Benin Domestic Architecture "A Tabula Rasa" for Transition: from pre-Independence to Contemporary Architecture
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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 crosssection
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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NA Architecture