Christopher Okunade

Advisor: Lancelot Coar

A modern architectural scene features angular roofs with skylights, terracotta walls, and lush plants. The mood is serene with a focus on natural materials.
A modern building with large triangular roofs and brick textures under a clear sky. A cyclist and pedestrian pass by. A palm tree is in the background.
Diagram illustrating a design process using local materials like clay and palm trees. Highlights cultural values, family craft, and construction techniques.
Open courtyard with zigzag wooden beams, colorful woven textiles above, several people interacting, and plants scattered around; lively and traditional.
Collage showcasing Yoruba-inspired architectural designs. Features roof geometry, habitable attic, and cultural motifs, emphasizing innovation and tradition.
Three images depict modern community spaces with wooden interiors and slanted roofs. People are gathered in relaxed poses, fostering a sense of connection.
Left side shows a storyboard with sketches of Yoruba-inspired motifs and wall designs. Right side depicts a modern building with a textured, reddish facade and decorative panel work, evoking cultural heritage.
Architectural drawing of modern homes, featuring angular roofs and large windows. Silhouetted figures suggest human activity, with birds in the sky.

ILÉ TUNTUN ÌGBÀLÓDÉ : The New Contemporary House

As time passes, the identity of Nigerian architecture fades amidst waves of colonial influence, the impacts from the end of slave trade, and global industrialization on the Nigerian people similar to the experience of many other cultures worldwide, particularly in Africa.1,2 The growing dominance of international and modernist styles is rapidly overshadowing and erasing the nation’s cultural heritage, sense of place, and architectural identity. Consequently, contemporary architecture in Nigeria has increasingly little connection to the cultural heritage and traditions of its people.3

This project focuses on the architecture of the Yoruba, an ethnic group in the southwest region of Nigeria, as an example on how the identity and stories of people can be preserved and restored in Nigeria. This project examines the techniques, materiality, and methodologies of traditional Yoruba architecture. My focus on this group stems from several factors, including its representation of my ethnic heritage and its predominantly cohesive cultural identity, characterized by a distinct and unified architectural language. Through the creation of drawings and models, alongside a qualitative study, the research provides a comprehensive evaluation of Yoruba architecture before the advent of colonial influence and compares it with current dominant industrial mod ern architecture and building practice.

The findings reveal that beyond offering shelter, traditional Yoruba architecture served significant social and cultural functions, which have been lost in mod ern architectural practices. Moreover, traditional Yoruba architecture, which is deeply rooted in local culture and responsive to its environment, has a minimal car bon footprint compared to current architectural and construction practices, which often fails to reflect the people’s identity. The study proposes that instead of abandoning traditional architecture in favor of international or postmodern styles, it should be innovatively improved to meet contemporary needs while simultaneously preserving cultural values and heritage. Finally, traditional architecture offers a unique pathway to sustainable development, addressing contemporary challenges such as global warming, waste, pollution, energy consumption, and housing costs.

1. Adenike, Folahan Anthony, and Akunnaya pearl Opoku. “Thresholds of architectural morphology of Yoruba buildings in southwest Nigeria till the Millenia.” 
2. Owamoyo, Luqman, and Baharak Tabibi. “The impact of globalisation on traditional architecture in Nigeria: a case study of Lagos Island.” advances in applied sociology 13, no. 9 (2023): 636-650. 
3. Ridwan, Obafunso, and C.J. Eze. “Incorporation of traditional Yoruba architecture in the design of a contemporary art gallery in Abeokuta, Ogun state.” journal of applied ecology and environmental design (2023).