comparative Study of Traditional and Contemporary Architectural Morphologies in Nigerian Settlements" Iconic Research And Engineering Journals, 1(7)