Spirit and Meaning of Space in Benin Domestic Architecture Nigeria

Abstract

The domestic architecture of a place describes the people culture, religion and beliefs while the meaning of domestic space reveals the spirit of domestic architectural. Consequently, the difference in houses size, height and ornamentation across Benin City is dependent on some dynamics. Benin domestic architecture across the city showing modifications along timeline/periods, as houses were identified cross sectionally from 40BC -2100A.D. The paper examined meaning of domestic spaces in Benin house-types collected across the city. The study used triangulation method (i.e. questionnaire, space syntax and interview guide) to describe meaning of spaces. The finding was discussed along activities spaces (like cooking and eating, household storage, sleeping arrangement, personal hygiene, outdoor, receiving guest, worship socialization, ceremonies and festival). The research result revealed that meaning of domestic spaces in domestic architecture can explain the spirit of the space, the people's culture and social ideology.

Reflections on the Impact of Urban Sprawl on the Architecture of the City: Lessons from Benin City, Nigeria

“…Benin City is 200 miles east of Lagos by road and is situated in the tropical rainforest zone in the middle of southern Nigeria (Ekhaese, 2011), as shown in Figure 1. According to Ogunbodede and Balogun (2013), it is located between Latitudes 60 261 and 60 341 North of the Equator and between Longitudes 50 351 and 50 401 East of the Greenwich Meridian.…”

“…The Ogisos, considered rulers from the sky, initially controlled the Edos, the empire's founders. According to Ekhaese (2011), the empire was ruled by roughly 31 Ogisos until the Oba assumed the role of supreme authority and head of state. In 1440 AD, the City-state changed its name to Edo Empire and became an empire.…”

“…In 1440 AD, the City-state changed its name to Edo Empire and became an empire. Between the 14th and 17th centuries, the empire spanned from Onitsha in the east through the present-day country of Ghana and the forested southwest of Nigeria (Ekhaese, 2011). According to Lang (2003), the Ga people of Ghana can trace their roots back to the former Benin Kingdom.…”

“…According to Lang (2003), the Ga people of Ghana can trace their roots back to the former Benin Kingdom. According to studies by Ekhaese (2011), the metropolis is larger than 25,000 square kilometers, and some of its streets can be up to 37 meters wide, with houses arranged in carefully thought-out rows. Before the Portuguese arrived in the 15th century, it was reported that the kingdom had excellent home architecture.…”

“…The Edo people think their forefathers served as god's messengers and helped them converse with him. This explains why each traditional Edo home has a magnificently constructed ancestral shrine (Ekhaese, 2011).…”