DEVELOPING INDIGENOUS SPATIAL CONTEXT IN THE DESIGN OF CENTRE FOR ARTS AND CULTURE JOS

(A CASE STUDY OF NIGERIA)

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Author

Presented To

Department of Environmental Design

ABSTRACT
Good architecture is experienced when it is tailored to fit the context of root users, however, globalization has posed a great challenge to this cause. This is reflected in the thirst for Euro-American space design in cultural facilities in Nigeria which gave birth to the design of the National art theatre to imitate the Varna Palace of Sports and Culture, Bulgaria. Over the years architectural researches on traditional culture of Nigeria have largely focused on large language groups like the three ethnic groups- Igbos, Yorubas and the Hausas and less attention on smaller language groups. It is in this light that this paper examines the people of Plateau state. Three ethnic groups were sampled to represent the three geo-political zones in the state North, Central and South, namely, Berom, Ngas and the Taroks respectively. The sampling criteria used was the cultures’ population in the zone, historical background, influence and also their presence in the number of Local Government Areas in the zones they represent. The compound layout (floor plan) and the village layout (site plan) of each case was studied to understand the character of their spaces, pattern of activities in the spaces, relationship between spaces and also the philosophy behind the design. This was followed by an interview of custodian of the cultures. It was discovered that they worked more with curves rather than straight lines, their huts and compounds are circular in form built upon the foundation of privacy and security and their communities usually develop around the King’s palace, Community centre and market. Three Centre for arts and culture (CAC) around Nigeria were also studied to know how CAC’s in Nigeria have been able to reflect the indigenous spatial context of the indigenous people. U. K. Bello Art Theatre, Oba Akenzua cultural Centre and Cyprian Ekwensi Centre for Arts and Culture were the three CAC’s that were sampled. The cases were studied and analysed based on the variables of the research- the character of the indigenous interior spaces, the building forms, spatial organization and the site plan. Description, figures and plates were used to present the data that were realised from the field. The work recommends that similar studies could be done to see how this phenomenon can be reflected in other designs aside cultural facilities such as CAC’s to maximize user experience. The findings from the culture of the people of Plateau alongside findings from how other CAC’s have reflected the indigenous spatial context of their place was used to develop a proposal of CAC for the people of Plateau State to answer the research questions of the research.