Documentation of Physical Integrity of Historic Urban Landscape for Integration of Contemporary Architecture

Ref.: 7
Área temática: 01 Integridad física de los paisajes urbanos históricos
Fecha de recepción: 13/11/2008

AUTORES (* Autor principal)

ADOKE, Ismaila Ibrahim * (Nigeria) - Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University

ABSTRACT

In last two decades, many Nigerian towns and cities have suffered serious distortions from their traditional urban landscape due to higher rate of urbanisation witnessed in the country's improved incomes from oil revenues. Such accruing revenues were channeled into the creation of urban cities at the detriment of old ones hitherto embraced and reveled as historic towns. Within this period, so many political decisions were taken that weakened the survival of traditional buildings. One of such decisions was the constant creation of states leading to delineation of towns and cities to further fragments, the reasons usually adduced by the state in all the exercise, are (i) to enhance rapid development; (ii) to close the gap between the government and the governed. While this would sound logical, enabling policies were non- existent in the protection of traditional buildings and historical landscapes. This led to haphazard urban planning devoid of enabling documental efforts towards the preservation of existing historic buildings. Every geo-political zones of the country has different tales to recount in this deliberate distortion. From north-east to south-east, south-south to north-west, what you see is the glaring lack of respect for our historic buildings, as majority of the existing ones are being destroyed to embrace "modern urban planning." A typical example is the country's new capital city- Abuja, which is a caricature of modern city with little or no observation of historic integrity for urban landscape. The questions that come to the mind of any critical observer are many: (i) where is our traditional architecture; (ii) what type of history of urban environment are we pursuing; (iii) is there proper document existing for integration of contemporary architecture. These posers require a conscious attitudinal change by all the stakeholders. The role of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in creating awareness campaign affecting the integrity of our collective history of urban landscape is commendable. This discourse having identified with this conscious effort in the alarming threat to the visual integrity of historical urban landscapes in the world generally and Nigeria in particular, will x-rays the efforts of Bauchi State Government of Nigeria in terms of documentation of historical sites and monuments, its effects on urban landscapes, and how this efforts of the state will integrate architectural realignment and adjustment for scholarship. It is hoped that the resultant discovery will assist the institutions of higher learning in the country to embrace a harmonious approaches in planning and designs of our present large scale construction activities. As such adequate steps should be taken to compel stakeholders in the country to take inventory of their heritage sites and monument, majority of which this study believes can qualify for listings as World Heritage site. Nigeria is haven of historical sites and urban landscape of diverse quantities.

BIBLIOGRAFÍA