University of Nigeria Research Publications

MOSUGU, Ojueni Nathaniel

Aut

hor

PG/MSc./95/18963

Title

Lokoja Multi-Purpose City Center M.Sc. (Arch.) Thesis Report

Facu

lty

Environmental Studies

Dep

artm

ent

Architecture

Dat

e October, 1997

Sign

atur

e

LOKOJA MULTI-PURPOSE CITY CENTRE

M.Sc (ARCH) T H E S I S

MOS-UGU, OJUENI NATHANIEL

PG/M.S~. /95/18963

DEPARTMmT O F ARCHITECTURE

UNIVERSITY O F N I G W I A

ENUGU CAMPUS

C m T I F I C A T I O N

JAKOJA MULTI-PURPOSE CITY CENTRE

B Y

MOSUGU, OJUENI NATHANIEL

PG/M . SC. /95/18963

SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

UNIVEBSITY OF NIGERIA, ENUGU CAMPUS

I N PARTIAL FULFILMEST OF THE REQUIREMENTS

FOR THE AWARD OF THE DEGREE OF MASTER

OF SCIENCE IN ARCHITECTURE (M.SC. ARCH.)

OCTOBW , 1997.

SIGNATURE OF AUTHOR:----

CERTIFIED l3Y:

iii

D E D I C A T I 2 N - - - - - - - - I

To God, The Jehovah El-Shaddai, f o r f u l f i l l i n g the

prophesy of Phil. 1:6 i n m y l i f e ;

To God , The Jehovah Shalom, f o r being my peace

throughout the turbulent waters of Architectural

t ra in ing;

To G o d , The Jehovah J i r e h , f o r being m y provider

throughout my cours s of t ra ining.

To H i m , and H i m alone, belongs the Glory of t h i s

work.

iv

A G Z N O l d E E D G E M E N T - - - - a m - - - -

A journey of a thousand miles begins wi th a s tep .

I n 1990, when I jus t entered t h i s University t o s tudy

Archi tec ture , I had thought t he end would never come.

I am g ra t e fu l t o God t h a t i t has f i n a l l y come t o an end.

Many people contr ibuted i n one way o r t h e o ther

towards my success i n t h i s place. I r e a l l y am

g r a t e f u l t o them a l l .

To my parents , M r . Ehmanuel Aiyedun Ariko and

Mrs , Dorcas Ib i tayo , f o r bringing me i n t o t h i s world

and f o r t h e i r f a i t h i n me,

To my s i b l i n g s , Reuben Ariko, Hannah Oromeni,

Leah Oreka, Moses Mosimabale , Catherine Kokumo,

Solomon Sunday, Daniel Olubo, f o r t h e i r support ,

encouragement and confidence i n me,

To my Nephews and Nieces, espec ia l ly Capt. Olusegun

I b o r i g i , Timothy Ariko, Christopher Akande, Sarah Akande,

Michael Akande, Unini Akande, David Sunday, donah Osinimu,

Naomi Karosibina, Mosisiemeka, and Beloved Mosinimu, f o r

t h e i r f a i t h i n me.

To my cousins, b

Onoba and M r . Aaron

Major Gboluga Erosumi, Arc. Matthew

Mosugu, f o r being so wonderful t o me.

To m y i n - l a w s , B r i g . G e n . T. S . Akande and

M r . G a n i y u O l o y e d e , f o r t h e i r support .

To m y H e a d of D e p a r t m e n t , A r c . C. 0. O j i and m y

w o n d e r f u l supervisor, A r c . N. M. O b i n e g b o , f o r t h e i r

i m m e n s e contr ibut ion t o w a r d s t h . i s thesis .

To my o t h e r l e c t u r e r s , Arc. B e 0. N n o r u k a ,

Arc. L. C. C h i n e m e , A r c , C. 0. O d u m , Arc. ( D r . ) C. B e

C h u k w u a l i , A r c , 0. E. N d u k a , A r c . I, G. C h e n d o ,

A r c . M b a n u g o , A r c . I. 0. U z u e g b u n a m , Arc. U d e h ,

M r s . O k a f o r , Arc. N w a l u s i , Arc. O s e f o h , and Arc, ( D r . )

O d u m o d u f o r contr ibut ing t h e i r quota t o w a r d s m y develop-

m e n t .

To t he l ib ra r ian of t he D a t a R o o m , D e p t . of

A r c h i t e c t u r e , A.B.U., M r . M a d a k i and M r . A b d u l m a l i k S.

B a g u d u o f t he U.K. B e l l o Arts, Theatre, Minna, f o r t h e i r

ass is tance.

To my c h i l d h o o d f r i e n d s , Ju l ius A d e g b o l a , Simaon

M a k a n j u o l a , G o d i s A y e p i , Mos es A d e d e j i , f o r t h e i r f a i t h

in. mo . A n d t o m y cousin and f r i e n d , J o s h u a G b o d l

O l u g b o k e , f o r a l w a y s be l i ev ing i n me . I shal l never

f o r g e t you a l l .

To my f r i ends i n s c h o o l , A r i s a A d i n d u Sunday

( m y r o o m m a t e ) , N w a c h u l a m Ihesinachi ( C h u m a i n ) ,

Ulona Anozie (ogbuefi - Auk), Chijioke Eluwa, and Obina

Nwosu, for always lending a helping hand when I a m i n need.

To my classmates, espec ia l ly Ph i l i p Se f i a , Toyo

Fajimi, Nicholas Anene 0 j i , Lawrence Azurunwa, Sammy

Nwokoro, and Udegbuna Ernuwa, f o r t h e i r cooperation.

To my epec ia l f f f end, Ngozi Sher i f a t Ndubueze,

f o r her understanding, love, support and f a i t h i n me.

You s h a l l always be i n my mind.

NOM

OCTOBER, 1997

* Z E T _ R _ & G T _ - The e a r t h i s a l a r g e volume of space i n which human

needs n e c e s s i t a t e ca rv ing out of spaces w i t h i n t h i s l a r g e

space. Man's a c t i v i t i e s a r e e i t h e r i n s i d e a space

t i n t e r i o r ) o r o u t s i d e t h e space ( e x t e r i o r ) . Each of t h e

spaces a r e def ined by v e r t i c a l and h o r i z o n t a l elements

and o t h e r n a t u r a l elements i n t h e space s e t t i n g . The major

a i m of man i s t o manipulate both t h e v e r t i c a l and

h o r i z o n t a l elements t o make t h e space h a b i t a b l e .

The space as experienced by an observer i s governed

by what i s regarded as "cogni t ive process" , This process

i s a f u n c t i o n of s o c i o - c u l t u r a l s e t t i n g of t h e observer

exper iencing t h e space. Man from c r e a t i o n has always

e x i s t e d i n space , perceived space and thought of space.

He a l s o c r e a t e d space t o express t h e s t r u c t u r e of h i s

world as a r e a l image of h i s mind,

Communal r e l a t i o n s a r e d i r e c t and pe r sona l and i t s

va lues a r e r e i n f o r c e d and supp l i ed by community l i f e ,

through f o l k l o r e s , meetings and i n t e r a c t i o n w i t h people

on both p r i v a t e and genera l i s s u e s and not by l e g i s l a t i o n s

o r f o r c e . The i n d i v i d u a l ' s behaviour i s a f u n c t i o n of

nasure and nur tu re . Th i s behaviour i s p a r t l y determined

by c l e a r l y def ined t r a d i t i o n a l r o l e s based on age, sex ,

v i i i

l i n e a g e and family p o s i t i o n . Familes make u p a community

and a community a r i s e s through s h a r i n g a l i m i t e d space

f o r r e s idence and sus tenance t o meet common needs.

Man i s pre-occupied d a i l y wi th how t o enhjance t h e

q u a l i t y of h i s environment f o r b e t t e r l i v i n g . This

involves t h e p rov i s ion and improvement of f a c i l i t i e s

t h a t p o s i t i v e l y a f f e c t him. These f a c i l i t i e s inc lude

comrnunal and r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s . There i s a need

f o r communal meeting p o i n t , s p o r t i n g and l e i s u r e c e n t r e s

w i t h i n a given b u i l t environment, be i t urban o r r u r a l .

Al l t h e s e f a c i l i t i e s provide r e l a x a t i o n , enter tainment

and genera l r e l i e f from t h e d a i l y humdrum r o u t i n e of l i f e .

Most urban c e n t r e s i n Nige r i a present a genera l

p i c t u r e of a haphazardly developed b u i l t up space

l a c k i n g b a s i c communal f a c i l i t i e s . Th i s accounts p a r t l y

f o r t h e g e n e r a l l y low l i f e expectancy of t h e urban

i n h a b i t a n t s . Thus, t h e t r e n d of i n c r e a s i n g u r b a n i z a t i o n

of Lokoja sugges ts an urgent need f o r t h e p rov i s ion of

planned communal f a c i l i t i e s ahat a r e s t r a t e g i c a l l y

l o c a t e d , Hence, t h e proposa l of a multi-purpose c i t y

c e n t r e fop,\ Lokoja t h a t w i l l c a t e r f o r a f l e x i b i l i t y of

h s e - l e i s u r e / r e c r e a t i o n a l , s o c i o - c u l t u r a l , commercial, e t c .

ix

- P E i 2 F A C Z Li fe expectancy ip Lokoja i s low due l a r g e l y t o

inadequate f a c i l i t i e s and services . The Ci ty Centre w i l l

have f a c i l i t i e s t h a t w i l l enhance the q u a l i t y of l i f e

of t h e people.

City Centre i s t h e hub of an urban area. The

presence of d i f f e r en t f a c i l i t i e s as shopping, o f f i c e s ,

soc io-cu l tu ra l , and 1 e isure / rec rea t iona l ensures t h a t i t

i s t he melting pot of a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e urban centre .

Hence, c i t y cen t re por t rays un i ty l i k e t h e Agora i n

ancient Greece or The Forum i n ancient Rome. Therefore,

f t s a r ch i t ec tu re should be i n t e r e s t i n g and a t t r a c t i v e

as i t symbolises t he image of t h e municipal i ty, and

accommodates d iverse eocio-cul tura l , r ec rea t iona l ,

educational , and commercial a c t i v i t i e s , Every community,

whether r u r a l o r urban, needs f o c a l point which ac t s

as a symbol of existence.

The c i t y cen t r e , apar t from being se l f - sus ta in ing

and a source of revenue t o t he s t a t e ' s and municipal 's

governments, s h a l l serve as a much-needed f acs - l i f t

b e f i t t i n g the s t a t u s of Lokoja as the c a p i t a l of Kogi

S t a t e .

The cul%ure , economy, r e l i g ious b e l i e f s , world v i - w s ,

na tu ra l s e t t i n g , and family system of t he res iden ts of

Lokoja and t h e h i s t o r y and c l ima te of Lokoja were

s t u d i e d and analysed and e f f o r t s made i n t h e des ign

s y n t h e s i s , t o c r e a t e a c e n t r e t h a t w i l l i d e n t i f y

w i t h the people and be i n * f a a t e to them.

The t h e s i s i s broken i n t o t h r e e p a r t s .

P a r t one i s t h e General informat ion and i s made up of

chap te r s one, Two and Three w i t h t h e t i t l e s of 'General

I n t r o d u c t i o n ' , ' Enhancing S o c i a l I n t e r a c t i o n i n A

eommunal Space ' , and 'Appraisal of Lokoja C i t y 1

respectively. Par t ltrro i s t h e Documentation w i t h such

t i t l e s as 'Case S t u d i e s ' , and 'The Proposed S i t e and

Envi.rons ' as Chapters Four and Five r e s p e c t i v e l y .

h d f i n a l l y , Part:: Three i s t h e Design s y n t h e s i s and .. i t i s made up of Chapter S i x , 'Programme Analysis ' , ehapt e r Seven, Technica l And S p e c i a l Considerat i o n s ,

and Chapter Eight , 'The Thes is Design'.

The breaking of t h e t h e s i s i n t o p a r t s i a in tended

t o make f o r e a s i e r reading and b e t t e r understanding.

T A B L E OF CONTENTS

PART ONE: GENERAL INFORMATION _I_

CHAPTER ONE: GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1 . 2 : STATEMENT OF PROBLEM AND MOTIVATION : ---------

CHAPTER TWO: ENHANCING SOCIAL INTERACTION I N A COMMUNAL S P A C E

2 ,4 ,6: T o w n s i n B a r o q u e Era:----------------------

2 .4.7: O p e n Space i n A f r i c a n Towns:---- - - - - - - - - - - -

2.5: T H E CONCEPT OF OPEN S P A C E I N MODERN TOWNS:--

x i i BAGE

2.6 : HUMAN PERCEPTION OF OPEN SPACE: -------------- 26

2.8: QUALITY OF COMMUNAL SPACE:------------------- 31

C H A P T W THREE: APPRAISAL OF LOKOJA C I T Y

3.2.2: H i s t o r i c a l Monuments:--------------------- 42 3.2.3: E t h n i c Composition:----------------------- 46 3.2.4: Socia l Interaction:------------------------- 47 3.2.5: Soc i a l S t ruc ture o f t h e Family:------------- 48 3.3 : ARCHITECTURAL DENELOPMENT I N LOKOJA: ---------- 49 3.3.1: T r a d i t i o n a l Architecture:-------------------- 49 3.3.2: C o l o n i a l Architecture:----------------------- 53 3.3.3: C o n t e m p o r a r y Architecture:------------------- 55 3.4: ECONOMIC BASE:--------------------------------- 57 9.4.1: P r i m a r y Sector:----------------------------- 57 3.4.2: Secondary Sector:---------------------------- 58

3.9 : RECREATION PLACES , OPEN SPACES (SPORTS GROUNI)S ) AND TOURISM:-- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 82

3.10: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:--------------------- 84

xiii

PAGE - PART TWO: DOCUME3TATION

CI-IAPTER FOUR: CASE S T U D I E S

4.1: INTRODUCTION:--------------------------------- 85

4.2: YABA COMMUNITY CENTRE, LAGOS:----------------- 86 4.3: ISOLO COMMUNITY CENTRE, LAGOS:---------------- 92 4.4: U.K. BELL0 ARTS THEATRE, M1NNA:--------------- 99 4.5: JEWISH COMMUNITY CEXTRE, TORONTO-CANADA:------ 106 4.6: INTEXNATIONAL FORUM, TOKYO-JAPAN:------------- 109 4.7: SUNMARY AND CONCLUSION:----------------------- 121

* O u t d o o r A c t i v i t i e s Section:---------------- 198

CHAPTER SEVEN: TECImICAL AND SPECIAL CONSIDIBATIONS

7 .1 : ACOUSTICS:----------------------------------- 21 3

cI~APTEF~ EIGHT: THE ZHESIS DESIGN 8.1: D G I G N 234 8.2: D B I G N OWZTIVES:--------------------------- 235 8,3: ARCHITECTURN, CHARACTm:--------------------- 236

8 . 4 : CONSTRUCTIION MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY : ------- 236

XV

PAGE -

8.4.7: Stru.cture:---------------------------------

8 ,4 ,8 : S u m m a r y And Conclusion:--------------------

8.5: FINANCE:-------------------------------------

8 .6 : MAINTENANCE AND MONITORING:------------------

8.7: CONCLEION:----------------------------------

PART ONE: GENERAL INFORMATION

PAGES

C I - I A P T B ONE: GENEaCAL INTRODUCTION:--------------- 1 - 6

CHAPTER TI-IREE: APPRAISAL O F LOKOJA CITY :---------- 39 - 84

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

PAGE - 1.1: INrfRODUC1'ION:--------------------------------- 1

1 .2 : STATEMmT OF PROBLEM ANU MOTIVATION: ---------- 2

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

1 .l : INTRODUCTION

A planned community must aim a t providing a

sa t i s fac to ry and conducive environment i n which t o l i v e ,

work and recreate. Therefore, i n planning a human

habitat ion, human needo tha t encourage harmonised s o c i a l

re la t ionships have a dominant consideration i n i t s

formulative s tages . This was acknowledged, when Mumford

i n h i s book, "City i n h is toryu (1961) wrote, "No town

plan can be adequately described i n terns of i ts two

dimension- pat tern; f o r i t i s anly i n t h i r d dimension

through movement i n space, and i n the fourth dimension,

through transformation i n time, tha t t h e Punctional and

aes the t ic re la t ionship come i n t o l i f e w .

This t h e s i s would take a c r i t i c a l look at the

Master Plan of Lokoja City t o ascer ta in t h e o r ig ina l

concept f o r the town's development and analyse the l eve l

of its- soc ia l and recrea t iona l needs.

The t h e s i s research would be conducted i n two

major areas. Part one would inves t iga te what types of b

recrea t ive , s o c i a l and business f a c i l i t i e s a r e lacking

i n the c i t y , based on the r e s iden t sg judgement.

2

Part two would look i n t o how best and economical archi-

t ec tu re could be used t o take care of the afore-

mentioned f a c i l i t i e s .

Conclusions and inferences d r a m from these and

other exploratory findings ( ~ i t e r a t u r e review, and case

s tud ies ) would be analysed t o synthesise an a rch i t ec tu ra l

design proposal f o r a communal space.

1.2: STATEMENT OF PROELEM AND MOTNATION

Whenever man could, he has shaped and changed the

environment t o s u i t h i s needs. I n doing so, he has

a l so misused and sometimes abused i t with disast rous

r e s u l t s . Industr ies and population growth have taken a

heavy t o l l on the human environment. So much so t h a t

t h e continued and accelerated despoil ing of the man-made

and na tura l environment ie not only inh ib i t ing mound

economic and soc ia l development, but a l so c l e a r l y

threatening the physical, s o c i a l and s p i r i t u a l well-being

af man.. The need f o r i n t e n s i f h d remedial act ion t o

improve the environment f o r man's t o t a l well-being has

never been more urgent nor mare c l e a r l y recognised than b

a t the present time.

I n t h e Kogi S t a t e c a p i t a l , Lokoja, the present

s t ruc tures avai lable fo r comme~cial and o f f i ce use a r e

not adequate. People ready t o invest i n the c i t y do not

have t h e spaces t o use as base f o r t h i s purpose. Most

potent ia l investors f l e d t h e c i t y as a r e s u l t of t h i s .

The r e s u l t i s the scanty business investment i n the c i ty .

Social and recreat ional f a c i l i t i e s , l i k e indoor

spor t s h a l l , conference h a l l , multi-purpose h a l l e t c ,

a r e v i r t u a l l y non-existent. It i s natural tha t the

body and the mind need to be brought back t o t h e i r

o r ig ina l s t a t e a f t e r physical and mental a c t i v i t i e s .

The proepect of increasing urbanisat ion sugges t e

an increase i n demand f o r shopping f a c i l i t i e s , l e i su re ,

apaces, services and other f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e c i ty .

That such items a r e lacking i n the Xogi S t a t e Capital ,

Lokoja, has, motivated the purpose of t h i s work.

1.3: CONCEPT

A design f o r a public space tha t i s intended t o be

a landmark cannot divorce i t s e l f from i t s environment.

Lokoja without t h e confluence of River Benue and River

Niger is an abstraction. The confluence i s t h e most

import ant s ingular fea ture tha t shaped and directed

the h is tory ef Lokoja. Therefore, t h e most important

fac tor tha t w i l l give t h e multi-purpose c i t y cent re i t s

4

regional i d e n t i t y i s t h e der ivat ion of i ts concept from

the confluence.

1.4: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

The multi-purpose cent re i s aimed a t providing

Lokoja with a s t ruc tu re tha t w i l l provide f a c i l i t i e s and

a conducive environment f o r business, s o c i a l and

recrea t iona l a c t i v i t i e s t o take place concurrently at

any pa r t i cu la r time.

The focus of t h i s t h e s i s would be:

To a t t r a c t investors , who migrated out of the

c i t y , as a r e s u l t of acute lack of o f f i c e spaces,

back t o t h e c i t y .

To c rea te a self-sustaining centre tha t w i l l gene-

r a t e revenue t o t h e s t a t e government Chreugh r e n t s

and taxes.

( i i i ) To develop and strengthen s a c i a l r e l a t i s n s h i p

within the family and t h e community through

-c lose group associations and a c t i v i t y par t ic ipa t ion

( i v ) To give Lokoja t h e much needed face - l i f t

commensurate with i t s s t a t u s as a s t a t e capi ta l . b

5

(v) To provide a communal space tha t would, a& its

best , provide an atmosphere ef neighbourliaeas

amd naturaliem, i n whioh a l l persons s h a l l f e e l

equally welcome notwithst anding t h e i r d i f f e r i n g

epinions or i n t eres te , ( v i ) Te provide fo r a place t o plan, learn, re lax ,

work etc .

1.5: SCOPE

The scope of t h i s t h e s i s would be l imited te. making

provision f o r administrati.ve, e a i n t encrnce and

recreat ional f a c i l i t i e s , exhibit ion spaoes, shopping

f a c i l i t i e s , o f f i ce spaces and meeting spaces.

1.~6: USERS OF T H E CENTRE

The f a c i l i t i e s i n the centre a r e t o be used by a l l

age groups i n Lokoja c i t y , Kogi S t a t e and v i s i t o r s from

other s t a t e s c lose t o Lokoja,

1.7: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

This t h e s i s research w a s conducted i n the following

ways : - - 6 Library source: Li te ra ture review of boaks and

thes i s was carr ied out t o enable the researcher have a

greater grasp of t h e subject .

6

. Government reports and gazette, maps and re l a t ed

documents were obtained and studied.

o Interviews and discussions were conducted among

t h e res idents and those i n r e l a t ed professions i n

government minis t r ies and parast a t a l s . o Visual and physical inspection of the communitiee

i n Loke ja City and t h e i r way sf l i f e w a s aa r r ied out.

. Photographs were taken and analysed f o r design

synthesis.

1.8: CLIENT

The c l i e n t ef t h i s multi-purpose centre s h a l l be

t h e Kogi S t a t e Government i n Bonjunction with the Kegi

S t a t e Planning and Develepment Board, L o b ja.

CHAPTER TWO

ANCING S O C I A L INTERACTION I N A CO MMUNAL S P A C E

PAGES

7 7

9

14

15

15

18

18

19

21

22

25

26

29

31

CHAPTER TWO

2.1: PNTRODUCTION

This study would be car r ied out within t h e following

framework: It would inves t iga te the concept of communal

space through a h i s t o r i c a l perspective from t h e settlement

pa t te rns i n Mesopotamia which w a s regarded as t h e first

organised human settlement i n the f i e l d of ek io t ics

through towns i n mrope t o towns i n Africa. Consequently

t h e human sociological response and perception of space

and i ts resu l tan t influence on s p a t i a l re la t ionship and

i ts man~pulation i n a rchi tec ture would be examined.

The q u a l i t i e s and problems of oommunal space aha l l be

analysed i n arder t e es tab l i sh ideas on how i t could be

made t o enhance s o c i a l contact i n the human community.

2.2 s COMMUNAL SPACE

It would be vague t o wr i te on communal space

without making reference t o the term 'Community' from

which the word @Communal' i s derived.

The word @Community @ defines an urban geographical

ent5ty within the c i t y or towns recognised by the urban

designer/architect o r planner as a part of the c i t y o r

town where the inhabi tants share ce r t a in f a c i l i t i e s

8

ca l led public f a c i l i t i e s and which invariably cons t i tu t e

the core of t h e community. The s o c i a l s o i e n t i s t r e f e r s

t o community as a settlement having t h e same socio-

cu l tu ra l background. A well-planned and unplanned c i t y

or town i s therefore an agglomeration of communities - s m a l l a d o r b ig un i t s depending on the population s ize .

Communal uni t o r space i s supposed t o contain within ,

i t s core some public f a c i l i t i e s and a r e l i s t e d as followst-

( a ) Household o r compound - The s i t t i n g room o r oourtyard.

(b) Housing c l u s t e r - Nursery and Primary schools,

mix residential/commercial heus es . ( c ) Residential sub-sector - Nursery and Primary schools,

heal th c l i n i c , shops, t rading space,

a play f i e ld .

(d) Residential sec tor - Nursery, Primary and Secondary

schools, heal th centre , mosque/

church, community c entre/youth club,

small shopping centre , small market,

a play f i e ld .

( e ) Community - Hospital, community h a l l and open

a= thea t re , o r assembly, comprehen-

6 s ive hea l th centres, cemetries,

market, shopping centre , sport centre.

The term l~ommunal Space', according t o Adebiyi

(1990), therefore r e f e r s to, "An organised spage found

within family con~pounds and town centres f o r t h e general

benef i t of t h e community. It forms t h e major pQint of

contact within the agglornerat ion of human sett lements"*

2.3: LITERATURE REVIEW

The need f o r l i t e r a t u r e review cannot be over-

emphasised s ince i n the f i e l d of environmental s tud ies ,

t he re is hardly any topic o r subject t ha t has not been

t r ea t ed , e i t h e r i n prac t ice or i n theory.

Communal space has been widely t r ea t ed under many

names. It has been ca l l ed community centre , neighbour-

hood cent re , d i s t r i c t centre , c iv i c centre , arts thea t r e ,

t o m cent re , c i t y centre and open space depending on the

functions and s c a l e of t h e centre.

The aim of t h i s exercise i s therefore:

- To have indepth knowledge of the subject;

- To avoid r epe t i t i on sr duplication where necessary;

- To know the d i r ec t ion of thinking of past researchers

en the subject . b

Most of the ex i s t ing works on communal space aim

a t es tab l i sh ing a focus i n on exis t ing t r a d i t i o n a l town

o r settlements. I n some cases, such towns have no proper

planning, hence t h e works a r e always aimed at i n t e g r a t i n g

such communal spaces t o s u i t t h e e x i s t i n g planning.

According t o Zucker, P. (1959), a c e n t r e o r square i s

t h a t which makes community a community and not merely

an aggregate of individual .

Aboyade (1984) w a s concerned wi th t h e arrangement

of space t o s t imu la t e s o c i a l i n t e r r a c t i o n amongst t h e

members of t h e community. This , she approached by

analys ing t h e bas ic human behaviour i n r e l a t i o n t o var ious

space systems, She adopted t h e Humphrey Osmond ' 6 c l a s s i f i -

c a t i on of t h e space as e i t h e r ' socis-fugal l (spaces which

tend t o keep people a p a r t ) and ssoc io-pe ta l l (spaces t h a t

b r ing people toge ther ) . She employed t h e t tsocio-petal '

p r i nc ip l e s i n " a c t i v i t y areas ", Lobbies and ballways,

s i n c e a reas l i k e t he se fend t o b r ing people together .

She f a i l e d t o r e a l i s e t h a t although, such areas a r e magor

c i r c u l a t i o n nodes, i n t e r r a c t i o n i s not neces sa r i l y

accomplished wi th s e a t i n g arrangement because human

i n t e r r a c t i o n is con t ro l l ed by soc io-cu l tu ra l b e l i e f

which i n t u r n governs t h e behavioural a f t i t u d e of t h e

ind iv idua l as a s o c i a l animal.

11

Fi lya (1967) i n h i s cen t re f o r Bauchi aimed a t

i n t e g r a t i n g the design with the ex i s t i ng recrea t iona l

f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e town. H i s major focus was on how t o

achieve space f l e x i b i l i t y t h a t can adapt well t o var ious

1)e 8s.

Sifiyanu (1989) def ines communal space as "Any space

which members of a community share f o r a c e r t a i n a c t i v i t y

ind iv idua l ly or co l lec t ive ly" . For Sifiyanu, t h e modern

t rend of grouping people together along c l a s s , income and

s o c i a l s t a t u s destroys African concept of communal space.

However, he did not s t a t e what a communal space should

be, ins tead , he l a i d more emphasis on multi-functional

use of communal space.

F i t z Stephen (1961) a s s e r t s t h a t t h e 12 th century

communal space i n London was purely u t i l i t a r i a n and t h e

f a c i l i t i e s were located t o serve groups of houses o r wards

t o decent ra l i se t h e e s s e n t i a l s o c i a l functions. This w a s

i n l i n e with t h e conclusion ~f Adeagbo (1988) who a l s o

proposed t h a t communal spacee, no matter t h e cu l tu re or

r e l i g i o n of t he people, a l l developed f o r same purpose - adminis t ra t ive s e a t , and socio-economic function f o r

ci ' t izens within t h e community. He j u s t i f i e d t h i s when

he wrote "For t h i s reasons, such centres a r e usual ly

c e n t r a l l y located f o r acces s ib i l i t y . Tho impsrtance of

which l e d t o c r ea t ion of d i s t i n c t a r ch i t ec tu re e.g.

Agora, Forum, Town h a l l and palacesn.

According t o Adesiyan ( 1 9 8 0 ) ~ open spaces i n some

c i t i e s a r e used t o make t h e population have a sense of

un i ty as well as of p leasure , by reveal ing t o i t s e l f

t h e va r i e ty of age, c l a s s , n a t i o n a l i t y and r ace of which

c i t i e s a r e composed. He c i t e d August Heckscher t o

bu t t r e s s h i s point t h a t "Imaginative c i v i l l eaders have

long been aware of a l i n k between a c i t y ' s amenities

and t h e soundness ef o ther aspects of l i f e , without

exception, being accompanied by a f e e l i n g f o r t h e impar-

tance of well used parks and o ther spacesw, He believed

t h a t t h e Agora i n Greek Architecture was an i d e a l use of

open space. That people d id not only "meet b u t got i n

each o ther ' s wayn, and t h a t i f w a s t h e i n t eg ra t ion of

var ious communal spaces with t he Agora t h a t gave t h e i r

c i t i e s t h e i r unique c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s , He went on t o

e laborate on t h e views of Jane Cantler Loef f le r , t h a t

an open space i s not j u s t a conta iner of a s e t t i n g but

t h a t i t tends t o encourage s o c i a l i n t e r r a c t i o n and t h a t

. within t h i s space one "may encounter t h e ae s the t i c value

of t r e e s , sky and f e e l i n g of enclosed spacett .

Adebiyi (1990) argued t h a t f o r one t o w r i t e on

communal space, t h e word community should be understood,

as t h e meaning d i f f e r s from one p ro fess ion t o another ,

However, he as a p lanner , def ined i t as a group of people

i n c e r t a i n geographica l a r e a wi th common a i m s and i n t e r -

e s t s which a r e d i v e r s e i n n a t u r e and without l i m i t s t o

p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n d i v i d u a l s . He went f u r t h e r t o d e f i n e

communal spaces as those organised spaces found w i t h i n

t h e compounds and *Own c e n t r e s f o r t h e genera l b e n e f i t

of t h e community, and that they form t h e major p o i n t s

of s o c i a l con tac t ( e s p e c i a l l y i n ~ f r i c a ) w i t h i n t h e

agglomeration of human s e t t lenmnts ,

He a l s o added that communal space i s t h e area

w i t h i n t h e community where a l l t h e p a r t i c i p a t i n g

i n d i v i d u a l wi th in t h e community could come t o g e t h e r f o r

c e r t a i n a c t i v i t i e s common t o every member of t h e community.

This could be buying and s e l l i n g , r e c r e a t i o n o r r e l a x a t i o n

and d i s p l a y of c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s e t c .

Understandable from th i s exp lo ra t ion i s t h e f a c t

that p a s t works t r e a t e d each problem i n i s o l a t i o n and

f a i l e d t o r e a l i s e t h a t none o f t h e i s s u e s can s i n g u l a r l y

make communal c e n t r e f 'unct ional on i t s own.

14

However, i t w a s Adesiyan and Adebiyi t h a t r e a l l y covered

t h e mador components by apprec ia t ing t h e need f o r diver-

s i t y of f a c i l i t i e s wi th in t h e space t o encourage s o c i a l

i n t e r r a c t i o n . It i s when t h i s i s achieved t h a t i s sues

of human behaviour i n response t o space s e t t i n g , and

s p a t i a l o rgan isa t ion of these d iverse f a c i l i t i e s t o

s t imu la t e e f f i c i e n t human response can be e f f e c t i v e l y

solved.

2.4: EVOLUTION O F COMMUNAL SPACE

Communal space is as old as when t h e Great

Architect c rea ted t h e f i r s t s e t of human beings.

They were put i n a communal space, Garden of Eden,

where a l l t h e i r needs were met.

Advancement i n c i v i l i z a t i o n and t h e inc rease i n

human population necess i t a ted t h e use of communal

spaces as indispensable s o c i a l f a c i l i t y i n t h e W r a r i a n

soc ie ty . A s a r e s u l t se t t lements were b u i l t around

l a r g e open space f o r easy access from a l l p a r t s of $he

comtnunity. The s e t t i n g made commnunal space t h e hub of

human a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e town. Important bui ldings l i k e

t h e Administrative s e a t ( pa l ace ) , market, Temples and

Shrines were added wi th in t h e l a r g e open space.

15

To understand how these open spaces a r e organised, i t

i s necessary t o t r a c e t h e i r use s i n c e c l a s s i c a l times

and a l s o t h e i r use i n Africa.

2.4.1 : THE ACROPOLIS

The Acropolis, t h e nucleus of e a r l y Greek towns,

developed genera l ly from a f o r t i f i e d p lace of refuge.

The p o s s i b i l i t i e s of an easy defence were dec i s ive f o r

i t s establishment. So, i t become gradual ly t h e s e a t op

t h e dominant power and eventual ly a sacred a r ea , where

temples, montzments, and a l t a r were loca ted as were i n

e a r l i e r times t h e places of t ho kings. The Acropolis

was walled, but never became pa r t of t he f o r t i f i c a t i o n

of t h e se t t lement which s t r e t ched beneath i t . Once t h e

whole town became walled, t h e Acropolis gradually l o s t i t s

importance f o r defence. During t h e e a r l i e r archaic

cen tu r i e s , i t a l s o served as a gather ing place , a fbnct ion

i t l o s t t o the Agora with t h e inc reas ing growth of t h e

town proper.

2.4.2: THE AGORA

The Greek s o c i a l l i f e i s organised around a c e n t r a l

open 'space c a l l e d Agora. The Agora dated back t o 500B.C.

A. l ' h e Acropvl~s, A~licns (reconstruction a5 a t r . A.D. 161 by M. La~~ lbe r t ) . See p. 196

n. The Acropolis, Athcns: plan

The urban continuum w a s c l e a r l y demonstrated through

communal l i v i n g and irlterac t i o n at various human

a c t i v i t y leve ls . The Agora is t h e s ing le most important

space i n ancient Weece. It i s approached through

narrow a l leys and a major procession avenue f o r m a s s

movement during ceremonies especial ly war v ic to r i e s .

Important buildings surrounding the space included :-

the temples , municipal o f f i ce , comlnercial areas f o r

buying and s e l l i n g of goods, and recreat ional f a c i l i t i e s . In the Agora, people d i d not only meet but got i n

each other ' s way. Hecreational f a c i l i t i e s around the

Agora included palaestrae ( f o r a t h l e t i c s , wrestl ing and

swimming), stadium, hippodrome and theatre .

Tho in tegra t ion of a l l these diverse f a c i l i t i e s

gave the Greek town centrea the unique characte&iet ic

of pul l ing people l i k e magnetic f i e lds . Thakurdesac

(l972), i n h is paper, "The people's use of Urban Space",

surmised tha t the Greek people were far l e s s in te res ted

i n places with f i n e views than i n places where they

could both observe and pa r t i c ipa te i n l o c a l l i f e" '

Le Corbusier (1971), asserted tha t the Greeks were not

only in te res ted i n places t h a t bring them together, but

c. 'I'he Agora in Ilcllcnistic times, Athens: plan. See p. 245

17

were a l s o very p a r t i c u l a r about t he s p a t i a l con~posit ion

and a e s t h e t i c value of t h e space, when he wrote h i s

views on t h e Acropolis i n Athens, i n h i s book "Toward

a New Arck~i tec ture '~ . The ear ly Agora was amorphous and i r r e g u l a r i n

form. 1% it was sometimes an open sgpare, i n a town

l i k e Shera, i t might be l i t t l e more than t h e widening

of the main s t r e e t . The Agora functioned as a s o r t of

an informal club, where, i f one waated around long enough,

one would meet one 's f r i ends and acquiantances.

Agora's Related S t ruc tures

Baths - Public bathing place

Bouleution - Meeting place f o r councils

Metroum - For keeping public documents

Od e u m - Concert h a l l .

Pompeium - Hall , c lub and p i c tu re ga l l e ry

P n y t aneum - Committee of s t a t e meeting place.

S t ~ a - Meeting place f o r business purposes.

Temple - Place of worship. .

Theatre o r Pynx - Place of assembly.

b

18

2.4.3: THE FORUM

The Roman Forum w a s an equivalent of %he Greek

Agora. The Forum which i s a c e n t r a l l y organised spaced

i s a model of t h e Agora, but w a s ingeniously landscaped

to meet t h e i r own t a s t e f o r env i rom~en ta l surroundings,

Hellman (1986) wrote, "Like Movie Moguls they took

over Greek ideas and i n f l a t e d them i n t o b i g vulgar

production f o r t h e benef i t of t h e s t a t e " .

The Forum i s loca ted a t t h e hear t of b u i l t up

a reas of t h e c i t y , t h i s r e su l t ed i n the i r r e g u l a r

shape of t h e Forum s i n c e i t was defined by t h e surrounding

s t r u c t u r e s . However, t h e i n t e r i o r w a s pa ins takingly

made r egu la r with l i n e s o f colonnaded verandahs which

were decorated with s t a t u e s and f lanked by massive publ ic

buildings. Forum i s used f o r commercial, p o l i t i c a l

debates, r ec r ea t i ona l and s o c i a l gathering. Bas i l i c a w a s

l a t e r introduced i n t o t he forum t o se rve as t h e ha11 of

j u s t i c e (eeg. Bas i l i c a of Tra jan ~ o m e ) .

2.4.44 MEDIEVAL TOWNS

A s t r a d e became Luternat ional ised , new towns were

es tabl ished. The main focus of t h e towns were t h e market b

space and t h e church. S p a t i a l organisa t ion of t h e towns

revolved around communal space o r c e n t r a l f a c i l i t i e s which

l a t a r became t h e hub of human a c t i v i t i e s f o r soc io-cu l tu ra l ,

PEFERENCE 7-ABLE . I TEMPLE OF T R A J A N 16 ARCH OF T I T U S 2 TRAJAN'S COLUMN 17 HOU5t OF THE VES~KVIRGIYS,

3 TRAJAN'S BASILICA 18 TEMPLE OF VESXA ! 4 T OF VENUS GENETRIX 19 T I I C REGIA 5 TEMP1.E OF MARS LJLTOR 20 TEMP1.E OF DlVlJS JULIUS 6 TEMPLE OF MINER'JA 221 ARC!-\ OF LUGUS1 US 7 T E M P L E OF PEACE 22 T OF CASTOR (r PO: I UX !

10 'TEMPLE OF ROMIJLUS 25 ARCH OFSEPTIMIUS 5tVI:RUS I1 kiASILICA OF CONSIANTINE 26 ROSTRA

12 T O F V E N U S o ROME 27 T E M P L E OF SAl -URN

19

r e l i g i o u s , p o l i t i c a l and commercial l i f e . The power

of t h e r e l i g i o u s l e a d e r - t h e pope, w a s ab so lu t e dur ing

t h i s period such t h a t c a thed ra l and l a r g e open space

became t h e v in t age poin t of t h e town. I n towns of organic

growth, t h e c e n t r a l open spaces were u sua l l y i r r e g u l a r ,

many-sided and ova l i n conf igura t ion s i n c e t h e surroun-

d ing bui ld ings d i c t a t e d their form. I n Medieval towns

communal spaces were l a t e r decen t ra l i zed because of

i n d u s t r i a l i s a t i o n and r a p i d urbaniza t ion . The communal

space w a s made t o s e rve a group of houses i n what w a s

l a t e r c a l l e d neighbourhood c e n t r e , while t ho ca thed ra l

and market space remained t h e c e n t r a l node of t h e 1

town around which o the r a c t i v i t i e s revolved. The c e n t r a l

a r e a 1s connected by a network of f oo t pa ths ; t h e s e narrow

paths helped i n reducing t h e menace of win te r i n t h e

l a r g e open space.

2.4.5 : RENAISSANCE TOWNS

Renaissance w a s t h e period of r e b i r t h ; i t w a s a

t i m e t o look at t h e Roman e r a f o r a model through t h e

a p p l i c a t i o n of we l l ordered c l a s s i c a l language i n a

more d e l i c a t e s t y l e . b

20

The c i t y i n t h i s period witnessed a new language

of openness i n t h e open - spaces as d i f f e ren t from Greek

and Roman s t y l e , The new forum were planned f o r easy

expansion with time i n l i n e with the achievement witnessed

i n t h e automobile indus t r ies . Communal f a c i l i t i e s l i k e

piazza, squares, and* cathedrals were at t h e cen t r a l

loca t ion of t he town i n which s o c i a l l i f e rad ia ted t o

other pa r t s of t h e town.

The a rch i t ec tu ra l elements of t he public buildings

within t h e squaxes were of c l a s s i c a l s t y l e adopted

c rea t ive ly from Roman era. ALberti celebrated t h i s

phenomenon when he agreed t h a t t h e c i t y i s not b u i l t

wholly f o r t he sake of slhester, but ought t o be contrived,

t h a t besides more c i v i l conveniences, t he re may be

handsome space f o r squares, courses of cha r r io t s , gardens and places t o take f o r both amusement and recrea-

ti on*

The s p a t i a l organization of the town w a s around

one o r more axis, vas t use of control led v i s t a w a s made

possible by t h e s e l e c t i v e loca t ion of impressive s t a t u e s ,

obelisks and monumental buildings, b

2.4.6: TOWNS I N BAROQUE ERA

The 17th Century Baroque of France w a s control led

by the Monarch which w a s not only t h e s t a t e and business

but tho art and science were regulated through him.

While mannerism advocated order , t he Baroque

subordinated them t o t h e s i n g l e un i f ied dynamic conception,

both i n buildings and urban landscape. This w a s

re f lec ted i n the ar t icula t . ed s p a t i a l organization of

open spaces i n t h e i r towns. The c i t i e s were planned

around a node which served as a foca l point o r c e n t r a l

core where important monuments and communal f a c i l i t i e s

l i k e cathedral , gardens and squares w e r e situabed.

Their planning concept manipulated space f o r

sequent ia l expansion with passage of t i m e o r what is

regarded as f l e x i b l e design approach. Tho c i t i e s were

l a i d on vast; scalre with long v i s t a s to give an i l l u s i o n

of i n f i n i t y and endless change t o observers. The open

space remains t h e major element of towns. Birnini

relXgiously implemented t h i s p r inc ip le when he was

commissioned t o add a piazza i n f ron t of St . Pe t e r ' s

Cathedral t o allow f o r continuum i n an. unlimited b

sca le .

2.4.7 : OPEN SPACE IN AFRICAN TOWNS

Most towns and c i t i e s i n South of Saharan Africa ,

l i k e those of Mosopottamia a r e arranged around a closed

open space. The i d e a o f community cen t res i n A f r i c a

and Nigeria in p a r t i c u l a r , revolves around t h e

t r a d i t i o n a l r u l e r s t palaces i n l a rgo open spaces from

where poople congregate dur ing s p i r i t u a l and c u l t u r a l

a c t i v i t i e s .

I n Hausaland cammuni ty cen t r e revolves round

comntunal open space known as "I)aMdali't wi th in a

se t t lement where young g i r l s ga ther t o s i n g and dance.

T h i s ac t ion na tu ra l l y a t t r a c t t h e i r male counterpar ts

who engage i ~ r cour t sh ip wit ;h t h e g l r l s , l o c a l wres t l ing

and boxing, while some dance and s i n g i n a c i r c u l a r form.

Tlress comnrunol spaces a r o found i n d i f f e r e n t l oca t i ons

wi th in a sftttlsrreent, but where tho popukatiorn s i z e i s

small, i t i s only found i n f ron t of t h e r u l e r ' s palace.

Thus, t h e Dandali serves as a p o l i t i c a l , admin is t ra t ive

and socio-cul tura l c en t r e f o r t h a t se t t lement .

I n Yoruba and Benin towns, t h e e n t i r e town layout

r a d i a t e s from the Oba" Palace with l a r g e opon market b

square l i k e t h e piazza c a l l e d " O J ~ Oba". The Ibo

s ettlomenta do uot u sua l ly exh ib i t any p a r t i c u l a r power

23

c e n t r e as a l l the compounds a r e b u i l t around a eommunaZ

space at c l an ' s as kinsh ip l eve l . Tho only no t i c eab l e

c e n t r a l l y loca ted communal space i s t h e market square

and sh r ines . It w a s t h e miss ionar ies t h a t a c t u a l l y

introduced churches as t ho mador r a l l y i n g poin t .

I n genera l , t h e Nigerian c l ima te has made t h e

people t o spond most of t h e i r l i f e i n open ox' outdoor

space, bben domestic a c t i v i t i e s as cooking and r e l a x a t i o n

are clone i n the open courtyard. For ins tance , t h e

people even, dur ing t h e r a i n i n g season and harmattan

. s t i l l c a r ry out t h e i r h a b i t u a l communal l i f e i n t h e open.

T h i s could j u s t i f y t h e i r r e l a t i v e contented l i f e s t y l e ;

4 . while tho "Oyinbott people spent time and money on

ttLe conlfort ang la i s" t h e people here a r e more conrfortahl~e

under t h e t r e e shades o r thr? verandahs i n t h e i r compound.

The don~es t i c and c r a f t works wesa always c a r r i e d out

i n t h e open cour tyards . Space i n any pa r t of Afr ica

i s based on s o c i a l space f o r communal and s o c i a l mat ters .

T h h r space concept e x h i b i t s a continuum which grows

from i n s i d e t o ou t s ide , The v i l l a g e square i s moulded

and shaped by human bohavioural p a t t e r n and c u l t u r a l b

b e l i e f s . Tho c e n t r a l a r e a o f t he town i s dominated

by t h e cornmuna.l. f a c i l i t i e s wi th huge symbolic t r e e o r t r e s s

t h a t o f f e r shade a l l over t h e space where r e c r e a t i o n a l

a c t i v i t i e s , commercial and p o l i t i c a l matters a re

discussed. The African idea of open space i s a place

t h a t can generate the maximum corrtac t tha t enhances

comnrunal l i v i n g and belonging.

All roads, no matter how nucleated the settlement

is, usual ly terminate a t t h i s c e n t r a l hub of a c t i v i t i e s

i n the town. This s e t t i n g i s so beaut i fvl t h a t Krapt

Askari (1969), commended t h a t , "What i s so universal ly

sbr iking about t he f ea tu re of urban l i f e of African

town i s i t s ebulience and gusto, i t s camaraderie,

and usual ease with which soc ia l contacts a r e established".

The squares a r e v i tua l i zed to protect t h e community

against negative powers of the unseen. C i t i e s were

segregated in to par t s according to profession i n Ashante

( ~ h a n a ) but t h e market and the Ashante's palace served

as t he s ing le unifying fac tor .

It can thus be conducted t h a t open spaces i n African

towns, apart from being a cen t re f o r communal a c t i v i t i e s

( f e s t i v i t i e s e t c . ) , a l so serve as the t r a d i t i o n a l

symbol f o r uni ty and cohesion. It i s the cen t re of

human focus and consequently dramatized i t s da i ly

a c t i v i t i e s .

25

2 . 5 : THE -. CONCEPT OF OPEN SPACE I N MODERN TOWNS

The t r a d i t i o n a l open space concept i s so cherished

t h a t i n t he f i e l d of urban and reg iona l planning, i t has

become t h e major design t o o l i n t he hand of planners

f o r new towns o r c i t y proposals ,

The neighbourhood concept and t h e q q c e n t r a l p lace

theory" employed open space as t h e s t r u c t u r a l framework

t o which forms and a c t i v i t i e s can r e l a t e t o produce

s c a l e and charac te r . According t o Seymour (1980),

"The opportuni ty t o experience an a r c h i t e c t u r a l element

from t h e vantage point of open space and v i c e ve r sa is

a unique v i s u a l qua l i t y . Perhaps no singlc: element can

betkcr shape and complement urban form than well placed

open space".

Outdoor r ec r ea t i on r equ i r e s t he provis ion of open

spaces. Such open spaces a r e usua l ly areas t h a t a r e not

buil. t upon and inc lude areas which have been purposely

developed o r set as ide f o r r ec rea t ion .

Open spaces se rve many func t ions i n contemporary

towns, They c o n s t i t u t e a n a t u r a l v e n t i l a t i o n system

and can enhance and pro t ec t t h e resource base:

&ix-, w a t e r , s o i l , p l an t s arid animals. They can a l so

a rrvc as buf ros zones be tween res ident ia l . and i n d u s t r i a l

areas .

26

Tho i ~ r d i s p o n s a b i l i l y of open spaces i s justified

i n the s p a t i a l layout of both t h e BlAck Arts F e s t i v a l

V i l l a g e i n Lagos and t h e Nigerian new c a p i t a l c i t y , Abuja.

2.6: HUMAN PERCEPTION OF O P m SPACE

Human percept ion of space i s a b s t r a c t i n n a t u r e ,

Man%$ possession of schemata r e l a t e to him h i s percept ion

s f a t h r e e dimensional space. Therefore, i t i s t h e

presence s f o p e r a t i o n a l schemata t h a t enhances man's

space comrsciousness arid apprec ia t ion . The schomata

a r c c u l t u r a l l y determined and comprise of q u a l i t a t i v e

p r o p e r t i e s r e s u l t i n g from t h e need f o r e f f e c t i v e sri enta-

t i o u t o t h e environment.

P a r t s of t h e space t h a t r e c e i v e the whole gamut

of sense impression involves s e l e c t e d numbers of s t i m u l i

needed f o r conscious at t o n t i s n . Kan a l s o r e q u i r e s speciaP

ab j l i t y of psyclmlogical dimcrnsion t o enabP o h i m

divkingwish between immediake porceptaial space and t h e

r e l a t i v e more s t a b l e space schemata.

Space can be d iv ided broadly i n t o two:

I~unlan ( bchavioural environment ) and nun-hunran ( phys ica l ) . ,The phys ica l sr geographical apace i s t h e ex te rna l

environn~ent w h i c h can be l i m i t l e s s o r l i m i t e d wi.th human

a c t i o n . W P d 1~: bohavioural envirorlio~ent i s gaverraed by

27

"cogn i t ive process" which enables h i m t o i n t e r p r o t o

or give maaning t o the percraivcd environment with

c u l t u r a l environment a c t i n g as e i t h e r p o s i t i v e o r

nega t ive c a t a l y s t t o t h e o v e r a l l response, e.g.

dwel lers i n t h e d e s e r t are used t o t h e unbroken v i s t a

of t h e open space which no longer creata%a errtotional

f e a r of l o n e l i n e s s i n them. This impl ies t h a t

know1 edge about ~ r g a n i z a t i o n of spaco of a p a r t i c u l a r

s ott lement can enabll e g s y c t ~ o l o g i s t s t o p r e d i c t behavioural

response t o such s e t t i n g . Zanzan ( l 9 8 5 ) , grouped

percept ion and human response to a p a r t i c u l a r s e t t i n g

according t o %he dominant "sensory r ecep t s r s ' 9 tha . t

w a s i lwolvcd i n t h e t ransmiss ion of the response,

These a r c what he c l a s s i f i e d a l s o Visual , Auditory,

Ol fac to ry , T a c t i l e and Kinesthetic; each of t h e s e he

argued has i t s own r e l a t e d spaco.

VISUAL SPACE: Is a f u n c t i o n of pr ivacy i n t h e o r g a n i s a t i o n

o f space , For example, t h e enclosed cour tyards and

barriers i n t h e Hausa compounds a r e meant t o discourage

unwanted v i s u a l con tac t wi th in t h e i n n e r courts, w h i l e

the ~'impluvium" af t h e c l o s e k n i t Benin t r a d i t i o n a l house

concept a r e t h e l e v e l of v i s u a l to lo ranca of t h e peoplo,

28

OPEactory Space: In t h e East and Southern Afr ica , people

have a keen sense of de toc t i r lg sinelE. The Tindigo

people o f Tanzania, pygmy of Zaire Basin, and t h e

Bushmen of Kalahari deser t u s e t h e i r s h a r p o l f a c t o r y

i n s t i n c t t o l o c a t e "game".

Auditory ( ~ c o u s t i c ) Space: Some people use t h i c k w a l l s

and sometimes s e p a r a t i o n sf i n d i v i c h a l sleep in^ apartment

t o enhance aud i to ry privacy.

' T a c t i l e Space: Afr icans achieved t h i s through extended

fami ly system which enables him t o have psychological.

t a c t i l e c o n t a c t .

Kinsstklct ic Space: It is t.he a w a r n r r e s s of body's

orj c n t a t i o n and displacomont , This i s experienced

by thoqe l i v i n e i n an uneven t e r r a i n and rocky lands

3%k(. a la r . .Angas people i n J o s P la teau w h i l e t hose

i n the f n r o s t r eg ion m a k e t h e i r roads winaing

and narrow a long t h e tho rn f o r e s t and trees . I t ; i s a

dcfcns ive s t r a t e g y d i c t a t e d by t h c i ~ . phys ica l s e t t i n g ,

s u c h t h a t thoye, i s P ~ C H ~ to be c o n ~ c i r ~ l l ~ t o move saiccess-

f u 4 l y w i t h i n such environment i n o rde r not t o s y s t a i n

phys ica l i n jury .

29

T h e overall impression of space i s a lso affected

by the space character i t s e l f , whether i t is s t a t i c

OB' clyilarnic. 1% is s t a t i c w h e n the space is pr iuc ipa l ly

clofirlccl by s o l i d vertical plarmur as the m a i t 8 domain,

in t h i s c a s e visual f l o w is des trsycd i n or out of the

cmclasure; and i t i s dynamic when the space draws

p o p P o to i t s e l f and generates ullint~rrupted visnaL flow.

Other characterist ics of syaca arc

caus oci by recurring urban e l crnents , and complex space

w l l i c h originates fron~ the spat ial layout of the space.

Each of these elements a f f e c C s human perception and

rcsponsc i n the ir own urriqane. ways.

2.7 : AI.iCIiITECTUItE AND SPACE PIIWOMlNON ---"

Thr space is the basic too l readily availablr t o

bc mani.pulatetl i.n the f i e l d sf environmental design.

Bvcattsak o f j . t S enoFn80uS seal e , num wrous Iluo~am nucds and

t h r s txt.i?d t o control harsh climatic conditions, man evolved

t h e principle of creating she l ter as early as the s tone

ago 6.r.a. The architect apart f r o m creating she l t o r

against harsh incl. rtmctnt weather' also brirap the sca l e

of Mre space to an apprsciaiblo hu~nars l e v e l so as to

imy~'ove on tho q ~ t a l i t y of t-lln perceived environmental

c ~ t t d e x t .

30

P r e s e n t l y , s p a c e i s developed f o r s h e l t e r , pa rk ,

reci-r?r-itional purposes , consc rva t io i l of l a n d and n a t u r a l

r e s o u r c e s as w e l l as f a r h i s t o r i c arid s c e n i c purposes .

The s o c i o l o ~ ~ sf space i rwo lves what and how people

experiencr. .rpraccx and to w h a t e x t e n t t h i s a f f e c t s t h o i r

f eelfngs. and p n r s s n a l i t y . Thc e f f e c t u a l s c a l e of an

cnclca..;ure is d i c t a t e d by space d e f i n i n g elcmerrts l i k e

walls, ceil.irng and f l o o r . If a s p a c e i s enc losed w i t h

no l i g h t o u t s i d e t h e obse rve r exporienchng t h e space

has t h e f e e l i n g t h a t t h e space i s s t a t i c and a c t u a l l y

s m a l l e r tlmn i t s geomet r ic dimension. APL B I I C ~ Q S U P " H

with opening o r vo id t o a l l o w i n su~~l ighal t e n l i v e n s the

c o l o u s and texture af t h e space , i t dramat ized t h e space

and b r i n g s ou t i t s tkmcc dimens iona l c o n f i g u r a t i o n t o

a richly appreciabl e l e v e l . Consequently, an enc losed

s p a c e can create a c l a u s t rophob ie t cmdency , w h i l e ? an

ov cr illbaamd.naled space can c r e a t e a dynamic f e e l i n g

and i f t h e spucc i s l a r g o enough i t can r e s u l t ten f e e l i n g

cal L 1x1 agoraphobia. T h o r e s u l t a n t ef f ece of agokaphnbia

c a r d be i n t i m i d a t i n g and dehumanizing. Acco-rrli ng t o Pet o r

smith (1972), human response to space .is tho r e s u l t a n t

o f cnrnpkcx i n1.t e l - rnc t i 0 1 1 c t f mrrn t a1 t endenci C I S , ?'ha? outcome

of k"Ii;rt ha? caJ led "'r.ortica1 ref r~rerrchma",

to be able t a b create a balance bekween thc space, needs,

wncl laurnark cognit ive rosptrnse. &lilt envirsirmant should

be Bma~.r<lleiJ i n a s k i l l f u l way t o enhance p o s i t i v e human

response. Pt can be thorapeut ic i f d iverse elements of

high actuthntic values a r e incorporated w i t h f ee l i ngs

f o r Inurnan s c a l e and proport ion; t h i s can have a g rea t

in f luence on human sensory organs of perception.

The a r c h i t e c t has t~ u t i l i z e v i s u a l amplitude as an

ant edote t o "ins$pient mental homoeostasis " . Fina l ly , and i n summary, a r c h i t e c t u r e can become

a means of mental therapy i f i t arouses novelty i n

percept a b i l i t y of urban environment. This would enable

~omrnunal space t o pos i t i vk ly m a d e l human response to

r ~ a t . u ~ - e ant3 man-made environment and a t the same time

crueat l* a Greek A g o r a s e t t i n g f o r Comnnmal a c k i v i t i e s .

2.8: QUALITY O F COMMUNAL SPACE - An underst andirrg of some precondi-tions of environmental

design does not necessa r i ly guarantee a successful design

sy ra thos i s per - se, i t only f a c i l i t a t e s a ~les igner ' s

say t P m t t h e archit ec t u r o of eravi ronmcm-k imyi trees an

b~hav i sur . To be able t o achieve s o c i a l i n t e r a c t i o n

i l k a comnnrnat space. i t thcn means t h a t t h e facilities

SX~OI~LIJ be d i v e r s e emlough to c a t e r f o r the young and old,

m a l c and female. Lack of w e l l organized and a r t i c u l a t e d

open spaces t o r o c r e a t e and relax t h e mind in the c i t i e s

ccant r i but e a great deal. t o j u v e r ~ i l e delinqumrc y among

t l te youths. Hccreat ion i s rrecess ary Tor kho physical

aad mental h e a l t h of i u d i v i d u a l s . It provides r e l a x a t i o n ,

entes la i ument , and g e n e r a l r e l i e f from t h e d a i l y 1'~urndrum

rnut i l l r ! of l i f c . The i n d i f rerout d i s p o s i t i o n of' t h o

urban c e n t r e i s so unfri endly, t o the you th fu l m i n d , and

i n an a t tempt t o compensate f o r what tho urban envirnn-

n w t ' l a c k s , t h e youth are dr iven t o all s o r t s of s o c i a l

vices.

TPw opcm space m u s t provirlt? contextua.P b e n e f i t b

f o r crcativc play and l e a r n i n g of a l l age groups.

It shoultl k i t ? advc?ntaxrous in philosophy. Chi ldren i n an

urban c*nrvin'onmcnt bcrlef i t from tho q u a l i t i e s af

33

adventurous , c r s a t i v e and coopera t ive act l v i t i e s t h a t

t & c n pl.acs I r a the open areas. They a l s o h c m ~ f i t from

nature , 'Mieso art: t h e fundamentals of l i v i n g that

urbanization has d r?s brayed. Tbs s p a t i a l o r g a n i z n t i o n

<~tr t l , as-chi t ac t a r e o f the corrtmunal space should be geared

t o ~ ; ~ r d s arousing the mind. The m o r e the mind i s

aroused t o praecs s "novel ty and variahili t y " tho,

grr:ntltr its fut~ircl? capaci tp' t o a s s i m i l a t e the u n f a m i l i a r .

A r r . s t r i c t v d n l i n r l .in a aamnotonobxs environment will prsvnnt

thc~ mind from i n t e r p r e t i n g the Unfanril iar .

Thtx ~nvj.ronrnent can he enk~anccd with tile f o l l o b kngr

1. ']is L E n r x space stimuli is strcn&hctred l i k c b tho

pri.mil,ivs r u l c s , such as size? of an nh,jncd; is

assumed t o deterrrlino i ts in~gtot.tanc cz, hence the

palaces and slat-in es are made of montmcntal sca1.o.

1 k i u impel*at i.v t? t a no t c t h a t momment; a&ity rwbanc o

focal pcrcep l ion o f edifjcc.

2. Cont ras t i n environmental c l a s s i f i c a t i o n and

r c b n t ox%;. A s t r u c t i m a ceru8.d dcm:md a t t e n t i o n

becatase of i t s s t y l i s t i c sense. 1x1 t h i s s i t n a t i o n

, i t is not the s i z e 13114, nove1ty that makt>s t h e

buj.4 c l i . 1 1 ~ k 0 cornnlar~l f veal awaroncss .

3 . Form m a y quaEi f y f o r conscious attention

if it is symbolic,

t:renkc a wwelcornirig ripec t ra i n hurnands mind.

35

W a t st- apar t f S r n v i d i ng cool i tic c e S f c.cts, has i;lne a b i P i t y

t o tli.ffllsc and r e f l e c t l i g h t which i s of great S.alspirirrg

plmnotncnon. It d i f f c r e n t i a t cs li g11 t and shadow hit o

r-ytlmie , melodic and harmbnious p a t t e r n s .

Tho a b i l i % y t o be a b l e t o articulate t h e s e open

space elements in equi l ibsium with urban space w i l l not

ordy enhance i n t e q c t i o n i t w-Pl.1 a l s o encourage

t8ke people t o identify prsutlly with t h e i r space.

2.9: ENVIWONIWNTAL PROBLEMS PECULIAR TO Ct3MMUMAL SPACE

Many comtnunal c e n t r e s i n Xiger ia are in a state

of' r u i n . The Sallowing a r e a summary of some of t h e

wajas psablt-mq plaguing communal space i n developing

c c r i r m tr.i es i n k Kj gc?r.ia.

1 . Main t enan=:

Thr? a ~ ~ t h o r i t i r s U S P I ~ P I ~ play "lip - S ~ T V ~ C O "

t o i t s maintenance, thereby seducing t h e e f f i c i e n c y

of' t > h ~ centrt!. I n same c a s e s , confusion arise betweon

%lie gove?~-nment and t h e com~riunity as t o w h o stao~a'ld be

r n b p o x ~ s j bPc f o r the running (and n r a i n t onance) of %he

I :C~XIB~>Q. C?X . b

b r . Faci..li.tics.:

Most of the t i m e supportive fac i l l i t ies , such as

kiosk , bars, car park, water and toilets are general.Py

4.ackia.ag-. This reduced tl .8 at tract ion o f the centre.

lWtllr.rr.rnore, facilities Eire not rmsua1l.y diverse enough

for 211.1 age groups t o patron.ize i t .

5 . -- C o m m u n a i t y TnvoBvem~~&:

Most of t l i e t i ~ n t . : , the r e ~ i t l r r a ~ t h arc not irrvolvetd at;

the plalrni.rr6: and d e n i g n stage of t h e centre w i t h the

r m u l t that the centre m a y fall short of the aspirations

of the residents/cammunities.

2.10: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

A eommunal space design should employ the concept

of t h e Agora where people don1 t just meet but get i n

each other's way. T h i s arrangement guarantees a s o c i a l

in teract ion among the users .

The s p a t i a l arrangement and s e t t i n g witlrin a

comn~utral centre/space should be "i~afarrnal~~ s o as t o

allow for people tu move frecr ly i n a rrranntsr %that p leases

them. Efforts n a u s l ba made t.cr:rwards ruuakir~~; thc space

l v g i b l o , cont irmous , and t o possess t.c?ritsrial c l a r i t y

at' f u r l ~ t i o r ~ s f o r p ~ l ~ l i c n e s s ar~tP, h c x i n l interact ion

It Is .hn:panr.dtrnt t o not. c. t ia re t . :iowr! elements at &sac t

ycsungpeopl@ w h i l ca o k 8 l c . r : ~ atb-racd adu1 t . FOR' j ns t ,nr lcu ,

i:l cwt*nL 1. i .k~. s t e p - pl:ntf~p-at a t t ~ a c t s young people

because i t supports variety o f s i t t i n g s ty les but,

~ / ) I * P P C ~ L : S a t tract adul ts . P.kmccwrc~n t of' catclmimt pn E s d t

c r a . :-\ topping points along p c d ~ s t r im pat11s support t h e

~ s r b ~ " ~ ' d e s j 1.4: L c r ' l ~ ~ t c h the a c t i o n " , T h e space mrus t be

sliati :~9 . ly f 1 r~st ib l~* and adaptability of supysrt ivc

2 ln.rrc i air e s h u l l d in l i n e with raserrs l 8 x 3 entat b.otr,

CHAPTER THREE

APPRAISAL OF LOKOJA CITY

3.3.1: T r a d i t i o n a l A r c h i t e c t u r e : - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 49 3.3.2: C o l o n i a l Architecture:----------------------- 53 3.3.3: C o n t e m p o r a r y Architecture:------------------- 55

3.6: PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF LOK0JA:----------------- 65

3 .7 : TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES:------------------- 76

3.9 : RLTRICAJ?ION PLACES, OPEN SPACES (SPORTS G R O ~ I ) S ) AND TOURISM:------------------------ 82

CHAPTER THREE

APPRAISAL OF LOKOJA CITY

3.1: 'INTRODUCTION

Lokoja c i t y , Kogi S ta te cap i t a l , i s s i tua ted on

the west bank of the River Niger a t the ctonfluenoe of

Rivera Niger and Benue. It is bounded within Latitude

7 O 4 7 ' ~ and 7O50@~, ond l ieson longitutdee 6'45'~.

k k o j r i s about 580km north of the Atlantic Ocsm

of Nigeria on an elevation of 45 - 125m. Towards the

NorBh - West the c i t y i 8 delineated by a high plafeau,

t ho Pa t t i Ridge which reaches an a l t i t ude of 435m.

The c i t y i 8 bounded by the River Niger on the eamt and

panetrated by a number of streams whioh jo in eiisher

the Niger or the Meme Rgver. (see map 3.1).

3.22 SOCIO-CULTURAL FABRIC

The oul tura l het eroqeeeity of L e k o j a make8 it

al igh%ly d i f f i c u l t Qs give a d e a r pieture of &he general

lif emtyle of the inhab i tmt r . Lokaja doe. not have any

t ~ a d i t i o n a l / o u l t m a l f emt!ivsrl. Aa a r e r u t ; , mueh tha6

oan be regarded a s t re re l i~ io~ad/aul tura l fewtlval ie i n

r e a l i t y re l ie ious f e s t i v a l (Chrimtian festive& or

Imlamio f e s t i va l ) .

3.2.1 1 HISTORICAL BACKGROUND

Lokoja i s s i tua ted between a range of hills ctelled

Mount P a t t i and the oonfluence of Rivere Niger and Benue.

IC i s s t r a t eg ica l ly located, therefore, i t serves as

a plaoe of refuge t o those f l ee ing f o r safety. The

Rivera serve as navigable water ways which have contributed

i n no small way i n direot ing the his tory of the s i t y

and i n the subsequent develepastlt . The faa t of i t s physioal location fue l led the

in te rea t of Raropoan explorer^ and missionaries i n the

akea i n ear ly l9Ch Century. The explarat*ag work

of Mungo Park i n 1775 of fbe River Niger Was fu r the r

advanced by W i l l i a m Bafkie, a Br i ton . who i r st i l l

regarded as Che founder of Lokoja, who w a a Pn the expedi-

t i on t o t he area i n 1894.

Lokoja w a s caCapulted from a t r a n s i t t rading

point Oo a v iable commercial centre i n ear ly 1960's and

after. The town thus, acquired the s t a t u s of a consulate

ia 1865 and mdmequently beoame the headquastere of the

northera Proetec t o r a t e i n 1900. Alfhough, Loko ja fame

began to decline i n 1904, when the headquarters statue b

41

was moved to Zungeru, a town fur ther North, i t ,

aevertbeless, witnebeed the inf lux of diverse ethnfs

groups who se t t l ed t o exploit the benefits 'fxom European

a a t i v i t i e s . Thus, LokoJa i e a heteroaenous ao l l ea t io r

of diveree ethnie groups,

Having found themselves i l p Lokeja with the eame

a i m , the various Afrioern cu l tu ra l groups formed a

s ingle po l i t ioa l unit. They a t i l l l i v e today ia t he i r

various @Angr&a allocated t o them during

the early stages of habitation. These ares-

( i ) Hsrusa - hgWa R i m i , Angwa Kurr,

An- Madabo, &gwa Ysrshi,

Sarki Numa, An- Sarikin.

( i i ) Owom - Karaworo or Salamir-Leikum

( i v ) Bassa-Nge - Adankolo and Lokbrmgo,ma

(v ) Igerla - Kporoka

( v i ) Ebirr f i t 0 - Patankoto

( v i i ) Yomba - Shaba Yagi

Today, none of these groups l i ve s i n i so la t ion ,

but side by s ide with products of other uoastifuerrt b

ethnic groups especially with *he population inf lux

42

r e s u l t i n g from s t a t e s c rea t ion i n 1991. This explains

the absence of t radi t ional . /cul tural f e s t i v a l s and,

i n p a r t , why none i s powerful enough t o dominate the other.

Loko ja has always been an a d m h i s t r a t i v e centre.

A t various times, i t w a s t he provincial , d iv i s iona l and

l o c a l government headquart e re , although, t h e metamorpho~is

did not neceseari ly mean development as t h e town had

been too weakened p o l i t i c a l l y u n t i l August 27, 1991,

when the s t a t e of Kbgi w a s created and Lokoja named as

t h e cap i ta l .

3.22 r His tor ica l Monuments

Lokoja, owing t o i t s h is tory , has many h i s t o r i c a l

monuments. Most of t h e monuments were b u i l t e i t h e r during

t h e colonial period o r by t h e colonial masters.

Some of thee e h i s t o r i c a l msnmcmts include t

( i ) Holy T r i n i t y Primary Sohool

This i s t h e f irst primary soh001 i n

Northern Nigerfa, i t was founded i n 1.865

by Bishop Ajayi Crowther. Along with the

Holy T r i n i t y Church es tabl ished i n the same b

year , Crowther propagated t h e Chris t ian f a i f h

i n t h e Nigeri-Benue Confluence area. The

building below w a s erected i n 1907.

plate 3.1 .Holy Tr in i ty Primary School, 1907

( i i ) The Bite where t h e Royal Niger Company F l a ~ was Lowered

Om Jaa l e t , 1900, S i r Fredriok Lugard, then

colonial commandant, was sworn i n as t h e first

governor of Northerm Proct ectorate. The ceremony

took place i n Lokoja and the Royal Nigmr" Company's

f l a g was lowered t o give way t o the Union Jack

whioh s ignal led the formal beginning of colonial

adminfstration i n Northern Nigeria.

The s i t e where t h i e ceremony took place i s marked with

a concrete p i l l a r measuring about 2# metres i n height.

It i s apposite Iaunaculate Cathedral, Loko ja.

Pldb 3-2 .Site where the Royal Niqer Company f l a g was lowered,

Fenced i n 1992.

( i i i ) The Iron of Liberty

Following the abol i t ion of s lave t rade,

Lokoja became a co l lec t ion centre f o r slaves

seized from dealers. The spot where these

slaves were freed is marked with two i ron poles

individually re fer red t o a8 t he I1Iron of LibertyM

Also withim the spot i s a marble plaque

summarising t h e con t r ibu t ion of Bishop Ajayi

Crowther t o t h e development of Lokoja.

This spot i s i n s i d e t h e compound of Holy

T r i n i t y Primary School.

( i v ) The O l d Prison Yard.

The pr ison i s wi th in t h e prSemises of ca t e r ing

Rest House Lokoja. It w a s used by Lord Lugard

t o punish acaused persons who were sentenced

beyond s i x months imprisonment. Persons found

g u i l t y of murder were a l so hanged im t h ~ s prison.

The bui ld ing i s cu r r en t ly being used a s a laundry

f o r t h e Cater ing R e s t House.

(v) The Cenotaph

This cenotaph w a s e rec ted i n memory of t h e

s o l d i e r s who fought during t h e two world w a r s .

It i s a massive concre te block on t o p of which

1s mounted an old a r t i l l e r y . Names o i s o l d i e r s

who dis t inguished themselves i n t h e w a r s a r e

w r i t t e n on a t a b l e t mounted on t h e f r o n t of the

cenotaph. b

Plate33 .The Cenotaph of t h e f a l l e n so ld iers i n World Wars,

3.2.3s Ethnio Composition

Tbe major ethnic groups i n Lokoja a r e the Nupe,

Yoruba~y Igala , Ibo , Ebira and Bassa Komo, The Nupe

have cu l tu ra l and ethnic a f f i n i t y with t h e Hausas.

The c h r i s t i a n population of pr incipal ly the Igbo,

Yoruba and Zgala sub-cultural groups are s t i l l ab le t o

portray t h e i r various cu l tu ra l backgrounds. However,

ths.border between t h e Islamic l i f e s t y l e and t he average

muslim cul ture i s blurred, The two popular re l ig ious

47

of Chr i s t i an i ty and I s l a m a r e almost equally represented.

The average LokoJa man i s easy-going and open-

minded. It i s a l s o not uncommon t o f i n d people wi th

good knowledge of Hausa, Nupe and Yoruba languages and

who can at t h e same time eomtnunicate i n adu l te ra ted

English. This s i t u a t i o n has made f o r r e l i g ious and

c u l t u r a l tolerance.

3.2.4: SociaiL In t e r ac t ion

Soc ia l i n t e r a c t i o n i n Lokoja i s very co rd i a l and

mature pa r t i ou l a r ly between family members, Physical

d is tance i s not u sua l ly a s e r ious b a r r i e r t o i n t e r w t i o n .

A married woman has t h e freedom t o v i s i t he r parents

i n another sompaund, thus , migration t o another s e c t i o n

of t h e town does not break t h e family.

Another s t rong bond of r e l a t i o n s h i p i s i n business,

Traders of d i f f e r en t c u l t u r a l and r e l i g i o u s background

i n t e r a c t together Very eas i ly .

The same appl ies t o co-t enants, co-worker8 , fel low

a r t i s a n s , r e l i g i o u s groups, f r i ends and neighbours . Cer ta in non-governmental organisa t ions have developed

f'tom such re la t ionsh ips . For exampler s o c i a l clubs,

r e l i g i o u s organisa t ions such as Jamat Naseil I a l a m Aid

Group, Artfaans8 Association such a s Brfoklsyere and

Meohanics Association, e ta .

48

Through these organisations, individual act ions

can be guided and influenced while ~ e r t a i n ool lec t ive

decis ions are ohannelled as i n p u t s d n t o various forms

of development programmes.

3.2.5: Social Structure of t h e Famil*

The average indigenous family i s a polygamous one

with an extension t o include immediate r e l a t i o n s and t h e i r

own families. The fa therhusband i s t h e head of the

family even a f t e r an e lder ly ch i ld has "graduatedu t o

form h is own household under a separate roof.

The family compound i s very important t o the family

so much so tha t the physical t e r r i t o r y i s not c l ea r ly

demarcated but becomes nearly a Mclosedw one as many of

t h e t r a d i t i o n a l compounds i n t h e older part6 of the town

are fenced. Many of the compounds now have immigrant

workers and families, sequal f a mtate ereation.

The average family head i s a public/eivXLservant

if not a pensioner o r a farmer. He i s t h e breadwinner,

while the wives a r e potty t raders o r f u l l time housewives.

The boys follow t h e i r f a the r s t o t h e farm, while t h e

g i r l s a s s i a t kn eooking and other household dut ies .

3.3 z ARCHITECTURAL DEVELOPMENT I N LOKOJA -- The r o l e h i s t o r y plays i n a r o h i t e c t u r e oannot be

over-emphasized. Writ ing on ttConcepts of Urban Forms",

Evans (1978) wrote t h a t , "No mat te r how muah modern

a r c h i t e c t u r e may r e j e c t o ld i dea s , a l l planning i s

married om against a background of t h e p a s t , and no t o m -

dwel l ing a r o h i t e c t can espape t h e inf luence of what he

seea around h i m . Continuing, E v m a s t r e s s e d t h a t ,

NIn matters of Urban form, t he r e fo re , h i s t o r y has played

potent , if s t i l l unacknowledged role".

The a r c h i t e c t u r a l development i n Lokoja w i l l ,

t h e r e fo re , be t r aced from t h e t r a d i t i o n a l a r c h i t e c t u r e ,

through co lon i a l a r c h i t e c t u r e t o contemporary a r ch i t ec tu r e .

3.3.1: T rad i t i ona l Archi tec ture

Information on t h e c u l t u r e ( inc lud ing a r c h i t eo tu r a l

s t y l e ) of t h e pre-colonial dwellers i n Lokoja is very

sketchy. But some of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l a r c h i t e c t u r a l e t y l e

seen i n bui ld ings loca ted i n t h e o lde r p a r t s of t h e c i t y

i s a carry-over from pre-colonial s t y l e s .

The bu i l d ing mate r ia la used were determined by t h e i r b

cheapness, a v a i l a b i l i t y , a c c e s s i b i l i t y , and p r eva i l i ng

technology. Thus, ma te r i a l s used by t h e pre-colonia l

dwellers ranged from timber, palms, tha tch , mud t o r a f f i a s .

50

Ra f f i a s are s t i l l i n u se today f o r fencing, t h e family

compounds. P resen t ly , t ethnology has made pos s ib l e t h e

u s e of modern m a t e r i a l s such as masonry blocks, corrugated

i r o n shee t s f o r roof ing , s t e e l , and g l a s s t o express

t r a d i t i o n a l s t y l e s .

The dwellers of pre-colonia l Loko ja were mainly

farmers. The requirements of t h e a g r i c u l t u r a l s o c i e t y

were simpler a place f o r cooking, a p lace t o e a t ,

a p lace t o s i t and t a l k , a p lace t o keep animals, places

f o r s t o r age , a p lace f o r family meetings, and a place

t o s leep . The women, i n t h e dry season, l i k e d t o cook

ou t s i de i n f h e fenced fami ly compound.

Soc io -cu l tu ra l ly , t h e people of Loko ja a r e communal

i n t h e i r l i v i n g s t y l e s . Th i s n e c e s s i t a t e d a forum i n t h e

form of family compound.

A s w r i t t e n i n s e c t i o n 342.5, t h e average fami ly compound

wi th a c o ~ t y a r d i s ve ry important Eo t h e fami ly as many

compounds a r e fenced.

A s i n g l e homestead bu i l d ing i s t h e norm. T r a d i t i o n a l

bui ld ings are mostly square o r r e c t angu l a r i n plan.

The main c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t r a d i t i o n a l a r c h i t e c t u r e b

i n Lokoja a r e t h e fenced family compound, t h e rec tangu la r

p lan , and t h e r oo f ing s t y l e .

5 1

The Upped roof i s used i n nearly a11 traditional

buildings, whether i t be residential buildings or public

buildings, sometimes with l i t t l e modf&ications.

Plde 3.4 .A view of High density h r g e l y traditf onal housing.

b

Plate35 .Mohammed Mai Karifi Mosque i n Maitmi of Lokoja's

Compound, 1899

Plate 3 -6 .Combination of traditional and colonial roofing s ty le s

C * 1953.

3.3.2: Colonial Archi tec ture

Lokoja i s t h e co lon ia l museum of Nigeria.

Many co lon ia l buildings abound i n Lokoja, Dif ferent

e t y l e s were used i n t hese buildings. Colonial archi tec-

t u r e Wought i n modern ma te r i a l s and technology &o Loko ja.

Uhile most of t h e buildings were constructed in - s i t u , some

were prefabfidoated.

Colonial buildings a r e a l s o square o r rec tangula r

i n plan. The co lon ia l masters brought i n a d i f f e r e n t

roof s t y l e t o Lokoja with t h e i r buildings and a rch i t ec tu re ,

Gable roofs were mostly used.

Examples of some outstanding co lon ia l bui ld ings

wbich now serve as h i s t o r i c a l msnuments a r e Luqard Senior

S t a f f Houses.

(i) Lugard Senior S t a f f Houses

These buildings represent s i g n i f i c a n t landmarks.

i n Lokoja. Apart from t h e i r unique s t r u c t u r a l

forms (having been ~ r e f a b r i c a t e d ) , t h e elevated

platforms an which they a r a mounted make them

objects of a t t r a c t i o n . Four of these buildings

a r e i n f a i r l y good shape and a r e now used as

o f f i ce s f o r government pa ra s t a t a l s . The exact b

dates of t he buildings a r e not immediately known

but they do not da t e e a r l i e r than 1900, when Lord

Lugard was sworn i n as t h e first go%ernor of Northern

Proc tec tora te , and not l a t e r than 1904 when he moved

his administrative headquarters from Loko ja.

PI ate 3 -7 .Lord Lugard Senior Staff Houses.

3.3.3: Contemporary Architecture

Writing on t h e "Impact of Modernization",

Susan Denyer (1982) s a i d t h a t , " A l l over t r o p i c a l Africa,

sweeping changes over the last century have inev i t ab ly

dis turbed t r a d i t i o n a l l i f e and cu l tu re , , . hken where

bui ld ing s t y l e s have l a r g e l y been preserved , changing

economic, p o l i t i c a l and s o c i a l condit ions have a l t e r e d

peoples bas ic a r c h i t e c t u r a l requirement^^^.

This i s a l so t h e case i n Lokoja. Contemporecry o r

modern s t y l e s have je t t i soned t h e age-long cherished

family compound (courtyard) s t y l e of building,

Following t h e co lon ia l "invasion" of t r a d i t i o n a l s t y 1 es , buildings have evolved which do not take i n t o aonsidera-

t i o n t h e unique c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of Loko ja,

Contemporary r e s i d e n t i a l ( e.g. Esta tes b u i l t by government )

and public buildings do not r e f l e c t t h e t r a d i t i o n a l

a r e h i t e c t u r a l c u l t u r e of t h e people.

Susan Denyer (1982), s t i l l on t h e same top ic , s a id ,

YAfrican Soc ie t i e s were by no means s t a t i c i n t h e past .

But t h e changes i n t h e twent ie th century may be more

cataclysmic and i r r e v e r s i b l e than any before, W i l l b

t r a d i t i o n a l a r ch i t ec tu re completely vanish ... o r w i l l

i t adapt i t s e l f t o t h e twent ie th - century way of l i f e ? "

Contemporary archi tec ture i n Loko ja has a l ienated

t h e t r a d i t i o n a l s t y l e and a rch i t ec tu ra l values of the

people, A contemporary or modern building i n Lokoja

does not bear elements tha t make i t unique t o Lokoja,

I n the design of the Lokoja multi-purpose c i t y

centre , an attempt w i l l be made t o synthesize modern

and t r a d i t i o n a l s t y l e s and such things as a r e unique

t o LokoJa pa r t i cu la r ly t o get an a rch i t ec tu ra l solut ion

t h a t i s unique t o i t s environment - LokoJa.

3.4 2 ECONOMIC BASE

The loca t ion of Lokoja does not earourage l a r g e

s c a l e farming s u e t o t h e rugged tee ta in . The town has

evolved as an administrative/commercial cen t r e with t h e

ehhanoement of i ts t r a d e and se rv i ce sec tors .

3.4.1: Primary Sector

( i ) M i c u l t u r e

(a) Land Cropping

Farming demands a r e met by many peasant farmure

optimising t h e use of t h e few arab le lands i n F i l s l e ,

Bmda, Korto Kar i f i and other out-lying r iver - s ide

v i l l ages .

( i f ) Animal Husbandry

(a) Fishing

A s i zeab le proportion of t h e indigenous male

population is engaged i n f i s h i n g on t h e River

Niger, e i t h e r as a ful l - t ime o r part-time Job.

The ca tch i s usua l ly sold f r e s h by an equally

l a r g e indigenous female population.

( b ) Livestock

There i s no es tabl ished ranch i n Lokoja.

Instead, individuals keep t h e i r domestic animals

i n f r e e range, although, such animals r e t i r e t o

t he courtyards i n t he evenings.

58

( i i i ) M i n i n ~ and Quarrying

Kogi S t a t e i s blessed with abundant mineral resources.

Among those ava i lab le i n commercial quan t i t i e s a r e the

I ron Ore i n Itarkpe H i l l , i n Okehi L o G e A o , Agbaja and

P a t t i Plateau i n Kogi LeG.Ao, as well as 1rl.mestone and

marble especia l ly i n Jakura. Others include fe ldspar ,

c lay, oramnetat a1 s tones , e t c . 3.4.2, Secondary Sector

( i ) Commercial Ac t iv i t i e s and Financial I n s t i t u t i o n s

Apart from Agricultural products, Ksgi S t a t e

i s a major importer of c a p i t a l and consumer goods.

Such goods as auto spare pa r t s , building mater ia ls ,

t e x t i l e s , processed foods and beverages a r e

imported i n l a r g e quan t i t i e s from Ondo, &no,

Lagos, lEhugu and Anambra s t a t e s , These goods a r e

found i n major markets and along thoroughfares i n

the main urban centres l i k e Okene, Lokoja,

Ankpa, etc.

These commercial f a c i l i t i e s have been made

possible by the existence of many f inanc ia l

. 1 ending and mortgage i n s t i t u t i o n s promoting general

merchandise, building conts t ruct ion, etc.

59

( i i ) Manuf ac tu r ing

Kogi S t a t e i s an i n d u s t r i a l l y disadvantaged

s t a t e , Apart from t h e Ajeokuta I ron and S t e e l

Indust ry , t h e bulk of t h e manufacturing indus t r i e s

are medium and small s c a l e i n d u s t r i e s , These range

from &akura marble indus t ry , (which i s government - owned and bae a po ten t i a l deposit of over 25 mil l ion

t onnes of marble) ; brewing and b o t t l i n g companies ;

food and f i s h processing companies; timber and

wood processing comyani es and weaving f a c t o r i e s ,

The important processing f i r m s i n Loko ja

a r e t h e Quantizi3.e Grinding Indust ry and Jakura

Marble b d u s t r y ,

3,4,3: Ter t i a ry Sector

( i ) Commerce

The regional market at t h e northern edge of

t he town has a most important impact on t h e

performance of t h e urban economy as ide from t h e

o ther markets and ribbons of wholesale and

r e t a i l endeavours, along t h e roads, and t h e

prototype shops b u i l t i n t h e d i f f e r e n t p a r t s of

t h e town by t h e s t a t e government.

The regional market covers an a r e a of 6.5 ha.

and a t t r a c t s merchants from s t a t e s l i k e Ondo, Kano and

3.5 : POPULATION

3.5.1: B a s t Population Trend 1974

The populat ian of Lokoja i s assumed t o have

grown a t an annual r a t e of 5.35% t o 35,000 i n

19p1_.

The period 1974 - 1991p i s a f a i r l y long

w h i c h many admin i s t ra t ive reforms took place

Due t o t he se developments, i t i s assumed t h a t

rate of Lokoja may have been reduced s l i g h t l y

one wi th in

i n Nigeria.

t h e grawth

wi th in t h e

period. It i s est imated t h a t t h e town only increased

i n populat ion from t h e projec ted 1974 f i g u r e of 35,000

at an annual r a t e of &0f)6 .d;o about 44,250 f n 1980 and

s t i l l at a lower r a t e of 3*5$ t o 62,500 i n 1990.

&e - Sex St ruc tu r e

The Age-sex s t r u c t u r e of t h e populat ion of Lokoja

Town i s as ind ica ted i n Table 3.1. It shows tha* t h e

populat ion, l i k e i n o the r developing worlds' urban cen t r e s ,

is dominated by the young age group, i e 15 years and

61

below which accounts f o r 42.38$ of the e n t i r e population.

This however, i s a decrease i n the percentage of t h i s

group compared with the trend s ince 1952 through 1974

when t h i s group accounted for an estimated 5776 and 50%

respect ively according t o relevant census and D m Al - Handash ( ~ h a r r and ~ a r t r e r s ) as t i m a t es . This trend

1s due t o a la rge number of men moving t o the town

i n search of jobs and leaving t h e i r famil ies i n t h e rural

areas . It i s no surpr i se therefore, tha t the population

of the working age group 16 - 45 is 50.7%

Table 3.1: Lokoja Age-Sex Structure, 1992.

HALE FEMALE W E / FEMALE

Age-Bracket Population Popu- 46 porn- lation lation

46

351P14 100 34,286 100 70,200 100

Sourae: Eeoplan Field Sample Survey

43

There i s an overal l high sex r a t i o , t he percentage

of male t o female population with more male ehan female.

O n t h e contrary, the sex r a t i o among the bulk of able - bodied group (15 - 45) i s f a i r l y low. The prevalence of

polygamy among the indigenous community of t h e t r a d i t i o n a l

core of LokoJa metropolis may have promoted a higher

percentage of female population.

On the whole, l i f e expectancy is low due l a rge ly t o

t h e inadequate medical f a c i l i t i e s and services.

3.5.2s Future Growth

( a ) Population

With t h e c rea t ion of the s t a t e and t h e naming

of Lokoja as the c a p i t a l of Kngi S t a t e at the

l a t t e r par t of 1991, the growth trend changed

dramatically. Not only were over 20,000 c i v i l

eervants deployed t o the new s t a t e with a good

number o f them and t h e i r dependants coming t o

Lokoja, many other people came i n searoh of

opportunit ies t o provide t h e required services i n

t h e various spheres with many pr iva te investment

bopportunit i e s opened up through the del iborat e

e f fo r t s of t h e S t a t e Government.

64

Table 3.2: lbt imated Population O f Lokoja 1991 - 2015

Period Eetimat ed Population Adopted Annual Growth - Rate

1991 - 1995 66,200 - 83,600 6.0%

aooo - 2015 142,000 -232,700 5.0%

Source: E-coplan F i e ld Sample Survey.

(b ) Age-Sex S t ruc tu re

These a r e expected changes i n t h e age-sex

s t r u c t u r e of t h e population of Lokoja Metropolis

ovsr time. Among those expectat ions a r e t h e

followingt-

( i ) There i s l i k e l y t o be a f i r t h e r reduct ion i n t h e

percentage of t h e young age group ( i . e, below

1 5 years o ld) r e l a t i v e t o t h e working age group.

This implies a reduct ion i n dependency r a t i o .

This assumption i s based on t h e f a c t t h a t with

inc reas ing employment oppor tuni t ies , many able-

bodied people w i l l migrate from far and near into

t h e s t a t e c a p i t a l . These may be unmarried, ox i f

married may l eave t h e i r fami.li$a behind,

A major improvement i s an t i c ipa t ed i n l i f e

expectancy i n Lokoja Town. This is due t o an

expected improvement i n t h e provision of medical

f a c i l i t i e s and services . The percentage of

population i n t h e r e t i r i n g and r e t i r e d age group

(45 yeare and above), is thys, expected t o inc rease

without necessa r i ly a f f e c t i n g t h e dependency r a t i o

i n t h e same proportion.

The sex r a t i o among t h e working population

(15 - 45 y e a r s ) , may seduce wi th an t i c ipa t ed

reduct ion i n t h e p r a c t i c e of polygamy.

PHYSICAL STRUCTURE OF LOKOJA

3.6.1: E x i s t i n ~ L a n d Use

The land use pa t t e rn i n Lokoja i s charac te r i sed

by arp unhealthy balance and mixture of usere tha t do

not allow f o r a func t iona l work-rest r e l a t i o n s h i p nor

an optimum perf orrnanoe of t h e urban system.

( i ) Res iden t ia l Land Use

About half of t h e e n t i r e urban space is covered

, by p r i v a t e residences. These a r e t o be found i n t h e

o ld sec t ions of Kporoka, karaworo, Kabawa, Cantonment,

F i l e l e , New Layout, Adankolo and Lokongama Areas.

Resident ia l dens i t i e s a r e general ly high.

The low densi ty r e s i d e n t i a l areas i n t h e Southern.

par t of t h e town a r e l a r g e l y governmen* quar ters .

This area accommodates t h e General Hospital and other

government departments, These developments a r e charac-

t e r i s e d by a l a r g e number of co lon ia l designs.

The other f e s i d e n t i a l developments includes t h e

Barracks f o r t h e Police and the Army; t h e new housing

units a t Lokongoma and others along old Okene Road.

( i i ) Commercial

Lokoja i s e s s e n t i a l l y a commercial nerve cent re

of i t s region. There a r e t h ree maJos commercial

cen t res i n t h e town. They ares-

( a ) The Old Market

T U B i s a t r a d i t i o n a l market s i t u a t e d near t h e

Genlral Mosque. Trading is e s s e n t i a l l y i n foodstuffs

and i s ca r r i ed on even i n t o t h e night . This market

sprawls on both s ides of Wallace Road u p h i l l

towards t h e Maigari 's Palace. This Palace - Mosque - Market arrangement gives t h e a rea an i d e n t i t y of

t r a d i t i o n a l c i t y centre.

(b) River-Side Mark2

This i s another Lrad i t iona l market where t r a d i n g

is mainly i n foods tu f f s , p a r t i c u l a r l y those of

aquate o r i g i n and t h e s e a r e f e r r i d d i n from across

t h e River Niger.

( c ) New Market

This i s purely a 4 - day cyc le market whose

range can be as far away as 140km. High grade

goods a r e brought i n a day before t h e market.

It i s not unusual f o r o the r commercial a c t i v i t i e s

i n the Sown t o be paralysed i n favour of t h i s

r eg iona l market.

(i ii) Public and Semi-Public Use

These are made up of educat ional , admin i s t ra t ive ,

h e a l t h and r e l i g i o u s uses.

( a ) Educational

One of t h e ac t i ons taken i n response t o t h o

sudden r i s e i n demand f o r o f f i c e accommodation

w a s t h e conversion of many schools t o o f f i c e s .

There are twelve primary schools i n Lokoja

with an enrolment f igu re of 8,9L3 (see t a b l e 3.3).

These schools exis ted before Lokoja became

a s t a t e cap i ta l . Unavoidably, each of the schools

has been overstretched. The r e s u l t has bean

over-population and over-crowding of v i r t u a l l y

every school i n the c i t y .

Presently, t he re are mine secondary schools

i n Loko ja.

The names of the schools give an idea of t h e

h iseor ica l influence of colonial / re l igious a c t i v i t i e s

i n t h e confluence area ( c h r i s t i a n i t ~ ) and the

indiganous population immigration from the Upper

North i n the wake of t h e colonial in tervent ion

(1slam).

The Kogi S t a t e Polytechnic which took off in

l99l/92 academic season and temporarily s i t e d a t

t he Governmenf Technical College premises has been

re located t o i ts permanent s i t e , t h e premises of

Government Science School, F i le le .

69

Table 3.3: P r i m a r y Schools

S / N O , NAMES OF SCHOOLS MALE FEMALE TOTAL LOCATION

ST, LUKE'S PRY. SCH.

HOLY T R I N I T Y PRY. SCH

ISLAMLYA PRY. SCH.

LGEA PRY. SCH.

ST. PETER'S PRY. SCH.

LGEA PRY. SCH.S/NOPU

BISHOP CROWTMER PRY.

SCH,

SR. MARY'S PRY. SCM.

ARMY CHILDREN SCHOOL

ADANKBLQ

M hW LAYOUT

NhW MAIGARI'S PALACE

LOKONGOMA

F I L E L E

SARKIN NOMA

HOLY T R I N I T Y

C r n C H

M K O J A TOWN- S H I P

ARMY BARRACKS

BAPTIST NURSERY & PRY. 317 285 602 CEMETARY ROAD

SCH.

ANSAEaUI, ISLAMIC PRY. 19 2 79 271 KABAWA SCH.

ST. ANTHOW'S NURSERY 386 246 632 ADANKOLO & PRY. SCH.

Source: Esoplan surveys ( N i g . ) L t d .

Table 3.4: Post Primary Schools

-- S/NO NAMES OF SCHOOLS MALE FEMALE TOTAL LOCATION

ST. CLEMENT'S SEMI- NARY 119

BISHOP D E L I S L E COLLEGE 413

W T . S C I E N C E SCH. 175

MUSLIM COMM. SEC.SCH. 165

CROWTHW MFMORIAL

COLL W E 946

GOVT. TECH. COLLEGE 256

ARM DAY SEC. S C H . 446

119 ADANKOLO

900 KARAWORO

380 FILELE

603 ADANKOLO

268 LOKONGOMA

1,650 NEW LAYOUT

285 ADANKOLO

609 ARMY BARRACKS

Source: EcopPan Surveys (Nig. ) L t d .

1 . , , I , . . . I

( b ) Adminis t ra t ive

hken before Loksja became a s t a t e c a p i t a l ,

Loko ja had been a very import ant a d m i n i s t r a t i v e

c e n t r e , having been t h e headquar ters of t h e thren

Colonial Northern Niger ia , then Kabba Province,

Lokoja Development Authori ty Area, and t h e former

KogA Local Government Area, Severa l Federal and

S t a t e government m i n i s t r i e s , departments,

p a r a s t at a ls and companies had and s t i l l have

o f f i c e s i n t h e town, A ma jo r i ty of t h e s e o f f i c e s

a r e s i t u a t e d i n t h e southern p a r t of t h e c i t y .

( c ) Heal th

Heal th d e l i v e r y i n Lakoja i s by t h e government

and p r i v a t e h o s p i t a l s and c l i n i c s . The bulk of

t h e s e u n i t s a r e i n t h e southern p a r t of t h e city.

A$ t h e t ime Lskoja became t h e s t a t e headquar ters ,

9% had a General Hospi tal which a l s o served as t h e

d e n t a l c e n t r e , matern i ty and c h i l d w e l f a r e and t h e

eye h o s p i t a l , P resen t ly , i t i s a s p e c i a l i s t h o s p i t a l ,

However, a p a r t from t h e General Hosp i t a l , t h e r e b

were a number of p r i v a t e h e a l t h i n s t i t u t i o n s i n t h e

town, Prominent among them a r e Arnkuri Hosp i t a l ,

A l l i e n Hospi ta l and Niger C l i n i c .

72

Table 3.5: Health facilities by bed complement i n Lokoja.

TYPES OF HEALTH FACILITY 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

GEINERAL HOSPITAL 228 228 228 228 228

D* H* u* - I 0 0 n

HFALTM C L I N I C S

MATERNITIES

DISPENSARIES

MAT ERN ITY

TOTAL 228 228 228 228 228

Source: Ecoplan surveys ( ~ i ~ . ) L t d .

Government Health F a c i l i t i e s

(i.) Number of Doctors at Lokoja General Hospital

( f i ) Number of Doctors at the State Headquarters

(iii) Number of Doctors i n the Private Hospitals

(iv) Number of Doctors at the Hoepital Management

Board

TOTAL

Source: EcopLan Survey ( ~ i ~ , ) Ltd, b

73

Table 3.6: Number of But-patients i n the Health F a c i l i t i e s

a t Loko j a Metropolis.

NO. OF om-PATIENTS P W Y W

TYPE OF HEALTH FACILITY 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

OTHER HOSPITALS

D. H . U. 11,950 12,240 12,960 13,632 14,240

HEALTH CLINICS (OPD) - o - - o

MAT FRNITI ES o Y - - o

D I S P ~ S A H I ~ - - I o o

74

Tabla 3.7: Number of In-Patients I n a l l H e a l t h F a c i l i t i e s

A t Loko j a

NO. OF IN-PATIEN'FS PBR YEAR

-PI-.

TYPE OF HEALTH FACILITY 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992

GJQJ WAL HOSPITAL 1690 1720 1760 1800 1920

OTHER HOSPITALS N.A. M.A. N.A. M.A. N.A.

D. H. U. - g - g g

HEALTH CLINICS (OPD) - - g g g

MATZRNITIES - - g g g

DISPENSBRXS g - - ... ... - -- - - - - - --

TOTAL 1690 1720 1760 1800 1920

- Source: Ecoplan Syrveys (Mig.) Ltd.

( d ) Rel ig ion

Colonial imprint i n Lokoja i s demonstrated by

t h e number and variety of r e l i g i o u s houses and

i n s t i t u t i o n s t h a t abound in the t o w n . There is a

s m a l l o ld c e n t r a l Mosque and a site f o r a bigger

and modern one i n t h e Old Market area.

Most of t h e churches a r e t o be found along side

corresponding educational i n s t i t u t i o n s owned and operated

by the same Chr is t i an missions.

( a ) Industr ial ,

Lokoja i s j u s t emerging as an i n d u s t r i a l town.

The most not iceable i n d u s t r i a l endeavour i s t h e

Quartz indus t ry along O l d Okene Road. Small

Saw Mills and handic ra f t s dot t h e place here

and there .

With t h i s Seenario of t h e Land U s e patterm

i n Lokoja, i t can be deduced tha t :

4 The land use pat ternhas been haphazardly

organised as a r e s u l t of an urge t o supply

se rv ices t o m a n without conscious planning;

- Consequently, t h e land use pa t t e rn i s wasteful

as i t does not give an economic working-l.iving-

r ec rea t iona l r e l a t i onsh ip fox good performance

of t h e urban system; and

. There i s a shortage of public u t i l i t i e s ,

f a c i l i t i e s and amenit ies , hence dis tances

covered t o reach some of them a r e inconvenient. .

3.7 t TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES - Transportation systems or f a c i l i t i e s play a major

r o l e i n t h e economic growth of an area by encouraging

industry , agr icu l tura l production and the tapping of

~ t h e r natural resources, It i s a ca t a lys t t o the

development process of any community and good transpor- ,

t a t i o n System i s the r e s u l t of sound planning.

Public road t ransporta t ion avai lable i n Loko j a

metropolf s cons is t s of mini-buses, cars and motor cycles,

These services a r e provided by both government and

pr iva te ly - owned vehicles t h a t operate on i n t r a c i t y ,

i n t e r c i t y and i n t e r s t a t e routes , Ksgi Trarrellers Bus

Service and Kogi peoples i n t r a c i t y Bus service , which

a r e government-owned bus t ransport system, a r e presently

the only organised ones.

Transportation f a c i l i t i e s within the metropolia

can be divided i n t o 2 aategories.

( i ) Road or Highway t ransport system;

(ii) Water Transport System,

(i) Road or Highway Transport System

This accounts f o r about 95% of LokoJa b

t ransportat ion. It permits a f r e e intermix of

vehicles i n the t r a f f i c stream.

The mode of highway t r a n s p s r t a t i a n cons i s t s of

Cars - Passenger8 and Personal e f f ec t s only

m e es - Passengers and Goads of l i g h t volume

Bikes - P a s s e n g e r s f o r shor t d is tance only

Trucks - Mainly cargo f o r i n t e r c i t y t r a n s i t

Pedestrian- Purely movement; within walking dis tances

i n the c i t y .

Parking F a c i l i t i e s --- The ex i s t i ng parking f a c i l i t i es can be classif&&l

i n t o t h e following groups :

Kerbsd.de parking

On-side parking

Off-s t reet parking

Street - regula t ian parking.

Kerbsi de Parking

This .is generally done to bring pgr~ple nearer to

the ir destination but i t however a f f e c t s t h e s t r e e t

capacity by reducing the carriageway width ava i lab le

f o r moving t r a f f i 6.

On-sl -- d e Parkirag

'This; Katstem 3 s nsed L o segregate t h e moving

traffic f r o m those stopping. MotorisLs of ten misuse

t h i s system by parking t h e i r vehic les ind3,scriminately

within t h e metropolis.

C e O f f - S t r e e t Park ing

It i s usual ly used t o remove parking vehic les

f r o m moving t r a f f i c . The present of f - s t r e e t parking

f a c i l i t y wi thin t h e metropolis e l i s t s i n places

such as banks, schools, churches and minis t ry

g r emks es . d. S t r ee t - Rewla t ion Parking

There i s no provision For t h i s f a c i l i t y .

Absence of s t r e e t - regula t ion parking i n Lokoja makes

k t possible f o r motsslats t o park t h e i r vehic les

indiscr iminate ly wi.thin the metropolis. This s i t ua -

t i o n f s prevden t around places such as the

market, post o f f i ce , banks, Kogi Trave l le rs Bus

&esrnin@s, thus , c r ea t ing t r a f f i c congestion

around these places.

(is) Water Transport System

Presently Lokoja i s served by the two f e r r y

routes operated by t h e Federal Inland Waterways

Department s ince 1958. The routes they operate are:-

(a) LokoJa - Ganaja - Shintaka

(b) Ganaja - Shintaku .

79

The f i r s t s a u t e i s b e f n ~ run as a passenger f e r r y

while the second r o u t e i s a passenger/vehicular f e r r y .

I n add i t i on , p r i v a t e ferry opera tors convey

pass engers from Gana j a t o Shintaky and neighbousi ng

villages. The newest en t r an t i n wat e s t r a n s p o r t a t i o n

i s t h e KO& Local Government Council,

3.8: PUBLI'C UTILITIES

(1) Telecommunications

The demand f o r telephone l i n e s increased from

200 subscr ibe rs before s t a t e c r e a t i o n t o 435

subscr ibe rs by March and 900 subscr ibe rs by DecembeQ

1992, The present telephone exchange has a capac i ty

f o r 5,000 lines with an 8 - way duct network system.

( f i ) E l e c t r i c i t y

The present power demand is suppl ied by a 5MVA,

33/llKV transformer w i t h a maximum capaciity o f about

131 amps. Power d i s t r i b u t i o n 9s c a r r i e d out by

31 d i s t r i b u t i o n t ransformers wi th a capac i ty of

about l 1 / 4 5 ~ ~ excluding t h e two d i s t r i .bu t ion t rans for -

mers at Lokongoma Housing Es t a t e wi th a capac i ty

80

(iii) Sewage Disposal

Arrangements t o p ro tec t publ ic heal%h wP t h

respec t t o t h e e f f i c i e n t d i sposa l of sewage, refbse,

s t c . is a p r i o r i t y of any community, Th i s i s because

t h e l e v e l of h e a l t h of a people i s a func t ion of

t h e i r economic output and physica l development

of t h e community. There i s neifthar a pub l ic sewage

d i sposa l system nor a csordinated s o l f d waste mana-

gement f o r the mstropol is , About 85% of t h e

households have t o i l e t f a c i l i t i e s of which 35$

use p i t l a t r i n e s , 25% use water c l o s e t s , and o thers

make use oS apen d i t ches sr nearby bush areas.

(iv) R e f u s 0 DisposaL

There e x i s t s no organis ed r e f u s e d i sposa l

system. The households throw t h e i r r e f u s e i n open

space and ditches or r i v e r course convenienk t o them

and make a nuisance of' the environment by burning

the r e fu se ind3seriminately, Although, t h e r e a r e

some recognised reflase dumping s i t e s l oca t ed i n

some areas t h a t are maintained by t h e s t a t e t a s k

f o r c e on %vironmental San i t a t i on , which employ

manual labour t o c l e a ~ t h e sites regularly by

burning t h e r e f u s e gathered %here.

(v) Drainage

The kopography s f Loko ja i s such t h a t a

high percentage of water r e s u l t i n g from r a i n water.

i s ava i lab le as run-ff. This quickly flows through

t h e ex i s t ing sloping na tura l channels i n t o the River

Niger. The drainage f a ~ i l i t i e d a r e poor, e i t h e r

l i ned o r unlined channela t h a t have been a i l t e d with

sand o r grass and some have been turned i n t o refuae

dumps. This poor drainage contributed t o erosion

i n some par t s of t he metropolis,

( v i ) Water

There a r e 3 sources of water supply i n Lokojab

which servo the people . These ares-

(a) Treated pipe-borne water

( b ) Rivers

(c) Shallow wells

The wells cons t i t u t e a f a i r l y dependable source of

water s ince most of them do not dry up during the dry

season. The source of t he t r ea t ed piped water i s the

River Niger whish i s a surface water. There a re ground - 1eveL resemisrs t ha t s t o r e %he t rea ted water. They are

i n s t r a t e g i c loa=a$ions in t he town t o same, &he: m~3tropolis.

These are related t o t h e environmental and human

development and well-being, Recreat ional and sports

grsunds a r e very few.

Open spaces, most of which can be used f o r r ec r ea t i on

or parks, surround landmarks t h a t por t ray the h i s t o r y

of t h e town, Soms of these open spaces a r e threatened

By v m i a u s forms of encsoackruient i n t he f a c e of' pressure

f o r housing developments.

( i ) Spor ts Ground

This comprises an a c t i v e mini-stadium, f o o t b a l l

and atfaEeLtc f i e l d s attachad to the primary and

post primary s ~ h o o l s i n the &own.

(ii) T s u r i s ~

The h i s t o r y af Lakoja gives i t an unlimited

tourism po ten t i a l . Lokoja has i n f a c t been described

as the %useurn of Nigeriatq.

Soms of t h e tourism potenft ials i n Lokoja

'that c a ~ be developed are:-

(a) Niger-Benue eonflusnce,

(b) Mounk P a t t i - a pl.ateau of over l 5 s q . km w i t h 8

cool weather and wonderful scenery which makes

i t a t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n .

(f)

( i i )

83

Lard Lugard's r e s i d e n c e , o f f i c e and o t h e r c o l o n i a l

s t r u c t u r e s .

The s p o t where t h e f l a g of t h e Royal Niger Cornp~np'

w a s lowered i n 1890,

I r o n of L ibe r ty i d e n t i f y i n g t h e spo t where s l a v e s

were f r e e d i n 1860,

S t r u c t u r e s of t h e f i r s t primary school i n Korthern

Niger ia d a t i n g back to $860 i n Holy T r i n i t y

compouW,

The graveyards of deposed Jhirs of Z a r i a , Kana and

Bida who were sent i n t o e x i l e t o Lokojtz dur ing the

Colonl a1 period,

kroyean cemeteries wki ch i nc lude t h e largest one

in Niger ia c o n t a i n i n g the remains sf var ious European

s o l d i e r s , of t h e West African f r o n t $ a r f o r c e and

nriss ionaries .

World War Cenotaph adorned with machine guns, Canons

and names o f some d i s t i n g u i s h e d soadi srs . R s c r e l t i o n and O p e n Spaces

The Lokoja c l u b and t h e Cinema house a r e t h e

only formal r e c r e a t i o n p o i n t s except f o r o t h e r

wcat torsd table t e n n i s and local 18AyaR' gemre po in t s

(these are enjoyed i n house frontages and thus have

no def ined b o u n d a r ~ e s ) .

84

3.10 : SUMMARY AND CONCLGSEONS

Lskoja i s a he-kerogenous society where no ethnic

langxaage is strong enough t o dominate the other. This

expl a ins t he absence sf t rad i t iona l /cu l tural f esLivals

in t h e c i ty . Islam and c h r i s t i a n j t y are almost equdly

rspr es ent ed . The average Lokoja m a n i s easy-going and open-minded.

The family compound is very important t o t ho family and

many of *;hem are fenced. Thus, the people sf Lokoja a r e

oomnr@nal i n t h e i r l i f e s t y l e . The family compound serves

as a forum f o r diverse a c t i v i t i e s .

Thore is a dearth sf recrea t iona l f a c i l i t i e s i n the

motsopolis. T h i s accounts, i n part, f o r t he low l i f e

expeetauacy of the people. Recreation is necessary f o r

the physical. and mental heal th of individuals.

It provides re laxa t ion , entertainment, and general r e l i e f

from the da i ly humdrum rout ine of l i f e .

The s trongest elements of open apace (family compound),

courtyards and hipped roof i n Lheir t r a d i t i o n a l a rch i tec ture

w k l . 1 be u t i l i s e d in t h e des ign of Lhe multi-purpose

c i t y centre. This will give the cenkre an arehitectusal.

PART TWO : DOCIJMENTATION ---.

CHAPTER FOUR

CASE S T U D I E S

4 .1: INTRODUCTION:--------------------------------- 85

4.2: YABA COMMUNITY CENTRE, LAGOS:----------------- 86

4.3: ISOLO COMMUNITY CENTRE, LAGOS:---------------- 92

4.4: U.K. BELL0 ARTS THEATRE, M1NNA:--------------- 99

4 .5: JhWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE, TORONTO-CANADA:------ 106

4.6: INTJBNATIONAL FORUM, TONYO - JAPANI----------- 109

4.7: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION:----------------------- 121

CEIAF'TER FOUR

CASE STUDIES

4.1: IN?'HODUCTION

The ob jec t ive of a c a s e s tudy i s t o t ake a c r j . t i c a l

a p p r a i s a l of e x i s t i n g r e l a t e d p r o j e c t s wi th a view t o

i d e n t i f y i n g the p o s i t i v e and negat ive a spec t s of such

p r o j e c t s . It i s agreed t h a t a r c h i t e c t u r e can only be

judged as being s u c c e s s f u l only i f i t s t ands t h e t e s t o f

t h e passage of t ime. Hence i t i s only with time t h a t one

can convenient ly adjudge a des ign t o be success fu l ( i f

It performs t h e funct ions i t w a s meant t o perform), o r a

f a i l u r e ( i f i n s t e a d of s o l v i n g the problems, i t c r e a t e s

more problems f o r the u s e r s ) .

The informat ion obtained from the a p p r a i s a l w i l l

guide t h e des igner of new and s i m i l a r p r o j e c t s . The

p o s i t i v e a spec t s s h a l l be incorpora ted i n t h e new proposal

whilc e f f o r t s w i l l be made t o so lve t h e problems of tbe

negat ive a spec t s . It i s only through t h i s t h a t an

a r c h i t e c t can b e t t e r enhance t h e q u a l i t y and e f f i c i e n c y

of bui ld ings i n t h e s o c i e t y .

For a comprehensive a n a l y s i s , f i v e case s t u d i e s w i l l

be s tud ied : t h r e e indigenous and t h e two f o r e i g n ;

86 4.2: YABA COMMUNITY CENTRE, LAGOS

Yaba Community cen t re was designed by Architect

(prof .) 0 . Adeolu f o r t he Sadnt Dominic Catholic Church,

Yaba, Lagos. The ~ 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 project was j o i n t l y financed

by t h e German and t h e Nigerian Communities.

The Centre i s located within t h e Sa in t Dominic Church

and Saint Pa t r ick ' s Primary School premises along Herbert ,

Macaulay Way i n Yaba, Lagoe.

The cen t re cons i s t s of a medical c l i n i c , c a t e r ing

s e c t i o n , Library f o r 3000 volumes and 65 s e a t s f o r readers ,

ca reer counsel l ing, multi-purpose h a l l f o r 3000 people

and an adminis t ra t ive u n i t .

Design Concept

The bui ld ing i s a combination of a two-storey

bu i ld ing and a one s to rey burllding l inked together w i t h

a c e n t r a l courtyard. Two entrances l ead i n t o t h e cen t re ,

one i n t o t h e main lobby and t h e other t o t he c l i n i c

a rea .

The f r o n t facade emphasisss ho r i zon ta l i t y with a

band of concrete beam and parapet def in ing the continuous

louvre glass window of t h e multi-purpose h a l l on t h e

upper f l oo r . The ove ra l l composition i s simple and

a t t r a c t i v e .

-9- f IRST FLOOR PLA d

plahe 4.1: ~pyroach elevation showing horizontal band of

windows of the multi-purpose hall.

-

plate 4.2; View of the centre lrou the Primary ~chool.

plate 4.3: Entrance area showlnk verandahs from where a l l the functional spaces can be :

assessed.

Construction Materials

Tho two-storey pa r t of the c e n t r e i s a concre te

frame s t r u c t u r e . This i s f i l l e d wi th non-load - beaming

sandcre te block wal l s . The one-storey bu i ld ing i s made

of load-bearing sandcre te wal ls . The two-Storey pa r t

has a f l a t concrete roof .

AP%'R_A&SAL - - - Merits

The mer i t s a r e as follows :-

10 The Divers i ty of f a c i l i t i e s i n t he cen t r e encourages

an optimum usage.

2. The l o c a t i o n of t he h a l l on t h e upper f l o o r e l iminates

t h e need f o r i n t e r i o r supports t h a t can reduce

t h e maximum u t i l i z a t i o n of c i r c u l a t i o n area .

3. The d e s i w and choice of mate r ia l s i s c o s t

e f f e c t i v e ,

4 . A l l t h e f a c i l i t i e s i n tho cen t r e can be used

simultaneously.

5 . Circu la t ion and Secu r i t y of tho cen t r e i s e f f i c i e n t .

Demerits

The demerits a r e as fol-lows :-

l t The parking space 5 s not adequate

2. No provis ion f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s .

3.

4

4.3:

c l u b

The s i t e w i l l not a l low f o r f u t u r e expansion,

It i s d i f f i c u l t f o r d i s a b l e d persons t o make u s e

of t h e multi-purpose h a l l on t h e upper f l o o r .

(For an upper f l o o r l o c a t i o n , a ramp w i t h s u i t a b l e

g rad ien t should be provided) .

ISOLO COMMUNITY CEXTRE , LAGOS

I s o l o Community Cent re w a s f i nanced by t h e Rotary

of I k e j a , and donated t o t h e people of I s o l o i n

1977. The one-storey b u i l d i n g occupied a l a n d a r e a of

about 3.78 h e c t a r e s of l a n d l o c a t e d a long Lagos S t a t e

Proper ty Development Corpora t ion (LSDPC) housing e s t a t e ,

o f f I s o l o road and a few metres away from S.O.S. c h i l d r e n ' s

v i l l a g e and Lagos S t a t e Po ly techn ic ,

The f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e c e n t r e inc lude : A l i b r a r y ,

c l i n i c , Multi-purpose h a l l of about 400 s e a t i n g c a p a c i t y ,

Male and Female d r e s s i n g rooms, s t a g e , k i t c h e n , s t o r e 8

and t o i l e t s . The Rotary c l u b of Tsolo l a t e r made an

a d d i t i o n a l p r o v i s i o n f o r c h i l d r e n ' s r e c r e a t i o n a l garden,

Tab le Tennis and boxing r i n g ,

Design Concept

The I s o l o Community Cent re i s a one-storey s t r u c t u r e

w i t h an a d j o i n i n g open-paved cour tyard . The major

c i r c u l a t i o n a r e a i s t h e l a r g e en t r ance porch from which

major a c t i v i t i e s i n t h e c e n t r e can be approached,

I. ISDLO COlTl~UNlTY CETRE 2. ULATER RESEKVOIR 3. PWVf ARY SCHOOL 'f: S. 0 S CtflLt3KEVS VILLAGE S. L.S. D. PC. HOUSING ESTATE

DRESSIHG worn STORE STAGE flULT~-PUKPO5E HC PKOJECTDK t?Oi

LI BKARY CLINIC KITCHEV To1 LETS

ylaze 4.4: Apprmach elevation showing the eleganes shrubs l i k e the Eqyptian obelisks Or qyo" Masquerade.

plate 4.3: Approach elevation. The Uoor to the l e f t i s the entrance door to the library.

p l a t e 4.b: ~ u l t i - p u r p o s e h a l l showing ctilupn-free i n t e r i o r space and adequate n a t u r a l l i g h t i n g and cross-vent i la t ion . The sea , t s nave Peen removed t o the h a l l s

yard i n order t o c l ean the f loor .

p l a t e 4.7: ~ u l t l - p u r p o s e hal l ' s yard

L p l a t e 4.8: c h i l d r e n ' s ~ e c r e a t l o n a l Garaen.

p l a t e 4.9: View of t h e cen t re from the transformer s t a t i o n . Notice the klCChen block

.plate 4.10: The CenWe'S exyanslve open space showing the ground drains.

98.

Cons t ruc t ion M a t e r i a l s

Ekonomically and l o c a l l y - a v a i l a b l e b u i l d i n g m a t e r i a l s

were employed i n t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n of t h e c e n t r e . The

w a l l i s load-bear ing s a n d c r e t e hollow blockwork, roo fed

w i t h t imber t r u s s and a s b e s t o s r o o f i n g s h e e t s .

- A P E E & Z ; . ! i L , Mer i t s

The m e r i t s of t h e c e n t r e a r e as fo l lows: -

There i s adequa te c r o s s - v e n t i l a t i o n i n t h e mulki-

purpose h a l l .

An a r t i c u l a t e d c i r c u l a t i o n p o i n t w a s achieved w i t h

t h e e n t r a n c e porch.

There i s s u f f i c i e n t open space i n f r o n t of t h e h a l l

f o r ou t door a c t i v i t i e s .

There i s enough p a r k i n g space i n t h e c e n t r e .

The mul t i -purpose h a l l i s f r e e of i n t e r n a l columns

which b lock s i g h t l i n e s i n a l a r g e i n t e r n a l space .

The l o c a t i o n of t h e c e n t r e i s e a s i l y a c c e s s i b l e

t o a l l members of t h e community.

Demerits

The demer i t s a r e as fo l lows: -

(1) The a m h i t e c t u r e i s no t impres s ive enough f o r t h e

s o c i a l t a s t e of t h e community members and, t h u s ,

no t a t t r a c k i v e .

( 2 ) Location of t he p ro jec t ion room i s obs t ruc t ive

t o e f f i c i e n t c i r c u l a t i o n i n t he h a l l .

(3 ) The t o i l e t s and ki tchen a re badly located.

( 4 ) Spa t i a l arrangement does not consider expansion

i n the multi-purpose h a l l .

( 5 ) The secu r i t y a t the cen t re i s not adequate.

4. l c : U.K. BELL0 ARTS THEATRE, MINNA

The cen t re was designed and constructed by J u l i u s

Berger Nigeria i n 1993 f o r t h e ?Jiger S t a t e Council f o r

Arts and Culture t o t h e memory of Col. U.K. Bello who*

as t h e adc t o t he then Head of S t a t e , Gen. Ibrahim

Babangida, was k i l l e d i n t he f a i l e d coup d ' e t a t of

22nd Apri l , 1990. It was financed by the Niger S t a t e

Ministry of Works and Housing.

It i s located i n t h e parade ground on t h e o u t s k i r t s

of Minna.

The cen t r e i s made up of a modern t h e a t r e with i t s

adminis t ra t ive u n i t , museum with i t s adminis t ra t ive u n i t ,

shops, and res tauran t .

Design Concept

The Centre i s a communal design with movement as

a theme, The four main func t iona l spaces, a t h e a t r e ,

huseum, shops and res tauran t a r e l inked together with

paved walkways with t he walkway between the t h e a t r e and

museum bolonnaded.

plate 4.11: View showrng the &ate house, maln entrance into the theatre, and colonnaded walkways.

plate 4.12: Entrance hall of the cylindrical theatre showing granite-finished floors.

I plate 4.13: one @f the Entrance doors into the

theatre,

plate 4.14: view showing colonnaded walkways linking the theatee t o the museum through the canopy t o the e x i t on the connecting wall and the extensive walkways and l ighting poles.

- plate 4.15: view showing the museem linked to the

theakre by the colonnaded walkway and the large open space.

p late 4.16: Museum Entrance

plate 4.17: Museum with i ts rectangular adminis- t ra t ive area.

p late 4.18: view of the U . K . Bel io ~ r t s theatre from the museum area. ~ o t i c e the staxf e x i t road from the complex and the nearby buildings.

plate 4.19; &hops arranged around a large circular courtyard.

plate 4;~:

The a r c h i t e c t u r e of t h e cen t re i d e n t i f i e s with

Hausa t r a d i t i o n a l a r c h i t e c t u r a l forms which a r e mostly

cy l ind r i ca l . The gate house and the four main elemente

a r e cy l ind r i ca l i n form. The t h e a t r e and museum a re

c i r c u l a r surrounded by rec tangular volumes, which s erve

f o r t h e adminis t ra t ive o f f i c e s . A wa l l , apar t from t h e

colonnaded walkway, connects t h e t h e a t r e and t h e museum

together . A well-defined e x i t with a canopy cu t s through

t h e wall and t h e colonnaded walkway midway between t h e

t h e a t r e and the museum.

Construction Materials

The cen t r e i s of a pre-cast and an i n - s i t u

const ruct ion. The colonnaded walkways and the columns

and beams i n t h e cen t r e a r e pre-cast . The wal ls a r e

non-load beaming sandcret e blockwork as concrete columns

and beams ca r ry t h e s t e e l t r u s s roof s t ruc tu re s .

The f l oo r s of t he t h e a t r e and museum areas a r e f in i shed

i n g r an i t e .

A P P R _ & Z S A L - - Merits

(1) A communal a r c h i t e c t u r e with l a r g e extensive open

spaces which can serve f o r a wide v a r i e t y of *

a a t i v i t s s . ( 2 ) I d e n t i f i e s with Hausa t r a d i t i o n a l a r c h i t e c t u r a l

forms which make i t in t imate t o t h e people,

A l l t h e f a c i l i t i e s of t h e c e n t r e can be used

concurrent ly without i n t e r f erence . With t h e d i f f e r e n t f unc t i ona l spaces l inked toge the r

wi th walkways, and colonnades, i t ensures an

e f f i c i e n t c i r c u l a t i o n through t h e cen t r e .

Being a one-storey bu i l d ing enables d i sab led persons

t o use a l l t h e f a c i l i t i e s .

Demerits

Not e a s i l y a cce s s ib l e t o t h e i nhab i t an t s of Minna,

Being not e a s i l y a cce s s ib l e , t h e shops and r e s t au r an t

a r e not i n use . Indeed, t h e r e s t a u r a n t i s r e n a e d

out f d a c h r i s t i a n ag ran i s a t i on f o r t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s .

No adequate s e c u r i t y provis ions .

No provis ion f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s .

Not s e l f - s u s t a i n i n g among t o i t s l o c a t i o n and

l a c k of r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i e s .

Simple and c l e a r forms which a r e easy t o cons t ruc t

wi th conventional cons t ruc t i ona l methods.

Adequate parking spaces .

JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTRE, TORONTO - CANADA

The Jewish Community Centre was designed by Jerome

Markson f o r t h e Young Men's Hebrew Associat ion i n a

Pa.rk l i k e s e t t i n g n o r t h of Toronto. The bu i l d ing i s

annexed t o t h e e x i s t i n g bu i l d ing on a s t e e p l y s lope .

It con ta ins fan-shaped t h e a t r e complex, workshop,

dancing s t ud io , amphitheatre , s t u q o l abo ra to ry , l e c t u r e

rooms, lounge and off i c e s .

main k v s l plmn

Plate 4.21 : Jewish Community Centre, Toronto - Canada.

Design Concept

The complex i s designed with a modern a r c h i t e c t u r a l

language of discovery i n freedom of s p a t i a l planning and

organisat ion. This was permitted by re inforced concrete

and adaptat ion of f l a t roofs .

The s k i l l and engaging complex i s joined t o an

e x i s t i n g bui ld ing i n a park-line s e t t i n g t h a t arouses

t h e mind and i n t e r e s t o f passers-by. The s p a t i a l planning

s l i d e s i n t o one another. The design produces an e f f ec t

of openness and intimacy . The s p a t i c a l organisa t ion which i s seemingly complex

produced a simple a t t r a c t i v e e leva t ion when seen i n

three-dimensions.

Construction Mater ia ls

The bui ld ing was constructed with re inforced concrete

and conCrete f l a t roofs .

& E E R - A E S & L - Merits

The meri ts o f t h e complex a r e as follows:-

1. An exquis i te three-dimensional composition.

2. Organical planned with the s i t e .

3. It al iminates boxea i n s p a t i a l composition.

4. , The f a c i l i t i e s and diverse.

5. Emotionally arousing complex with r i c h i n t e rp l ay

of concrete and g lass .

Demerits

The demer i t s of t h e c e n t r e a r e as fol lows:-

1. I n t e g r a t i o n of d i f f e r e n t geometr ic forms r e s u l t s i n

was te of f u n c t i o n a l s p a c e s , th rough dead and narrow ends.

2. The c e n t r e has t o o many u n c o n t r o l l e d en t r ances .

4.6 INTERNATIONAL FORUM, TOKYO - JAPAN

The Tokyo I n t e r n a t i o n a l Forum w a s des igned by

New York baaed a r c h i t e c t , R a f a e l , Vinc ly : He won t h e

i n t e r n a t i o n a l compe t i t i on f o r t h e b u i l d i n g i n 1989 out of

395 e n t r i e s from 68 c o u n t r i e s . C o n s t r u c t i o n work s t a r t e d

December, 1992 and complet ion w a s c e l e b r a t e d i n June 1996.

The p r o j e c t c o s t was 1.65 b i l l i o n US d o l l a r s .

The s i t e s 145,000 s q u a r e met res of space , i s S i t u a t e d

a d j a c e n t t o t h e G i r i n z a Commercial and en t e r t a inmen t

d i s t r i c t . The s i t e g f a c e s ou t over two c i t y b locks t o t h e

I m p e r i i l Pa l ace moat and gardens t o t h e west. On t h e

e a s t i t i s f l a n k e d by t h e n o i s y t r a c k s of Japan Railways.

On t h e wes t e rn s i d e , Vinoly r e s p e c t e d t h e s t r e e t

g r i d by segment ing t h e performance h a l l s i n t o f o u r boxy

t h e a t r e s . On t h e e a s t e r n s i d e , he curved t h e conference

h a l l t o t h e boundary of an a d j a c e n t e l e v a t e d r a i l r o a d and

completed t h e a r c as a sharpened e l l i p s e .

" I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e s t r u c t u r e s t h a t house t h o main

h a l l s and e x h i b i t i o n space , t h e r e a r e spaces f o r conferences .

Also, i nc luded a r e r e s t a u r a n t , r e t a i l and in fo rma t ion

c e n t r e s , pa rk ing and o f f i c e s .

Intarnational Forum, Tokyo, Japan Architect Rafael Vifioly Architects

site plan 4. I

longitudinal section

lourlh lloor plan

second lloor plan

WN ground lloor plan (scale 1:25001

Fig .4.5

seventh floor plan

slxth floor plan

filth floor plan

Fig.4.6

113, The paved and p lanted p l a z a u n i t e s and l i n k s a l l t h e f a c i l i -

t i e s v i s u a l l y whi le t h e G l a s s Hal l and i t s br idge l i n k s

t o t h e Audi tor ia , organise t h e main pedes t r i an movement

w i t h t h e complex.

D e s i m Concept

The forum i s an a r c h i t e c t u r e of t ransparency and

movement, It i s an Urban triumph which i s a mammoth

pub l i c work p lace t h a t i s at once monumental and in t ima te .

The forum i s i n two halves:

The boxy t h e a t r e s (gerformance h a l l s ) and t h e G l a s s H a l l

h he Conference all). Between t h e two ha lves , t h e

a r c h i t e c t d iagnnal ly extended an epen p l a z a t o t h e f l a n k i n g

s t r e e t s , providing a passage way f o r commuters between

busy Tokyo s t a t i o n two blocks t o t h e North and Yurakacho

S t a t i o n t o t h e South. Th i s s t r a t e g y g r e s u l t s i n a b u i l d i n g

t h a t while l a r g e l y h o r i z o n t a l never f e e l s overblown o r

c l aus t rophob ic , a s do many urban c e n t r e s and coliseums.

The t h r e e elements a r e t h u s , a s t a b l i s h e d ; t h e Great

Ha l l s f o r Conference, music and drama, t h e Glass H a l l as

t h e p r i n c i p a l o r g a n i s a t i o n a l e n t r y and break-out space f o r

conferences and assemblies and t h e mediating p laza as t h e

pub l i c c i t y space t h a t u n i f i e s t h e s e elements.

Beneath t h e p l a z a l i e s t h e f o u r t h element, t h e g rea t

Exhib i t ion H a l l , capable of s t a g i n g major events .

The e x t e r i o r p laza , o r urban garden, b r ings t o g e t h e r and

c o n t r o l s a l l e n t r y p o i n t s t o both t h e G l a s s B a l l and t o t h e

Great Halls whose .uppar Lobby l e v e l i s a c c e s s i b l e

Plate 4.22: View from South shows granite base and Ventila- t ion louvres of curved glass h a l l , and stepped, cantilevered volumes of aluminium - clad theatre:

Plate 4.23: Eastern mevation of glass hal l reveals curved roof truss above bullet - train r a i l l i n e .

Plate 4.24: Theatre block i n clad i n Brazi l ian granite and gridded aluminium panels. Courtyard! i s paved i n black granite; i l luminated g l a s s path m a r k s primary public c i rcu la t ion .

from s i x po in t s served by e s c a l a t o r on t h e Road 402

f ron tage , a l l wi th in t h e framework of t h e p laza f l o o r plane.

Construct ion Mater ia ls

The s o l i d form of t h e e levated Audi tor ia - t h e Great

H a l l s , l i n i n g t h e Metropolitam Road 402 a r e c lad i n v a s t

w a l l s of B r a z i l l i a n g r a n i t e , wi th t h e e leva t ions f a c i n g

t h e p laza i n me t a l l i c grey aluminium panels. I n t e r n a l l y ,

t ho h a l l s a r e f i t t e d out iwith a fabulous range of ma te r i a l s

inc lud ing exo t i c hardwoods. Conversely, t h e G l a s s H a l l

i s an astrin6;ent s k i n of laminated g laz ing t o both t h e

p l aza and a l o f t , wi th p r o t e c t i v e w a l l s of B raz i l i an g r a n i t e

on p recas t concre te and aluminium pane l l ing , sh i e ld ing

t h e g rea t space wi th in from t h e no i s e of t h e t r a i n s , on

t h e outr igged e a s t e r n f l ank . The p laza i t s e l f i s a v a s t

a r e a of Cambrian Black Gran i t e , conta in ing Zelkora t r e e s ,

and l i n e d wi th s a f e s , shops and g a l l e r i e s . It I s t h r e e

ou te r edges a r e separa ted by toughened g l a s s margins from

t h e pe r iphera l pub l i c pavements t h a t a r e formed i n Impala

Black Grani te , wi th s p e c i a l curbs and bo l l a rds . The p laza

con ta ins access t o s e v e r a l subways, which occur on t h r e e

s i d e s of t h e s i t e and t h e p r i n c i p a l access t o t h e Yurakucho

l i n e i s s i gna l l ed by a spec tacu la r s t r u c t u r a l - g l a s s * entrance canopy.

The subd iv i s ion of t h e forms i n t o c l e a r programmatic

elements - Great Halls, G l a s s H a l l and subter ranean

Exhibi t ion Hall - has given r i s e t o a corresponding range

Plate 4.25: Beneath theatre block, shops and restaurants l i n e concourse connecting forum t o subway l i n e s and parking.

Plate 4.26: In exhibi t ion h a l l , c lus ters of tubular s t e e l columns support plaza.

H A L L A:. ' 5,000-SEAT THEATER

WEST-EAST SECTION THROUGH HALL A 1 I l G l 4 5r

WEST-EAST SECTION THROUGH HALL C

DETAIL OF BArFLE

120.

of s e p a r a t e forms. The Great H a l l s a r e a heavy s t r u c t u r e

of conc re t e and s t e e l , e s s e n t i a l t o t h e n a t u r e of t h e

o v e r s a i l i n g c a n t i l e v e r e d s h e l l s of t h e overhead Audit o r i a

o o n t a i n e r s . The G l a s s H a l l i n c o r p o r a t e s a two - column

suppor t f o r a mega-truss u s i n g c a s t , forged and p l a t e

metal cons t ruc t ion .

A E P R _ A & Z A L - - - Meri ts

The m e r i t s of t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l Forum a r e as fo l lows; -

The c o o l boxy t h e a t r e s and s t r u c t u r a l l y exuberant

e l l i p t i c a l conference h a l l blend Japanese p o l i t e n e s s

w i t h western express iveness , a combination t h a t

b e n e f i t s t h i s hybr id b u i l d i n g f o r an i n t e r n a t i o n a l

audience.

Clear o r g a n i s a t i o n of t h e forum's programme on

i t s t r i a n g u l a r s i t e .

A n urban tr iumph which succeeds i n c r e a t i n g a monumental

and i n t i m a t e mammoth p u b l i c work p l a c e at once.

O f f e r s c l e a r view of i t s surroundings by i t s

t ransparency .

A t t r a c t s t h e Pub l i c e s p e c i a l l y wi th t h e p r o v i s i o n

of a passage which c u t s d i agnna l ly through t h e

complex f o r commuters between two busy t r a i n s t a t i o n s .

(6 ) The spaces a r e c l e a r l y d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e t o observers .

( 7 ) Being t h e r e s u l t of an i n t e r n a t i o n a l compet i t ion

which had 395 e n t r i e s , i t ensures t h a t t h e spaces

121 0

w i t h i n t h e complex a r e w e l l - a r t i c u l a t e d ,

(8) The p l a z a , which b r ings t o g e t h e r and c o n t r o l s

a l l e n t r y p o i n t s , s e r v e s a s an i d e a l communal space

where people don ' t j u s t meet bu t ge t i n each o t h e r ' s

way

( 9 ) The p r o j e c t a f f i r m s t h e s t a t u s of t h e Japanese economy

as a major g l o b a l economic f o r c e .

Demerits

Rather t o o expensiva

The forum's d i z z i n g c i r c u l a t i o n and l a r g e expanse

of glass g iven a psycho log ica l f e e l i n g of i n s t a b i l i t y .

It i s t o o po l i shed t o f e e l p o p u l i s t . I t ' s exc lus ive

downtown a d d r e s s , f i n e l y f i n i s h e d h a l l s , Engl i sh

language s i g n s and secured basement park ing garage

( w i t h a p r i v a t e en t r ance f o r d i g n i t a r i e s ) a r e meant

t o appeal t o an e l i t e i n t e r n a t i o n a l audience.

The c o n s t r u c t i o n was complex, o f t e n i n v o l v i n g

o r i g i n a l i nnova t ive methods.

No p r o v i s i o n f o r r e c r e a t i o n a l f a c i l i t i o s . SUMMAHY AND CONCLUSIONS

There a r e s t r i k i n g d i f f e r e n c e s between t h e case

s t u d i e s i n Nige r i a and t h o s e of t h e advanced c o u n t r i e s .

The d i f f e r e n c e s a r i s e i n d i v e r s i t y of f a c i l i t i e s and s c a l e . b

The fo l lowing a r e t h e summary of t h e conclus ions made:

1226

1. Location of t h e cen t r e i s of paramount importance

i f i t i s t o s e rve i t s purposes. For a communal

c en t r e t o be v i a b l e , as seen i n t h e case of t h e U.K.

Bello A r t s t h e a t r e , Minna, proximity t o t h e t a r g e t

u sc r s i s very important . It should be loca ted c lose

t o r e s i d e n t i a l neighbourhood.

2. Communal c en t r e s i n N i p r i a a r e mainly f o r educat ional

and welfare a c t i v i t i e s . This accounts f o r why most

of them a r e not se l f -Sus ta in ing . F a c i l i t i e s which

can genera te funds, l i k e cinema, indoor s p o r t s , h a l l 9

shops, e t c a r e l a r g e l y absent . Divers i ty of t h e

f a c i l i t i e s i n a cornrnunal c en t r e makes t h e c e n t r e

more a t t r a c t i v e and engouraging t o u se r s across

age groups, sex , and r e l i g i o n .

3 . S p a t i a l arrangement and Noise Control i s important.

4, The s t r u c t u r e must be economical and a t t h e same time,

arouse emotions and should respec t t h e human s ca l e .

5. S ecu r i t y i n t h e c e n t r e and easy a c c e s s i b i l i t y t o t h e

cen t r e i s important .

6 . The cen t r e must be made t o generate i t s own revenue

f o r easy maintenance of f a c i l i t i s s .

CHAPTEFt F I V E

THE PROPOSED SITE: AND ENVIRONS

5.5: SUMMAHY AND CONCLUSION:-------------------- 157

CHAPTER FIVE

THE PROJECT SITE AND ENVIRONS

5.1 : INTRODUCTION

This chapter covers a l l t h e necessary d a t a ana lys i s

of t h e s i t e of t h e p ro jec t and i t s immediate environm,

It s t a r t s with a broad overview of t he s i t e of l oca t i on ,

t h e c i t y of l oca t i on and f i n a l l y , t h e micro s i t e of t he

p ro jec t .

-

5.2 : STATE OF LOCATION

The p ro j ec t i s loca ted i n Kogi S t a t e of Nigeria.

It i s one of t he n ine s t a t e s crea ted i n 1991 by t h e then

Head of St a t e , Gen, Ibrahim Babangida,

Kogi S t a t e i s t h e r e s u l t og t h e amalgamation of

t e n Local Government Areas carved out of t h e former Kwara

S t a t e with s i x o thers s a w e d out of t h e former Benue

S t a t e . The s t a t e i s l oca t ed wi th in t h e middle b e l t of

Nigeria , t he Guinea Savanna grassland. It i s bounded i n

t h e nor th by Niger S t a t e , t h e Federal Cap i ta l Te r r i t o ry

and Plateay S t a t e ; i n t h e West by K w a r a S t a t e ; i n t h e

south by Ondo S t a t e , Edo S t a t e , E n u p S t a t e and Anambra b

S t a t e ; and i n t h e e a s t by Benue S t a t e .

KEY I - Internatoonal B o u 1 . 4 ~

0 A b ~ ~ a - C a p ~ l a l o f N I ~ U I ~

k State Cap~ralr

lJl&P OF IUU STATE SHMUING THC LOCAL MVEKNmENT AREAS AN13 THE BOREl?lNG r'5

The Rivers Niger and Benue run v i r t u a l l y through

t h e whole l eng th of Kogi S t a t e i n t h e nor th , hence playing

a prominent r o l e i n punctuaiilng t h e t e r r a i n . The s t a t e

i s f a i r l y rugged i n t he c e n t r a l &ea, where the Agbaja

Plateau r i s e s 356.8m above s e a l e v e l , and gently

undulat ing i n many o t h e r places.

The confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue a t Lokoja

is af great economic and t o u r i s t relevance t o t h e s t a t e .

5.3: CITY OF LOCATION

The project i s loca ted i n Lokoja, t h e c a p i t a l c i t y

of Kogi S t a t e . It is s i t u a t e d on t h e west bank 08 t he

River Niger a t t he confluence of Rivers Niger and Benue,

It is bounded wi thin l a t i t u d e 7 O 4 7 ' N and 70501N, and

longitude fi045@ E.

Loko j a was t h e f i r s t B r i t i s h set t lement i n Nigeria

as well as an important cen t r e f o r the exchange of

i n t e rna t iona l goods during the l a t e r ha l f of t he 1 9 t h and

e a r l y pa r t of t he 20th centur ies .

A s t r i k i n g f ea tu re of Lokoja i s t h e prevalence

of d iverse c u l t u r e groups, each of which today lays claim

t o t he town. Prominent amag them a re t h e Hausa, t h e

Yoruha, the I g a l a , t he Ebira, the Oworo, t h e Baasa-Nge,

t h e Kakanda, and the Nuge,

5.3.1s CLIMATE

Lokoja i s loca ted i n t h e t r o p i c s and i t s micro-

c l imate i s t h a t of t h e warm humid c h a r a c t e r i s t i c of t r o p i c a l

a reas and i t i s assoc ia ted wi th high humidity values.

The cl imate of Lokoja has two d i s t i n c t seasons

which a r e t he dry and wet seasons. The wet season

s t a r t s i n May and by ~ctoberf iovernber, t h e dry season s e t s

i n following t h e p a t t e r n of t h e water-laden South-west

winds of t h e equa to r i a l r a i n b e l t o r i g i n and t h e d r y dusty

harmattha wind from t h e north-east r espec t ive ly .

The most important elements i n t h e c l imate of Lokoja

a r e r a i n f a l l , humidity and temperature.

( i ) Ra in fa l l

The average mean annual r a i n f a l l ranges from

lOOOmm t o 1250mm. The ra iny season l a s t s f o r about

seven months, from April/May t o ~ctober/November

wi th t h e h ighes t recorded r a i n f a l l occuring between

Ju ly and September. The dry season l a s t s f o r about

f i v e months, from November t o Apri l .

The ea r ly and l a t e r a i n s a r e usual ly t o r r e n t i a l ,

preceeded by high minds, thunderstorm and squa l l s .

s ( s ee map 5.1 and f i g u r e 5.1).

(ii) Temperature:

The mean annual temperature f o r Lokoja ranges

from 2S0c t o 30°c with as high as 38O~ da i ly

0 peak, and a minimum of 1 4 C., The highest tempe-

ra tures recorded a re i n the period between the dry

and ra iny season i n the months of March t o May.

Unless high temperatures a re accompanied by high

humidities, the weather i s not as uncomfortable

as i t would appear t o be. High temperatures

with high humidities a r e more oppressive than

hot but dry conditions.

(iii) Relative Humidity

Lokoja has very high r e l a t i v e humidity values.

The River Niger. feeds the atmosphere wlth vapour

such tha t the r e l a t l v e humidity of t h e atmosphere

can be as high as 85% i n the wet season, but never

falls below 65s during the short harmattan. Although,

t h i s la t ter condition may not permit p rec ip i ta t ion ,

surface evaporation i s prevented culminating i n the

cha.rocterist ic hotness of the town. During these hot

period, courtyards and pavements a r e converted i n t o

* sleeping places.

MONTH

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JU LY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBW

OCTDBGR

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER L

RAINFALL (MM)

TABLE 5.1 : MONTHLY MEAN RAINFALL FOR LOKOJA

SOURCE: DAR-al-Handasah Consult ants, (1974)

MONTH

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTEMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBEB

MEAN ( O C )

SOURCE: D A R - a l - h a n d a s a h C o n s u l t a n t s , (1974).

MONTH

U U A R Y

FEBRUARY

MARCH

APRIL

MAY

JUNE

JULY

AUGUST

SEPTFMBER

OCTOBER

NOVEMBER

DECEMBER

AVERAGE R.H. AT 9.00 GMT i n

TABLE 5.3 r MEAN HUMIDITY VALUES FOR LOKOJA.

SOURCE: D A R - a l - h a n d a s a h Consultants, (1974)

( i v ) Sunshine

Loko j a has a high number of sunshine hours

per month. Solar r ad ia t ion i s high between

February and May, with cloudless sky moat of

t h e time. There i s some cloudcover i n the months

of June t o September, and heavy dust cloud and

ground cover during t h e harmattan period of

November tc: January.

(v) Wind and Dust

The two major a i r masses i d e n t i f i e d with the

t rop ics occur here. They a re t rop ica l maritime

a i r mass (south-west ~ r a d e s ) and t r o p i c a l

continental a ir mass ( ~ o r t h - F a s t Trades o r harmattan

winds). The t r o p i c a l maritime air mass ( o r t h e

south-west t r ade winds), The t rop ica l cont inental

which occurs from April t o October, brings

moisture-laden winds which usher i n the r a ins .

The t r o p i c a l cont inental a i r mass ( o r North-Fast

t rade winds o r the harmattan winds) blows from

the month of November t o March. It i s dry and

usual ly accompanied by dust. (See maps 5.2 and 5.3),

Tropical mar i t~me it air mass (S.W. Trades)

Map5-2: Wet season winds and r a i n f a l l ( ~ p r i l - ~ c t o b e r ) . The f u l l e f f e c t of the t r o p i c a l maritime a i r mass as thn main fac tor which brings r a i n f a l l i s felt i n t h i s season.

I f l Tropical continental air mass (Harmattan Winds)

f Tropical marit ime air mass (S.W. Trades)

M0p5.3: D r y season winds and r a i n f a l l

(~ovember t o arch). T h i s i s the dry deason when r a i n f a l l i s l e a s t .

5.3.2; OTHER GEXIGRAPHICAL CHARACTEXISTICS

( i ) Vegetation

Loko ja f a l l s i n t o Guinea Savanna grassland.

The pegeta t ion of Lokoja i s of t h e t r a n s i t i o n

between the f o r e s t i n the South and t h e t r u e

Savanna i n t h e nor th o f t h e Sahel Savanna.

It i s made up of t r e e s which grow long t a p roo t s

and develop t h i c k baFk which enables them t o

withstand long dry season and r e s i s bush g i r e s .

Thus, among t h e notable t r e e crops t h a t have been

favoured by t h e s o i l condit ions a r e locus t Beans,

Baobab shea But ter , Iroko and Mahogany t r e e s

which formed t h e bas is of some of t h e l o c a l

i ndus t r i e s . (See map 9.4).

(ii) Topography

Lokoja i s 45-l25m above s e a l eve l . It can be

s a i d t o take advantage of t h e s loping land between

t h e r idges of Mount P a t t i and t h e River Niger.

Thus, t h e topography is such t h a t i t has good

na tura l drainage. A high peroentaga of water from

rain water i s ava i l ab l e as surface run-off.

L

This quickly flows through t h e ex i s t i ng s loping

na tu ra l channels into t he River Niger (See map 5.5)

Sahel savanna

Sudan savanna

Guinea savanna

0 kilornetres 300 (salt-water) swal

Map5.4: Vegetational b e l t s . Tho savanaa contains grass and t r e e s i n varying proportions,

(iii) Geology and S o i l Types

The dissected surface of Loko ja i s a r e s u l t

o f mountain formation a c t i v i t i e s and t h e agents

of denudation p a r t i c u l a r l y water . The f lat- topped Mount P a t t i and t h e surrounding

r idges and Valleys, der ive from the basement complex

rock formation composed of g ran i t e s , micaschists , gneisses and metasediments which a re themselves

ignsous and metarmorphic. (See map 5.6 and

Table l5.4).

Weathering of these mater ia ls from t h e plateau

give them a t h i n s o i l cover t h a t a r e being washed

down by erosion t o give medium aggregates part icu-

l a r l y des i red by t h e building construction

indus t r i e s .

The geology i n t h e v i c i n i t y of t h e c i t y i s

dominated l a rge ly by t h e rocks of t h e basement

complex which cons i s t s of a var ied assemblage of

coarse grained porphynitic g ran i tes , d issected

by pegmatic dykes and r e i n s , b io l i t ehorn blende

gpleisses and s c h i s t s which have undergone var ied

b

grades of metamorphosis. The outcrops of these

rocks a re common around Loko j a c i t y .

142.

The sandstone rock outcrop occuring west of t h e town

covers an a r ea of 155 sq. km.

The Niger River i s bounded by a l l u v i a l p l a in s on

both s ides . The p l a in s a r e very t h i n and narrow around

Lokoja and south of t h e c i t y where t h e western bank

of t he r i v e r i s genera l ly s t e e p wi th marked c l i f f s whose

r e l i e f ranges up t o 3m. The average width of t h e a l l u v i a l

p l a i n i s 2.5m. The Niger channel qarrows around Lokoja

i n conformity with t he geology of t h e a r ea where t h e

v a l l e y dides a r e formed by t h e c r y s t a l l i n e rocks of t h e

basement complex.

5.4: THE PROJECT SITE

5.4.1: _Location

The pro jec t s i t e i s aocated i n Lokoja, along Murtala

Mohammed road. It i s t h e major road t h a t connects Loko j a

t o o ther pa r t s of t h e country, c a l l e d Lokoja - Abuja Road.

A road, t h e New Layout road , passes through t h e s i t e

thereby d iv id ing i t i n t o two unequal p lo t s . The s i t e

i s c a l l e d t h e Paparanda Square.

paparanda square i n t r i g u e many a r c h i t e c t s and developers. m

Consequently, many proposals f o r t h e s i t e have been

submitted i n t h e past t o t h e s*a te government, among which

were proposals f o r c i v i c cen t r e and amusement park.

pla te 5.1: The paparanda square round-about a t the point where the roads around the s i t e meet.

plate 5.2: Facing up the road ghat cuts through the s i te , i . e . facing west, the left-hand s i d e p l o t of the s ite.

I n 1992, the then c i v i l i a n governor, Alhaji Abubakar

Audu, fenced the s i t e preparatory t o developing i t i n t o

an amusement park. This did not see the l i g h t of day as

many people protested against the idea, Among the

reasons given f o r the protes t are: an amusement park

appeals only t o youths and children, and tha t such a

development w i l l amount t o a w a s t e of a s t r a t e g i c s i t e

l i k e the Paparanda square.

5.4.2: S i t e Select ion Criperia:

During the s i t e se l ec t ion process, d i f f e ren t

a l t e rna t ive s i t e s f o r the c i t y centre were considered

and the best a l t e rna t ive was selected. The Paparanda square

B e e t s a t i s f i e d the c r i t e r i a used t o analyse the s i t e s .

The consideration and recommendation of any s i t e

f o r the multi-purpose c i t y cent re i n Lokoja s h a l l satis*

the following fac to r s :

(1) Proximity t o Users:

A communal cen t re l i k e the c i t y centre should be

within easy reach of t h e inhabi tants , It i s advisable

t o choose a s i t e c lose t o the r e s iden t i a l neighbowhood.

One o f the centres f o c i i s recreation. Thus, more people

arb l i k e l y t o use the f a c i l i t i e s i n the evening hours

a f t e r work.

( i i ) Geographical Centralism

The notion of communal c en t r e s implies cent ra l i sm,

t o ensure v i a b i l i t y , g r e a t e r p a r t i c i p a t i o n and t o achieve

t h e major a i m of se rv ing as a unifying f o r c e where

people don ' t j u s t meet but got i n each o t h e r ' s way.

If i& i s t oo far removed from a s e c t i o n of t h e c i t y ,

t h a t s ec t i on might f e e l cheated out of u s ing t h e f a c i l i -

t i e s provided i n t h e cen t re .

(iii) Not i ceab i l i t y

One of t h e a i m s of t h e cen t r e i s t o genera te revenue

t o t h e s t a t e government and t o be se l f - sus ta in ing ,

Thus, i t should be s i t e d where it can be e a s i l y no t i ceab le

t o t r a v e l l e r s passing through t h e c i t y , e a s i l y access ib le

t o people from neighbouring towns and c i t i e s . The

l l v i s i b i l i t y " of t h e c e n t r e w i l l enhance i t s commercial

s t a t u s .

( i v ) Public U t i l i t i e s and Services

P o s s i b i l i t y f o r power aupply, water , waste d i sposa l ,

h e a l t h se rv ices and o ther amenities should be considered.

It i s advisable t o choose a s i t e c lo se t o e x i s t i n g

u t i l i t i e s and s e rv i ce l i n e s .

(v) Other considerat ions include poten t ia l s and

p e c u l i a r i t i e s of s i t e , geographical and weather conditions

l o c a l condit ions, surrounding view e t c ,

5.4,3: S&te Analysis

(i) Topowaphy

The s i t e topography i s qu i te favourable t o the

development of a c i t y centre . It slopes gently south-

wards towards the River Niger. Thus, t he s i t e has good

na tu ra l drainage.

(ii) Geology and S o i l

The s i t e i s made up of t h i n s o i l s over metamorphic

rocks. The s o i l s a r e medium coarse textured and e e

wellpdrained.

(iii) Traff ic

The t r a f f i c s i t u a t i o n i n t h i s a rea i s the busies t

i n t h e Lokoja Metropolis. The Murtala Mohammed Road,

along whioh i s t h e s i t e , i s a f ede ra l ~ o a d t h a t connects

Lokoja t o other pa r t s of t h e country. It i s ca l l ed

AbuJa road. The road t h a t cu ts through t h e s i t e is

another busy road, The bulk o f t h e t r a f f i c i n Lokoja i s -

made up of motor cycles (so-called 'expresrsd), A tremen-

dous increase i n the t r a f f i c volume around the s i t e i s

not iced on the market days of t he 4 - day market cycle

o f t he regional market. The presence of a round-about

i n t h i s a rea a t t a t s t o t h e heavy t r a f f i c i n t h i s cen t r a l

a rea of Lokoja, t he Paparanda Square.

( i v ) U t i l i t i e s

E lec t r i c i t y l i n e , water points , telephone l i n e s

a r e close t o t he s i t e and can e a s i l y be brought t o t he

multi-purpose centre.

(v ) Micro-climat e

The predominant fea tures of t he micro-climate a r e

t h e t r ade uinds, The North-East t r ade wind, cold, dry

and dusty, blows from t h e north-eastern par t of the

s i t e from November t o February/~arch. The impact i s

f e l t i n t he mornings and evenings with poor v i s i b i l i t y .

South-west Hvnsoon wind, moist, blows from the

south western par t from April t o October, bringing along

with i t , the r a i n . The r a i n f a l l i s accompanied with

occasional thunderstorms and squa l l s usual ly heralded

by s t rong wind-storms, thunder and l ightning.

The sunpath, through the s i t e , i s constant through

t h e

t h e

The

months of t he year. Generally, t h e sun r i s e s from

east-north-east and s e t s i n the west-south-west . building should be protected from s o l a r rad ia t ion .

\t SOLAR RADIATION

HlGH KEKEC'TIVE KOOPING SNfFT e g. AlWlllllNUM

USE DP HIGH LEVEL V€NT USE OF HIM REFLECTIVE IlTATERlAL

SOLAR I RADIATION SOLAR RADIATION

f FLECTED RADIATION

Fig.5-4:~olar Protection of the roofs

153.

Solar rad ia t ion protection of the building can be done

through:

( a ) Solar protection of the roofs

( b ) Solar protection of the i n t e r i o r s (shaded)

( c ) building or ient a t ion

( d ) Landscape.

( a ) Solar Protection of the roofs

A few of the method adopted t o ensure roofs throw

off ce r t a in amount of s o l a r rad ia t ion are:

( i ) Use of

( i i ) Use of

( i i i ) Use of

( i v ) Use of

high r e f l e c t i v e materials and colour . s o l a r s labs

mud-fuska

high l eve l ven t i l a t ion (See f i g . 5.2)

(b) Solar Protection o f the i n t e r i o r s (shades)

Various methods of sun-shading devices a re used t o

provide shades i n buildings. Verandahs, balconies,

long eaves, aun-shading device l i k e sun-breakers , bl inds ,

window hoods, e tc . have been used t o reduce so la r

r ad ia t ion i n a building.

( c ) Building Orient a t ion

The eastern sun can be to le ra ted , but minimal shading b

could be provided wherever possible. Hence, the longer

s i d e of the building o r the s i d e with plenty openings

b e s t a r i e n l a t i o n f o r t r o p i c a l

W s e t t i n y f o r minimum s o l a r r a d i a t i o n h e a t transmission and y l a r e

S

1.e . w inds p r e v a i l i n y d r y s e a s o n w inds blowi.ny from a c r o s s t h e s a h a r a

E desert c o l d d r y and d u s t y wind w i t 1 1 l iazc c u t t i n y down v i s i b i l i t y

N s .w . wi.llds j - ' r c v a i l i n y r a i n seaso i l w inds b lowing ' f rom a c r o s s t l i e a t l a n t i c o c e a n a c r o s s Lhe b i g h t o L bonny, t h e s . w . w i ~ l c l s a r e t h e r a i n b e a r i n g , w i n d s f o r t h e a r e a

I > e s t o r i e n t a l i o n f o r e f f e c t i v e th rougl l b r e e z e v e n t i l a t i o n t h j s o r i e n t a t i o n however s u f f e r s f r o m s l a n t i n g e a s t and w e s t s u n and t h e r e f o r e r e q u i r e s e x t e n s i v e s u n s h a d i n g wh ich i n c i d e n t a l l y c u t s down t h e p a s s a g e o f b r e e z e

o r g l a z i n g should f a c e t h e north-south d i r e c t i o n . The

west e r n sun, however, i s v e r y uncomfortable a d openings/

g l a z i n g s i n th is d i r e c t i o n should as much as p o s s i b l e be

avoided; and i f i t i s unavoidable t h e openings should be

shaded. Genera l ly , t h e s h o r t e r s i d e o r t h e s i d e w i t h

few epenings/glazing should f a c e eas t-wes t d i r e c t i o n .

The l i m i t s w i t h i n .which t h e b u i l d i n g o r i e n t a t i o n can

be a l t e r e d a r e i l l u s t r a t e d i n f i g u r e 5.3.

Unbuilt p a r t of t h e c e n t r e should be t r e a t e d w i t h

p l a n t s - g r a s s e s , sh rubs , and e r e e s - and o t h e r landscape

elements , l i k e f o u n t a i n s , t o absorb d i r e c t s o l a r r a d i a t i o n ,

reduce r e f l e c t e d g l a r e , i n c r e a s e thermal i n s u l a t i o n

of t h e b u i l d i n g s , conserve mois ture and reduce n o i s e from

t r a f f i c on t h e roads t h e r e b y c r e a t i n g a micro-cl imat ic

cond i t ions f o r t h e c e n t r e .

5 . 5 : SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

T h i s c h a p t e r has covered a l l t h e d a t a a n a l y s i s of

t h e s i t e , i t s immediate envi rons and a g e n e r a l overview

of t h e town of l o c a t i o n , Lokoja, and t h e s t a t e of

l o c a t i o n , Kogi S t a t e ,

Lokoja general ly , has on the average, very high

temperature values a l l t he year round; t h e average da i ly

peak being as high as about 38*4. Humidity i s a l s o high

wi th low a i r movement except during rainstorms, The

The number of aunshine hours i s a l s o en t h e high s ide .

The s i t e i s t h e Paparanda Square i n c e n t r a l Lokoja

along the AbuJa road. It i s about 4 0 0 m from River Niger,

The River, apart from i t s general e f f ec t on Lokoja as a

whole, by increas ing t h e r e l a t i v e humidity of t he c i t y

through the r e l ease of stream i n t o t h e atmosphere, has

a kind of ' sea breezet e f f ec t on t h e s i t e during the day,

espec ia l ly during the h o t afternoone.

Ehtrance and e x i t t o and f r o m t h e cen t re i s possible

only from the untarred road on the west s ide . The road

cu t t i ng through t h e s i t e and the Abuja road ( ~ u r t a l a

Mohammed road) a r e too busy t o en te r i n t o the s i t e ( t h e

two twin p l o t s ) from them.

C I i A P T U I S I X : PIIOGEIAMMU ANALYSIS : --------.-------- 159-203

CHAPTER S I X

PROGRAMME ANALISIS

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CHAFTW S I X

PROGRAMME ANALYSIS

6.1: DESIGN BRIEF

The cen t re a i m s a t t ak ing ca re of t h r e e f a c e t s of

human da i ly l i v i n g : Business, Socio-cul tura l , and

Recreation, and these should give opportunity of u se

t o a wider range of communal a c t i v i t i e s and as such i n

t h e design syn thes i s these a reas s h a l l be independent

and ye t interdependent , The cen t r e i s intended t o g ive

optimum s a t i s f a c t i o n f o r t h e var ied uses f o r which i t i s

designed due t o i t s commercial na tu re , The f a c i l i t i e s

provided f o r w e from deductions obtained from l i t e r a t u r e

review, case s t u d i e s and s o c i a l survey of t h e metropolis.

6.1.1: DESIGN POPULATION

As shown i n t h e chapter on t h e "Appraisal of Lokoja

Ci ty" , t h e populat ion of LokoJa by t he year 2005 s h a l l

be about 142,000. The cen t r e w i l l be designed t o t ake

care of t h i s populat ion as y e l l as those nearby towns,

LokoJa being a c i t y with a l o t of t o u r i s t a t t r a c t i o n s ,

t h e cen t re w i l l a l s o be designed t o take ca re of t h e

i n f l u x of t o u r i s t s when it i s completed. The s t a t e

government i s harnessing t h e t o u r i s t po t en t i a l s of t h e

s t a t e c a p i t a l .

6 . 1 , ~ : SPACE ANALYSIS

I n order t o meet t h e requirements of t h e people of

Lokoja across age groups, r e l i g i o n and sex, and i n order

f o r t h e cen t r e t o be revenue - generat ing and thus

s e l f - su s t a in ing , d i f f e r e n t f a c i l i t i e s w i l l be provided

t n t h e cen t r e , For good organ i sa t ion of func t ions and

i n t e g r a t i o n of spaces , i t i s e s s e n t i a l t o understand

t h e bas ic funct ions and workings of t h e var ious spaces

t h a t make up t h e multi-purpose c i t y cen t r e , A c a r e f u l

break-down of t he se spaces a r e as fol lows :

(1) Administrat ive Sect ion

This s e c t i o n i s a very important one i n t h e genera l

running of t h e whole cen t r e , The importance of t h e r o l e

i t could play cannot be over-emphasized. It i s t h e nerve

cen t r e of t h e whole cen t r e as t h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y of

co-ordinating t h e a f f a i r s of t h e d i f f e r e n t s e c t ions

i n t h e cen t r e f a l l s d i r e c t l y on it. All t h e o the r s e c t i o n s ,

i n consequence, a r e accountable t o t h e admin i s t ra t ive

s ec t i on ,

Fhrthermote, most f i r s t - time v i s i t o r s t o t h e cen t r e

must pass through the admin i s t ra t ive sec t ion . Thus, i n

t h i s v i t a l pos i t i on , i t could comfortably assume t h e r o l e

o? image-making.

The spaces provided f o r i n t he adminis t ra t ive

s e c t i o n include:.

Entrance lobby/~ecep t ion

Enquir ies /~ooking of h a l l s

General Manager

Secretary

AS s is t ant Managers

Accounts department/cashiers.

General Office

Conference Room

Conveniences.

The Entrance ~obby/Recept ion

This ghould be l a r g e enough t o accommodate in-coming

and out-going t r a f f i c wi th a minimum of congestion,

The recept ion i s t h e nerve cen t re of t h e adminis t ra t ive

s ec t ion because of t he funct ions i t performs, From t h i s

lounge oneshould get t o the main components of t he cen t re

v i a cor r idors , walkways, o r lobbies ,

Some of t he f a c i l i t i e s t h a t could be loca ted i n

t h e reception include the following:- %

u- Enquiry count e r

u- Telephone booths

.lc exh ib i t ion a r e a

sc snacks /bar

* Post a1 agency

* Sta i r ca se s o r Ramps or Elevators

* Adjoining conveniences l i k e W . C , S , u r i n a l s

* Others - l i k e news s tands e tc .

( 2 ) Academic Sec t ion

The education s e c t i o n i s provided f o r t o he lp and

make t h e youths i n t h e town t h a t form t h e l a r g e s t percentage

of t h e populat ion, a product ive pa r t of t h e soc ie ty .

A community l i b r a r y i s provided f o r t o t ake ca r e of t he

ch i l d r en and adu l t lending. A s a component of academic

s ec t i on , an adu l t education i s provided, This i s an

informal educat ional system, It i s hoped t h a t National

Di rec to ra te of Employment (N,D.E, ) w i l l t ake advantage

of t h e space,

( i ) Library

( a ) L ib ra r ian ' s o f f i c e

(b ) C i r cu l a t i on desk ( con t ro l desk)

( c ) Research

i d ) Adult reading

( f ) Children 's reading

(g) Slack room

( h ) S tore

(i) Conveniences

( i i ) Adult Education

( a ) Offices

( b ) Exhibition

( c ) Sewing workshop

( d ) Arts and Craft workshops

( e ) Lecture rooms

( f ) Stores and Conveniences.

The l i b r a r y t o be accommodated i n t h e academic

sec t ion of the c i t y centre could be r e fe r r ed t o as a

branch l i b r a r y s ince a s t a t e l i b r a r y w i l l soon be b u i l t

f o r t he s t a t e .

Branch l i b r a r i e s a r e found i n busy urban cen t res

and quiet r u r a l communities. Many a r e housed i n t h e i r

own buildings while o thers occupy rented .quartrers.

I n some cases , branch l i b r a r i e s may share space i n

public buildings f o r jo in t municipal use. The c i t y centre

i s an example, For e f f e c t i v e functioning, t h e branch

l i b r a r y should :

(i) be located where i t can be e a s i l y accessed 6

(ii) no.t have more than one control desk, thereby

reducing the operat ing cos t .

(iii) bet n a t u r a l l y l i gh t ed and v e n t i l a t e d

( i v ) be air-oonditioned and adequately

i l lurninat ed . Sumax-ily, i n order t o determine t h e space requirements,

Galvin Van ]Busen, f o r small public l i b r a r i e s suggests

2 23 - 46m2 space f o r 150 vols/M . H i s suggestions f o r

t h e f l oo r a r ea s*ce t o be allowed f o r t he proport ion

o r r a t i o of t h e intended population f o r t h e l i b r a r y a r e

10 - 20,000 inhab i tan t s : allow 42~~11000

Over 100,000 11 28~~11000

Metal shelving i s widely used f o r book tack

and they come i n many colours and varying she l f depths

used according t o t h e book s i z e s required t o be shelved.

Namely3 200, 250, 300, 350, 500mm shelves.

(3 ) Commercial Sect ion

This i s t h e main revenue-generating sec t ion of t h e

c i t y cen t re and i s made up of

( a f Rental shops

(b ) Departmental s t o r e

(a ) Rental o f f i c e s

( d ) ~es tau ran t s /Bar /Kiosks

( a ) Branch Bank

( f ) Multi-purpose hal l .

(g) Conveniences.

( a ) Rentable Shops

The c e n t r e s h a l l provide r e n t a b l e shops which could

be used f o r v a r i o u s f u n c t i o n s inc lud ing bout iques ,

h a i r d r e s s ing/barbing/beauty 8alona$ g i f t shops etc . I t ' s p rov i s ion w i l l keep t h e c e n t r e busy a l l day long.

The l o c a t i o n of t h e s e shops should be s t r a t e g i c i n order

t o a t t r a c t customers.

( b ) Department Seore

For a mega s t r u c t u r e of t h e n a t u r e of t h e proposed

multi-purpose c i t y c e n t r e , which i s in tended t o be not

j u s t s e l f - s u s t a i n t n g but revenue - genera t ing , t h e

importance of a f a c i l i t y l i k e t h e department store i s no t

fa r - fe tched. A department s t o r e i s a l a r g e r u s e r space

organisod en t h e basis of depar tmenta l iza t ion . It con ta ins

a l o t of goods on d i s p l a y u s u a l l y between 2 - 5 f l o o r s .

They occupy a oomparatively cheap r e n t a l space, mostly

rectangular, with a minimum window space.

The maor spaces of the department e$ose are:

Sales Area

Stack Rooms

Display Studio

Administration

Offices

Goods receiving, handling and delivery Area,

Rentable Offices

This facility i s very auspioious i n Loko jab

Lokojs presently has no rentable o f f i c e block. Since the

cent re i s intended, among other things, t o ease the o f f i c e

acoommodation pressures/problems i n the metropolis, i t

i s thus necessary and economically wise t o have t h i s

f a c i l i t y . It w i l l provide acooamodatisn f o r such of f ices

as insurance, accountancy firm, advert is ing f l r m ,

a r ch i t ec tu ra l firm etc.

(d) Restaurant /~ar.s/Kiosks

This i s necessary t o serve the ca ter ing need of the

users. The res taurant should be open t o the public a t

a l l times. It should consis ts of the followings-

* The Eating area i in in^)

8 Drinking lounge (~ar)

Y Snacks bar

* Kitchen area including cold/dry sf ores, changing

rooms and service yards.

The snacks bar i s t o serve those who do not want

f u l l course meals. The magor ones should bo re l a t ed t o

t h e restaurant. Other minor snacks bars/kiosks should be

dispersed t o other posit ions throughout t h e centre ,

especial ly at re laxat ion areas.

Space reauirements

Table service 2 : 1.0 - 1,361 /dinner

Counter service 2 : 1.4 - l.9m /dinner

Bar : 15% of dining area

Snack-bar 2 : 1.1 - 1 . 4 m /dinner

Restaurant Kitchen : 50% of dining area

The res taurant , bars, kiosks should be eas i ly

accessible t o the users of the centre. Delivery, storage,

and distribution t o the spaces should not i n t e r f e r e with

US 8FS . b

TABLE SIZES Table sizes vary accordmy (u type o f restaurant: rnln lo rca le ter~asetc~ 2 persons 600 x 600, 4 persons 600 x 1100 Dlagrarns show tables for good standard al restaurant

- - - - - - - - - - r . 110 prelerably

600 prclerably 650,750

1

man woman waller sllllng eatlng , geltmg down UP

av dla 01 c~rcular dlnlny tables lor

- - -- - - -

SNACK BARS

I Bar stool . 2 Bar stools normal dlslance

L 4 Hlgh dens~ty arrangement wllh small tables 5 Wder Lables ~ 8 t h more Space

3 Medlum h bar stool

6 Refrigerated showcase

I I 7 Long U-formaf counter

8 Shorl U-format counters

Palred U-formal counters

f i g .6.2

( e ) Branoh Bank

A l o t of monetary t r ansac t i ons w i l l t ake plaoe wi th in

t h e cent re . Therefore, a branch bank i s necessary wi th in

t h e cen t r e f o r both shoppers, and tenants . It a l s o a c t s

as cash o f f i c e f o r t h e s t o r e s by prooessing t h e i r funds.

The presence of t h e branch bank w i l l reduce t h e r i s k

incurred i n ca r ry ing money about,

( f ) Multi - Purpose

This is a l a r g e open space t h a t can be rented out

f o r s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s , wedding recep t ion , meeting, e t c

t o generate revenue.

Ef fec t ive l oca t i on and design of t h e multi-purpose

h a l l i s based on t h e fol lowing considera t ions :

I Separate s e rv i ce entrance should be provided f o r

s e rv i c ing t h e back s t a g e f a c i l i t i e s l i k e changing

rooms.

- A l a r g e unobstructed space i s necessary to f a c i l i -

t a t e f r e e flow of s i g h t l i n e s t o t h e s t a g e area.

- S h c e t h e h a l l i s f o r multi-purpose use , i t i s

bes t t o c r e a t e a rec tangula r f l a t f l o o r space t h a t

w i l l be f l e x i b l e enough f o r adap t ab i l i t y to b

many funct ions .

- Accoustfcs must be given adeqgate t e chn ica l

considera t ion t o avoid sound de fec t s l i k e room

f l u t t e r i n g , dead spo t , whispering g a l l e r i e s e t c . - Provision mhould be made f o r p ro jec t ion room f o r

t h e purpose of f i l m shows.

( 4) Socio-Cultural Sectf on

This s e c t i o n i s t h e main s ea t of t h e c u l t u r a l

he r i t age of t h e people, The f a c i l i t i e s provided here would

enable members of t h e communities t o c a r r y out s o c i a l

and c u l t u r a l a c t i v i t i e s .

Spaces provided include :

( a ) Amphitheatre - Open a i r t hea re

( b ) Theatre ( 8 )

( 0 ) Exhibition h a l l

( d ) Banquet W a l l

( e ) T.V/Video rooms o r lounges

Others include:-

( f ) Dressing T @ O m 8

(g) Storage areas

(h ) Offices

(i) Conveniences.

(a) " Amphitheatre

This epace, t h e amphitheatre or open a i r t h e a t r e ,

approximates t h e v i l l a g e square. I n a t y p i c a l African

oommunity, t he v i l l a g e o r town square serves as t h e main

cen t r e of a c t i v i t i e s and i t plays a v s r y dominant r o l e

i n t h e welfare of t h e community..Barly communities made

u e o f the v i l l a g e market places f o r community meetinge.

Amphitheatres a re , general ly, raked open spaces

enc i rc l ing o r fac ing a s tage where ac tors perform and

en te r t a in the spec ta tors and i t i s usua l ly without roof,

The amphitheatre should be located i n such a way

as t o be e a s i l y acceseible t o people who might want t o

reach i t from any o ther a rea i n t h e centre.

The amphitheatre w i l l mainly c rea t e space f o r a l l

those a c t i v i t i e s t h a t can not be conveniently held

indoors o r which a r e b e t t e r held i n t h e daylight and

na tu ra l environment such as t-

* Masquerade d l sp l ays

* wrest l ing contes ts

* acrobatic displays

* c u l t u r a l dances

Y new yam f e a t i v a l

* t r a d i t i o n a l ceremonies e tc .

The acoustic requirements of t h e amphitheatre and

o ther spaces where acoua t i c condideration i s c r i t i c a l

a r e discussed under Acoustics i n t h e next chapter.

( b ) Theatre

A t h e a t r e is an i n t e g r a l aspect of any design l i k e

a c i t y cent re . I n Africa t h e t h e a t r e i s used as a means

of education, c e l eb ra t i on , p r o t e s t and discovery,

Ossie Enekwe explained t h a t "a r i t u a l becomea an

entertainment once i t i s ou t s ide i t s o r i g i n a l context

when t h e b e l i e f t h a t s u s t a i n s i t has l o s t i t s potencyOn

(Source: Gupta, M. Thes i s 1988).

9 p e s of Nigerian T h e a t r i c a l Performaanwe

( i ) R i t u a l s : Dance, drama performed dur ing sac*ed r e l i g i o u s

and c u l t performances.

( ii ) Ceremonials : Trad i t i ona l dances a r e performed dur ing

occasions l i k e marriage, ch i e f t a incy , b i r thday ,

naming ceremony . ( i i i ) Masquerade: In t h i s performance, t h e artist i s

wi th a mask t o perform and grace t h e occasion.

( i v ) War: These performances t ake plaoe before o r a f t e r

a w a r b a t t l e s i gn i fy ing v ic to ry . Mock combats

o r pantomine r i t u a l s a r e s taged t o dep ic t t h e i r

enemies i n a c a r i c a t u r e form.

( v ) Acrobatics: Body a g i t i t y i s displayed through

gymnastic o r dance performance.

( v i ) Vocational: T r a d i t i o n a l performance having i t s

background from c e r t a i n profess ion, done by

i m r n i t a t i o n and mockery.

t v i i ) Socia l ent ertainmsnt : Trad i t i ona l dance for

pleasure, r evea l i ng joy, good newa , e t c . Musical

bands a r e i n v i t e d t o grace t h e occasion by p r a i s i n g

t h e gues t , t h e audience and any hero i n enter -

tainment.

( v i i i ) Maiden Dances: T rad i t i ona l dances performed by

young g i r l s at a premar i ta l s t a g e as an expression

of beauty and innocence, e.g. O V i a Oseae i n Ogori

Magonge L.G.A. Kogi S ta te .

Theat re Design

In discuss ing t h e a t r e design, t h e fol lowing c o n s t i t u t e

planning considera t ions th.at w i l l ensure a good and

e f f i c i e n t t hea t r e .

i Arrangements

* Hall shapes

it Sight l i n e s

.)c U s a of s i t e s /Bui ld ing space requirements.

Y s e a t i n g and a i s 1 . e ~ arrangement.

The aoustica requirement w i l l be discussed i n the

next chapter.

Size - The Association og Br i t i sh Theatre Technicians hae

suggested the following s i z e categories:-

u Very la rge 1,500 plus sea t s

* Large

* Medium

* Small

900 - 1,500 sea ts

500 - 900 sea ts

Under 500 sea t s .

AXTan~ements

The re la t ionship between the actor and Us audience

i s the basis of the design of a theatre . The thea t re ' s

hal l /s tage re la t ionship i s one of the most c r i t i c a l f ac to r s

t o be considered. Within the long h is tory of the s tage,

the separation of the audience from the actors by a

proscenium i s comparatively reoent . Ig the perf omance

i s t o remain the focus of the audience's a t ten t ion , some

degree of encirclement of the s tage areas by t he sea t ing

can be expected; and t h e Various forms which have developed

over time can be defined as follows :-

* s Full encirclement (3600) Theatre -in-the round;

Island st age* arena.

Transverse Stage

* over-half encirclement (210°-220°): Greek/Helenio

t h e a t r e

0 * Half encirclement (180 ): Roman t h e a t r e , t h r u s t s t a g e

i+ Quarter encirlement (go0) : Fan shape

* Zero encirclement t Ihd s t a g e

Thus, planning s t a g e and audienoe can fol low

e evera l pathe:

Y Gonventional/Proscenium arch

* Thrust s t a g e

* Theatre-in-the-round

The width o f proscenium w i l l depend on t h e event8

t o be staged: drama demands 9 - l O . 5 m width, musical

commedy 18-2bm. Fly towers a r e more modest i n s c a l e o r

omit ted i n recen t t imes , which i s welcome a c o u s t i c a l l y

because l a v i s h s e t s and volume over t h e s t a g e absorb

t h e spoken word an s tage . The f a l s e proeaenium opening

( ad jus t ab le border behind t h e s t r u c t u r a l opening) should

be kept as high as poss ib le .

Thrust and arena s e t t i n g s put t h e performer near

t h e audience but do not al low t r a d i t i o n a l d i r e c t i o n a l

v o h e projec t ion . Seeing l i p movements, f a c i a l expressione

and mannerisms r a t h e r than j u s t hear ing helps one understand

more. Raked s e a t i n g is important - t h e use of 20° rake

with no more than 25 rows i s recommended. Beyond 20m

f a c i a l expressions a r e hardly v i s i b l e ,

Theatre-in-the-round i s pa r t i cu la r ly demanding

on ac tors and shortening dis tance does not n e c e s s e l y

make f o r other shortcomings: Those watahing from the top

l e v e l w i l l look down on ac to r s ' heads, heads which a r e

looking i n the opposite d i rec t ion f o r 50% of the time.

H a l l shapes

Some basic choices:

* rectangular

.1c geometric

* fan-shape

* courtyard

A rectangular format allows change of s tage &&range-

ment within but may r e s t r i c t angling of banks of sea t s .

A wide r a t h e r than deep h a l l brings the audience near

t h e stage.

Geometric, multi-facet forms allow sea t ing 90 r e l a t e

t o back walls as they a r e cranked around s tage arrangements.

The l e a s t f l e x i b l e shape i s perhaps the f an shape

whi:h, i n a l a rge h a l l , allows a la rge number of s e a t s

per TOW back from the s tage. The fan-shape works well

where an auditorium doubles as thea t r e and l e c t u r e ha l l .

Courtyard thea t r e s a r e becoming popular f o r modeet

capac i t i es . Their c h a r a c t e r i s t i c shape i s of a compact

t a l l i s h volume with shallow e ide and r e a r balconies ae

one o r more l eve l s .

S ieh t l i n e s

Good itiews of the s t age i s e s sen t i a l and eor a l l

p rac t i ca l purposes, t h i s means t h a t members of t h e

audience should be ab le t o s ee over t h e heads of t h e people

i n f r o n t of them, The rake of the thea t r e f l o o r required

t o give adequate s igh t l i n e s can be worked out graphical ly

as shown i n f i g . 6 .

The lowest and neares t point which t h e whole audience

should be ab le t o s ee c l e a r l y , i s f irst es tabl ished,

For t he s ing le l e v e l guditorium, where a s t e e p rake i s

acceptable, point P can be taken at the edge of t he s t age

(0.8 - l . l m above auditorium f l o o r l e v e l ) , But where

g a l l e r i e s a r e introduced o r t he headroom a t t he r e a r i s

otherwise r e s t r i o t e d , a point between 0.6~1 and O.9m above

t h e fron,t edge of t h e s t a g e w i l l f l a t t e n the rake but

e till give unobe t r u c t ed views of performers above t h e i r

- Effect of roirinp positon of P

\

The eye l e v e l ( A ) of a person i n f ront row i s then

plot ted (allowing 1120mm f o r the height between eye l e v e l

and f l o o r ) and a v e r t i c a l l i n e drawn through the eye

posit ion of the second row. A s ight l i n e projected from

P over the head of the person i n the f i r s t row w i l l cross

t h e v e r t i c a l l i n e a t the eye l e v e l ( B ) of a person i n

the second row. The height allowed above eye l e v e l applied

t o c l ea r the head i s normally 100mm. The same procedure

i s then applied t o each r o w i n turn u n t i l a l l eye leve ls

a re established.

The theore t ica l f l o o r l e v e l , p lot ted 1120mm below

the eye l eve l s , w i l l be found t o be s l i g h t l y curved, but

i n most cases the rake can be straightened t o give

regular s teps o r slopes. The maximum gradient f o r a i s l e s

without s teps i s 1 i n 1 2 , and the maximum sbpe f o r

0 stepped seat ing i s 35 . Area of Sites/Building Space Requirements

There i s no d i rec t re la t ionship between the number

of s e a t s and the area of s i t e required, s ince the s i z e

of the thea t re and the space required t o give access t o

i t w i l l depend more on the amount and disposi t ion of the

other accommodation.

For general guidance, however, i t should be noted that

a medium s i z e thea t re (500 - 800 s e a t s ) , with a n c i l l i a r y

acconmodation, could occupy a s i t e area of 40 - 60m

f r o n t t o back and 30 - 40m s i d e t o s ide .

The following f ac to r s a f fec t the planning of the basic

auditorium/stage r e l a t ionsh ip and should be borne i n

mind from the beginning:

* Area of auditorium - 0.6m per person

* Purthest s e a t from s t age f roq t - 20m

)C Volume of auditorium - 3m3 per person (g rea t e r

above 300 s e a t s )

)C Acting area - 9 m x 9 m or 9 m diameter.

Seating and Aisles Arrangement

No s e a t should be more than 2 h from the s tage

f r o n t if the performance i s t o be seen and heard c lear ly .

The choice of s ea t ing arrangement i s a f fec ted by t h e width

of t he seatway - t h e unobstructed v e r t i c a l space between

rows when t h e s e a t a a r e tipped up - and the design of the

s e a t i imelf . It w i l l t h d e f o r e , be necessary t o choose

t h e type of s e a t before f i n a l dimensions a re es tabl ished,

But, a t t h e i n i t i a l planning s t age , t h e minimum

dimensions shown i n f i g . 6.6 and Tables 6*2 4 6.3

Minimum seat in~(mm) Maximum No. of

No. of Seats

Seats f r o m a i s l e

Distance from Aisle (mm)

3000

3500

4000

4500

5000

Table 6.1 : Distance of sea t s from a i s l e s .

A. Back-to-back distance between rows of sea ts

with backs:

7 60mm ( minimum)

B. Back-to-back distance between rows of sea ts without

babks :

610mm (minimum)

C. Width of sea t s with arms: 5 l O m m (minimum)

D. Width of sea ts without arms: 460mm (minimum)

E. " Unobstructed v e r t i c a l space between rows (seatway):

305mm

Part plan:auditorium seating

flee tion

Plan ; seating with arms

Plan : seating without arms

Pian;sea tina f T t t without backs'

0 Guard rail ~ e d e r

Section of balcony front opposite gangway

Sect ion of balcony frmt

F, For normal maximum dis tance of s e a t from gangway

see Table 6.3 But rows with more than 22 s e a t s

could be poss ible , provided t h a t t h e audience

w a s not impevilled.

G. Minimum width of ganway: 1070mm.

Table 6.2

- Minimum s eatway (measured bet- ween perpendi- c u l a r s ) ~(mm)

Maximum die tance of s e a t from

s e a t s ) gangway F Y~~~ mm)

Maximum number of 5 l O m wide sea t s

Gangway both-side

p e r r o w

Gangway One - Side

Table 6.3 Distance of s e a t s from gangways.

I EXAMRE I: THORNUIKE THEATRE LEATHERNAD

F e r f o r ~ i

i Pmlomprs' ossenbly ow

Wi e n t m a lo studb theatre I EXAMPLE 2: REPERTW THEATRE BlRMlNCHAM

tround (bar plon I First f b u pb, I EXAMPLE 3: THEATR. GWYNEDD, BANGOR

f i g -6 - 7 .: 7 j p i r . l arranpnml~ o/ d r u ~ i n l room and b a r k ~ l a p arrmnmodalia

Enlrocl ductng from p r u ~ ~ ~ t a s

Fne res~slont structure

House ~$II ccnfrols if of r e o s t m type

Fbte h e shdlers are - ( J r w r e d w h m

flammobk flrn is Elevol~on of projection r a m vmll faing wd~taiurn shcmn

R@a berm mnf be high moqh b c h r d p e r m stondnq n k k ro*

4

1

Number of people on each t i e r of f l o o r -

Minimum number of e x i k g .

Minimum wid th (mm)

Table 6.4: Number and size of E x i t s .

(Note t h a t p lu s one a d d i t i o n a l e x i t of no t l e s s t h a n

1500mm f o r each e x t r a 250 persons o r p a r t t h e r e o f ) .

( c ) E x h i b i t i o n H a l l

The m a t e r i a l s t o be d i s p l a y e d o r e x h i b i t e d i n t h i s

space i n c l u d e a r t works l i k e drawings , c r a f t w o r k s , p o t t e r y ,

c a r v i n g s , s c u l p t u r e , t r a d i t i o n a l woven c l o t h e ( t e x t i l e s ) ,

and o t h e r a r t e f a c t s t h a t p o r t r a y b o t h t h e c o l o n i a l h i s t o r y

and c u l t u r e s of t h e people of Lokoja and o t h o r p a r t s of

t h e s t a t e , S e c u r i t y measures shou ld be t aken to safeguard

t h e works on display agains t t h e f t , or damage Bue t o

ca re less handling by v i s i t o r s t o t h e exhibi t ion h a l l ,

or by the workers. Small d e l i c a t e works should be

locked up i n ehowoases . ( d ) Banquet Hall

This f a c i l i t y takes care of activities tha t requi re

t he use of f l a t ~ u r f a c e a e . g . cockeail p a r t i e s , wedding

reception, end of year p a r t i e s and s o c i a l olub receptions.

It should be provided w i t h f a c i l i t i e s l i k e k i t chene t t e ,

sexvery e tc .

1 (e) TVflideo room(s)

I n t h i s u n i t , f i l m and/or s l i d e s of c u l t u r a l

performances, documentaries, exhibi t ions , e tc . could be

ratohed. The importance of t h i s i s t h e preservation,

and subsequent transmission, of cu l tu re . Storage

f a c i l i t i e s f o r video tapes and machines, f i l m r e e l s ,

pro Sectors, e t c should be provided and s e c u r i t y measures

should be taken t o safeguard them. The furnishing of

1 t h i s area should be informal and in*ima t e .

1 (5) Recreational Section

l This aec t ion houses the d i f f e ren t r ec rea t iona l a c t i v i -

t i e s and they include both indoor and outdoor spor t ing

or r ec rea t iona l a c t i v i t i e s .

The presence of adequate r ec rea t iona l areas o r spaces

i n t h e cen t re w i l l he lp booster the u s e a b i l i t y of the

centre . What with t h e dear th of r ec rea t iona l f a c i l i t i e s

i n Loko j a metropolis and wi th t h e f a c t t h a t s p o r t s have

become a way of l i f e i n Nigeria. Care should, the re fore ,

be taken t o ensure t h a t the f a c i l i t i e s provided c a t e r f o r

a cross-sect ion of Lokoja which includes t he young, o ld ,

physical ly f i t , and physical ly o r or thopaediaal ly

handicapped.

Recreat ional s ec t ion can be grouped i n t o two major

u n i t s , v iz :

( 8 ) Indoor Recreation

These a r e those spo r t i ng a c t i v i t i e s t ha t can take

place i n h a l l s , rooms, o r o ther enclosed spaces.

The include:-

GymnaS t i c s

Table t enn is

Squash

Bandminton

Cards

Draught s

Chess

Snooker

Scrabble

Training rooms, e t c .

It i s e s s e n t i a l t h a t these a c t i v i t i e s a r e located

i n such a way t h a t they can be e a s i l y access ible t o a l l

by v i r t u e of t h e i r r e l a t ionsh ip with t h e entrance lobby

or lounge.

1 b) Outdoor Recreation

This i s made up of those a c t i v i t i e s of re laxa t ion

or e x e ~ c i s e t h a t can take place outs ide i n t h e open.

They include:

Y Relaxat ion parks

Y Lawn tennis

* Volley b a l l

Y Hand b a l l

Y Basket b a l l

A l l t h e r ec rea t iona l a c t i v i t i e s so f a r mentioned

above a re mostly f o r grown ups, though l i t t l e kids can

partake i n some of them. But they a re those a c t i v i t i e s

t h a t a r e meant espec ia l ly f o r l i t t l e chi ldren and they

include :

Y Various climbing objecte

* Gang planks

-E s l i d e s and swings

* + Revolving wheels

-R Sea-saws

Y Simple crawling tunnels , e t c .

GIANT STRIDE RINGS AREA REQD ( 3 0 ' DIA) -APPROX 700 SQFT AREA = APPROX. 250 SQ. FT

SW.LNGS S E E SAW AREA IlEQD = APPROX 500SQ FT AREA REQD -APPROX 140 SU. Fl'

CGIMBINING NE'I S L I D E S LENGTH - 20'-0' SAFE SPACE REQD. AROUND SLI'DE =

38-00 x 6-01 - 581-0' - 7'-0' ,

IIORL ZONTAI, BAR:; JUNGLEGYM A ~ A I<EQD - APPROX. 1 2 0 ~ ~ w ~ d t h = 5'-G' TO 10'-6'

Fi g .1 .I1 :TT;P1CAL EQUIPMENT FOR CIIJLDKEN PLAYGI1OUNI)S I

S p o r t s H a l l ( ~ n d o o r l

Th i s i s where most of t h e indoor r e c r e a t i o n a l

a c t i v i t i e s are housed. The c e n t r e w i l l accommodate those

f u n c t i o n s t h a t a r e most needed by members of t h e

c ommuni. t i es . The s i z e of t h e s p o r t s c e n t r e w i l l , t h e r e f o r e , depend

on t h e number and/or v a r i e t y of a c t i v i t i e s i t i s t o

c a t e r f o r .

Some of t h e spaces t o be provided i n t h e s p o r t s

c e n t r e include:-

( a ) hhtranco lounge

( b ) O f f i c e s

(c) S t o r e s

( d ) Changing rooms

( e ) Gymnas ium

( f ) Spor t s ha l l

(.g) Snacks b a r

( h ) Club room

( i ) Squash c o u r t s

( j ) F i r s t Aid room

(k ) Conveniences, e t c .

Consider ing t h e n a t u r e of t h e a c t i v i t i e s t h a t t a k e

g l a c e i n t h e s p o r t s c e n t r e , t h e f l o o r s should be non-

sk idd ing , i . e . t h e f l o o r should be covered w i t h a n t i - s k i d

m a t e r i a l s .

Effor t s should be made to s e e t h a t na tu ra l v e n t i l a t i o n

and 1ightingJWe achieved. Fenestrat ion i n t he sports h a l l

ehould be i n such a way as t o admit a maximum of na tura l

l i g h t .

( 6 ) Welfare Section

The welfare s ec t ion includes the c l i n i c and the

ch i ld day care centre . The c l i n i c i s bas i ca l ly t o

provide f irst a i d - f a c i l i t i e s f o r t h e v i s i t o r s and workers

i n t he centre. However, i t could serve as a supplemen-

t a r y consult ing c l i n i c f o r t h e res iden ts l i v i n g c lose

t o t he centre.

( 7 ) Maintenance/Service Sect ion

This sec t ion i s responsible f o r t he maintenance of

machineries, f u r n i t u r e , bui ld ing components, vehic les

and other equipment i n the centre.

The d i f f e ren t u n i t s i n t h i s sec t ion include the

following : - ( a ) Carpentary

(b) Plumbing

( c ) E lec t r i ca l b

( d) Mechanical

(e) Masonry

( f ) S tores , e tc .

It a l s o conta ins t h e generator o r p lan t opera t ion u n i t ,

t h e water pumping u n i t , c e n t r a l a i r -condi t ioning u n i t ,

and a l l o the r t e chn i ca l aspects of t h e cen t re , The s e c t i o n

s ee s t o i t t h a t t h e c e n t r e does not run i n t o any h i t ches

f o r t echn ica l reasons.

Generally, t h i s s e c t i o n i s a d i r ty /no i sy a r e a s i n c e

t h e nature of work done here r e s u l t s i n junks p i l l i n g

up here and t h e r e , noise from machineries cause

no i se po l lu t ion , d i r t y l i q u i d l i k e engine o i l s s t a i n

t h e a rea , e t c , Consequently, th is sec t i f in should not be

acces s ib l e t o v i s i t o r s / u s e r e , o f t h e cent re .

(8) C i r cu l a t i on

C i r cu l a t i on plays a very important r o l e i n t h e

opera t ion of any bui ld ing, be i t a publ ic o r a p r i v a t e

bui ld ing. A wel l planned c i r c u l a t i o n network enherices

e f f i c i ency i n and around buildings and complexes and

inc reases output a s a r e s u l t . But a badly planned

c i r c u l a t i o n could r e s u l t i n a l o t of c lashes and/or

f r i c t i o n and t h i s could mean a . f a i l u r e i n t h e design

s i n c e e f f i c i ency w i l l be a d v e r ~ e l y a f f ec t ed .

Hence, c i rcu la$ ion o r t r a f f i c should be planned 6

i n such a way t h a t t he r e w i l l be a smooth flow from one

space t o t h e o the r without any c l a s h between funct ions .

The genera l ly recommended percentage of a given

space t h a t could be s e t a s i d e f o r c i r c u l a t i o n i s 20 - 25%.

This i s s p e c i f i c a l l y f o r i n t e r n a l t r a f f i c . That f o r

ex t e rna l t r a f f i c could be more s i n c e t h e volume of use r s

i s u sua l l y g r e a t e r .

T r a f f i c i s made up of t h e following:-

( a ) Vehicular - bikes , motor b ikes , c a r s e t c .

( b ) Pedes t r ian - a d u l t s , c h i l d r e n

( 0 ) wheel c h a i t s - t h e handicapped.

These d i f f e r e n t modes of t r a f f i c should be separa ted

by design t o f o r e s t a l l any form of accident t h a t may

occur. The planning of t h e ex t e rna l t r a f f i c should t ake

cognizance of ent rance porches.

(9) Outdoor A c t i v i t i e s Sec t ion

This s e c t i o n covers a l l t h e a c t i v i t i e s t h a t t ake p lace

outdoor, no mat te r how un re l a t ed they may beelome of them

over lap i n t o o t h e r aeathmns t h a t have a l ready been t r e a t e d .

A c t i v i t i e s covered i n t h i s s e c t i o n range from parking

l o t s t o p icn ic a r e a s ; from ch i l d r en p lay machine t o

outdoor r e c r e a t i o n a r ea s ; o the r s a r e r e l a x a t i o n parks ;

t e r r a c e s ; outdoor t r a f f i c ; masquerade out ings and c u l t u r a l 6

dances i n t h e amphitheatre, outdoor d tn ing , e t c .

This s e c t i o n plays a very important r o l e i n t h e

r e v i v a l of eur c u l t u r a l he r i t age . A major pa r t of t h e l i f e

of our people i s l i v e d i n t h e open ( s e e chapter t h r e e ) ,

so giving t h e outdoor a c t i v i t i e s s ec t i on a g rea t dea l

of a t t e n t i o n i s i n keeping wi th i t s important r o l e i n

a c i t y cent re .

( *) Parking Spac es /~andscap ing

The parking spaces should be evenly d i s t r i b u t e d

a l l over t h e s t r a t e g i c l oca t i ons i n t h e cen t re . Parking

should be provided f o r t h e u s e r s , admin i s t ra t ive s t a f f

and performers i n t h e auditorium and o the r func t ion

h a l l s . The parking should be e a s i l y acce s s ib l e and should

not c o n s t i t u t e any accident hazard t o o the r u s e r s , and

t h a t no i se and fume po l lu t i on from vehic les w i l l not be

at unbearable letael, Thus, t h e c a r s should be screened

o f f t h e c e n t r e by shrubs and t r e e s . Parking can be

i n s i d e t h e bui ld ing, or/and outs ide .

For a complex of t h i s na tu re , t h e landscaping

should be a combination of f l e x i b l e and r i g i d lands - caping elements e.g. walkways should be r i g i d ma te r i a l

l i k e rough concrete , p l an t s l i k e g rasses shrubs and t r e e s

anQ l i g h t i n g points l i k e sodium lamps t o enhance t h e

walkways. P lan t s should be p lanted very c lo se t o t h e

bu i ld ing t o avoid t he pene t ra t ion of s u n l i g h t i n t o t he

i n t e r i o r .

( b ) P icnic Areas And Relaxat ion Parks

Picnic as a mat ter of f a c t takes place i n r e l a x a t i o n

parks. This i s an a r e a i n which people k i n e , d i n e ,

r e l a x , and genera l ly make merry w i th lovs6tones. To

ensure t h a t t h e p lace does not ge t l i t t e r e d with wastes

r e f u s e bins should be provided a t s t r a t e g i c po in t s f o r

dumping of waste ma t e r i a l s . This a r e a should be b e a u t i f u l l y landscaped w i th

p l an t s t o enhance i t s berautyg(appeal and t o he lp minimize

no i se and dust po l lu t ion . Fixed s e a t s should be gut and

a v a i l a b l e i n an informal arrangement.

6.2: ZONING

Pr io r t o evolving a concept f o r t h e proposed mult i -

purpose cen t r e des ign , maJor a c t i v i t i e s which w i l l t ake

p lace wi th in t h e c e n t r e have ts be "1-dentified and zones

accordingly. This involves h o r i z o n t a l zoning, v e r t i c a l

zoning, and s i t e zoning. A l l t h i s should not be i n

conflieO wi th Lokoja ls c i t y ' s zoning regu la t ions .

Zoning i s governed by Laeh parameters as no i se , q u i e t ,

degree os pr ivacy, s i m i l a r 2 t y of func t ions e t c .

It i s important t o i d e n t i f y f o r c l a r i t y such a reas t h a t

should f a l l under pub l i c , s emi-public , p r i v a t e a reas .

Quiet rooms should be located remote from noisy

rooms with f enes t r a t i on not d i r e c t l y towards any ex te rna l

noise sources, and with buffer c i r c u l a t i o n or a n c i l l a r y

spaces used t o protect them from i n t e r n a l o r ex te rna l

noise.

Another important zoning i s t h e zoning of t h e s i t e .

This i s governed by such f a c t o r s as noise sources,

func t iona l i t y , a e s t h e t i c , surrounding bui ld ings ,

vegeta t ion e t c . A c i t y cen t r e , i n t he c l a s s i c a l times

(check chapter 2 ) , had such buildings grouped around

an open square, plaza, as t h e temple, palace, market,

and c i v i c h a l l . Such arrangements a r e hardly poss ible

today. F i r s t , i n Lokoja t he re i s already an ex i s t ing

palace. And second, t he re a r e var ied r e l i g i o u s groups

i n t he metropolis. The c i t y cen t re w i l l consimt

of two major bui ld ing groups : The c ivc cen t r e and the

commercial p laza (market-place). SaandAng on the

road c u t t i n g through t h e s i t e , t he Paparanda square,

and fac ing towards t he Western p a r t , t h e s i t e t o t he l e f t

i s smal ler i n s i z e than t h e one t o t h e r i g h t *

Consequently, t h e c i v i c cen t r e s h a l l be located on t h e

bigger *plot and the commercial plaza on t h e smaller

one.

6.3: ACCOMMODATION SCHEDULE

S p a t i a l ana ly s i s i s t h e process of determining what

the dimension of a space should be, i n order t o s e rve

a p a r t i c u l a r func t ion o f a c t i v i t y .

There are usua l ly two methods of a s se s s ing t h e

a r e a of a space: the ob j ec t i ve r a t i o n a l i z a t i o n of s tandards

and t h e a c t i v i t y analyetha. This t h e s i s employed t h e

two approaches where app l icab le t o a r r i v e a t t he

optimum s i z e s of t h e spaces.

The a reas of t h e spaces given i n t h e schedule

a r e not neces sa r i l y f i n a l . They can be a l t e r e d dur ing

t h e design s t age proper,

Some of t h e d a t a used i n t h e ob jec t ive ra t onal iza- 4 t i o n of ~ t a n d a r d s inc lude t -

a. Ehtrance h a l l 2 - 2.001/person ,

2 . b. Parking - 1 5 m /car

Waiting 2 - 1 . 0 m /person

l i r c u l a t i o n space 2 - P.5m /person

Conf e r e n c e n h e a t r e 2 - 0,65m2 - 0.84.1 /seat

~ar /Loung e

Offices

Dining

Food/liquor s t o r age - 0.24m2/seat o r 20% of

Banquet %pace

j. Banquet 2 - 1.2m /sea t

k. Kitchen - of &in ing Space

1. Changing Rooms 2 - O . l m /user

m. Indoor Games 2 - 1 . 5 m /person

0 , Multi-purpose h a l l 2 2 - 0,8m /-1.2m /person

Space Requirements

1. ADMINISTRATION

FUNCTION AREA(^^) REMARKS

~ e c e p t i o n i s t / W a i t i n ~

Booking O f f i c e

Account s

General Managor

S e c r e t a r y

As si st ant Manager

General O f f i c e

Spor t s D i r e c t o r

C h i e f S e c u r i t y O f f i c e r

P* R . 0.

Store/Archives

Board Room

T o i l e t s

20% ,General C i r c u l a t i o n T h i s inc ludes passages and s t a i r l o b b i e s ,

2 , ACADEMIC SECTION

FUNCTION AREA (M*) REMARKS

I. LIBRARY

L i b r a r i a n O f f i c e

A e s i s t a n t L i b r a r i a n

C i r c u l a t i o n D e s k

R e f e r e n c e Room

A d u l t Reading R o o m

C h i l d r e n R e a d i n g R o o m

~ c c p i s i t i o n / ~ i n d e r y / C a t a l o g u i n g

R e s e r v e B o o k s

Store

T o i l e t s

20$ G e n e r a l C i r c u l a t i o n

II# ADULT EDUCATION

R e c e p t i o n

O f f i c e 8 ( 3 )

S e w i n g Workshop

~ r t s / C r a f t s

Exhibition Area

A u d i o V i s u a l

Common R o o m

T o i l e t s

Store

20s G e n e r a l C u r c u l a t i o n

3. COMMERCIAL SECTION

FUNCTION mu(n2) REMARKS

I. DEPARTMENT STORE

Sales Floor

D e l i v e r y Area

~ o r k s h o ~ / ~ o o d s H a n d l i n g

P r e p a r a t i o n / A s s e m b l y Room

G e n e r a l Storage

G a r b a g e Space

C h a n g i n g Room and ~ . ~ . ( ~ a l s )

C h a n g i n g ~ o o r n f i .c. (Female)

M a n a g e r ' s ~ f f i c e / ~ e c . / W . ~ ,

A c c o u n t s O f f i c e

20% G e n e r a l c i r cu la t ion

11. RENTAL SHOPS

Shops

111, RENTAL O F F I C E S

S m a l l ~ p a c e ( 3 )

M e d i u m space ( 3)

L a r g e space ( 2 )

2@ G e n e r a l C i r c u l a t i o n b

2 60m /unit space

2 9Om /unit space

2 1 5 0 m /unit space

30 COMMWCIAL SECTION

FUNCTION A R E A ( M ~ ) REMARKS

IV. BRANCH BANK

Tellers ( 4 )

Public Bpaee

Clerks

~ a n a g e r f i ~

Account ant

Vault Space

Machine Room

Toilets (~ale/F'emale)

Arc hives

20$ Circulation

V . SNACKS BARS

Seating

Outdoor Seating

Servery

Storage

2oqb General. Circulation

1.5m2/~(100 capacity)

1 .5m2/p(50 capacity)

3. COMMERCIAL SECTION

F ~ C T I O X AREA( M~ ) REMARKS

V I , RESTAURANT

Dining Area 180 1 .8m2/~(100capacity)

Out door Diningflerrace 20 1 .8m2/p(50 capaci ty)

Psivat e Dining 90 1 .8m2/p( 50 capaoi ty)

Kitchen 57 3 of Dining Area

S t orage 48 0. a4m2/ssat

Servery 30

Changing ~oom/Toi le t s ale) 16

Changing Room/~oil et s ( ~ e m a l e ) 16

2 6 General Cl rcu la t i on 105.4

632.4

V I I . MULTI-PURPOSE

H a l l Area 540

Pro jec t ion Room 1 2

Stage Area 81

Baok Stage Area 27

Ki tchenet te 20

Storage 60

Changing Room/Tof l e t s ale) 20

6han.ging Room/Toil e t s (Femal e ) 20

20q& General C i r cu l a t i on k 936

4. SOCIO-CULTURAL SECTION

FUNCTION A R E A ( M ~ ) REMARKS

I. AMPHITHEATRE

Seating

Stage

B a c k Stage

C h a n g i n g R o o m

T o i l e t s

Store

11. THEATRE

Seating

BOX O f f i c e

Stage

C h a n g i n g R o o m s (M/F)

Pro j ection R o o m

R e h e a r s a l s

Store

L i g h t i n g C o n t r o l R o o m

Sound C o n t r o l R o ~ m

T o i l e t s

0 , 6 5 m 2 / ~ ( 1 5 0 0 C a p . )

4. SOCIO-CULTURAL SECTION

FUNCTION A R E A ( M ~ ) REMARKS

311. EXHIBITION

H a l l s 360 180m2/Unit ( 2 H a l l s )

400 c a p a c i t y / ~ a l l s

IV. BANQUET

Hall 1080 1 .2m2/sent (900 Cap. )

Kitchen 360 3 of Dining Space

Storage 216 20% of Banquet Space

Changing Rooms (M/F) 30

T o i l e t s 16

2 6 General C i r cu l a t i on 340.4

2042.4

V . CONFERENCE ROOMS

Conference Rooms 1170 2 195111 /room ( 6 Con-

f erence rooms)

0.65m2/~ (300 capaci ty/ro om)

5. WELFARE SECTION

FUNCTION A R E A ( M ~ ) REMARKS

I. CLINIC

Waiting Area

Pharmacy

Records

Doctor (Consulting ~ o o m )

Nurses /Treatment Room

Reat Room

Rnergency

Toi le t s

20$ Circulation

11. CHILD CARE

Reception

Play Room

Sleeping Room

Group Studies

Dining Area

Manager

Matron

General Office

Toy Store

General 6 h r e

Kitchenette

Laundry

To i l e t s

20$ Circulation

b

6. RECREATIONAL SEETION --

FUNCTION m u ( ~ ~ ) REMARKS

I, INDOOR GAMES

Spor t s Hall

Gymnasium

Club Rooms ( 2 )

Centra l Changing (M/F)

F i r s t Aid Room

S t o r e

Lounge

T o i l e t s

20$ Circu la t ion

1.2m2/~ (50 Cap.)

11. OUTWOR GAMES

Relaxat ion Parks

Law11 Tennis ~ o u r t s ( 2 ) (23.77 x 10.97) x 2

Volley Ba l l Courts (2) (18.00 x 9.00) x 2

Basket Bal l Court (26.00 x 6.00)

7 CAR PARK

2 m i l t - u p Area = l40Om . Using t h e ob jec t ive r a t i o n a l i -

z a t i on of Standardsof 3 c a r s per 100m2, we s h a l l then have

420 c a r parks. But t h e populat ion of c a r s i n Lokoja is

s m a l l as motocycles a r e t h e major means of t r anspor t .

So, one-fourth of t h i s number w i l l be provided. Hence 105

car parks w i l l be provided. b

C H A P T r n smm TECHNICAL AND S P E C I A L COMSIUfQ1ATIONS PAGE -

CHAPTER SEVEN - TECHNICAL AND SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS - 7.1: ACQUSTICS:

This i s t h e sc ience of sendq, i t s transmission,

recep t ion , and i t s e f f e c t s . Generally sound i s c l a s s i f i e d

i n t o two:

( a ) Wanted sound:- Music, messages, speeches e t c

' b ) Unwanted sound: - Noise, echo, reverbera t ions e tc .

8.1.2: Acoustic Defects

( a ) Echo:

Occurs i f a maximum i n t e r n a l of - second

1 - 25 ( f o r speech) t o second ( f o r music) e lapse between

t h e perception of t h e d i r e c t and r e f l e c t e d sound o r i g i n a t e

i n g from t h e same source. Since t h e speed of sound

i s approximately 344m/s, t h e c r i t i c a l pa th d i f fe rence

should be minimum of 1 4 m f o r speeds and 34Mfor music

between d i r e c t and r e f l e c t e d l i g h t .

( b ) Delayed r e f l e c t i o n :

I d e n t i c a l i n charac te r t o echo except t h e delay

between t h e perception of d i r e c t and r e f l e c t e d sounds

i s t o an extent lea&.

( c ) F l u t t e r Echo:

Consis ts of a r a p i d success ion of no t i c eab l e s m a l l

echoes and i s observed when a s h o r t burs t oft sound

such as c l a p o r shot i s produced between p a r a l l e l sound

r e f l e c t i v e su r faces .

( d ) Sound Concentration:

Caused by sound r e f l e c t i o n s from concave su r faces .

(e) Sound Shadow:

Noticeable under a balcony which Protrudes

t o o f a r i n t o t h e a i r space of an auditorium. It c r e a t e s

poor a u d i b i l i t y of t h e remote s e a t s underneath of t h e

l i s t e n i n g area.

7.1.3: Floor Shapes and Acoustic Effec ts :

( a ) Rec t an6311 ar Shape :

For l a r g e r h a l l s t h e auditorium i s l i k e l y

t o be too l a r g e f o r t h e s t a g e i t s e l f .

Acoustics: It produces c ro s s reflectioiaswhich between

p a r a l l e l su r f ace s cause f l u t t e r echoes.

( b) Horse-shoe :

The t r ad i t i ona l . shape f o r opera house.

Acoustics: eoncape s u r f a c e causes sound concent ra t ions

( c ) Fan Shape:

This has t h e advantage of conta in ing t h e maximum

number of people i n a given angle f o r a spec i f i ed maximum

source - r ece ive r d is tance . This c h a r a c t e r i s t i c i s

a t t r a c t i v e f o r economic reasons, as wel l as enabling

t h e h a l l t o f u l f i l multi-puapose requirements

Acoustics: The curved r e a r wal l and t h e curved balcony - f r o n t un1.ess t r ea t ed acous t i ca l l y o r renclered d i f f u s i v e ,

a r e l i k e l y t o c r e a t e echoes or sound concentrat ion.

7 . 1 . 4 ~ Main Approaches To Acoustic Design

( a ) N a t u r a l / k c h i t ecutral . f a s t o r s :

The i n i t i a l s t e p i n a r c h i t e c t u r a l acous t ics i s

t o determine t h e acous t ic environment f o r t h e spaces.

-N Hearing space - where l i s t e n i n g a t t e n t i v e l y

t o t he sound Ls des i r ed , e.g.

t h e a t r e s , concert h a l l s , l e c t u r e

h a l l s .

* Normal space :- where communication and not noisy

human a c t i v i t i e s a r e conducted, e.g.

o f f i c e s .

)C Foisy space - where a general impression o f

leudnesa o r elevated sound 1 eve1

i s immediately apparent when en te r ing

t h e room e.g. discotheque.

~ a t u r a l / a r c h l t e c t u r a l f a c t o r s a r e dependent upon volume,

shape and s u r f aces ( r e f letting, absorbing, d i f f u s i n g ,

e t c ,) and t h e mechanical damages of su r face .

( b ) A r t i f i c i a l Fac to r s :

Technology dependent, e.g. microphones, ampkif ie rs

e l e c t r i c a l art if i c e s l i k e de lay , a r t i f i c i a l r e v e r b e r a t i o n ,

loud speakers etc.

7.1.5: Remedy f o r Aooustio Defects:

(a) Adequate Loudness :

1. The audi tor ium should be shaped s o tvat t h e audience

i s as c l o s e t o t h o sound source as poss ib le .

2, The sound should be r a i s e d as much as f e a s i b l e

t o s e c u r e a f r e e f low o f d i r e c t aound waves to

every l i s t e n e r .

3. The audi tor ium f l o o r should be proper ly raked as

sound i s r e a d i l y absorbed when i t t r a v e l s over t h e

audience g r a z i n g inc idence . The g rad ien t of s loped

auddCorium f l o o r s without stairs should not be more

t h a t 6 - lo0 . I n case a balcony i s provided, t h e r ake

shodld not exceed 35O.

4 , The sound should be c lo se ly and abundantly surroqided

wi th l a r g e r e f l e c t i v e surfaces .

5. Tho f l o o r a r e a and volume of the auditorum should

2 be kept a t reasonable minimum (fox drama 7 - 12m /audience

2 s e a t , Zor concert 20 - 35m /audience s e a t ) ,

Thereby shortening the dis tance t h a t d i r e c t and r e f l e c t e d

sound must t r ave l .

( b ) Sound di f fus ion:

The sur face i r r e g u l a r i t i e s l i k e exposed S t ruc tusa l

elements, coffered c e i l i n g s , s e r r a t ed enclosure,

sculptured sur face decorat ions e t c must be abundantly

applied and reasonably la rge .

( c ) Heverberation con t ro l :

Reverberation i s t h e p e r s i s t enee of sound within

a space a f t e r t h e source has se ized, Reverberation time

i s t h e time i n seconds required t o delay i n a u d i b i l i t y

a f t e r t h e source ceases. For every space t h e r e i s an

optimum reverbera t ion time. This i s dependent on the

f o r which i t i s meant.

I n many cases , i t i s a l so depenlrfsnt on t h e form and i n

p a r t i c u l a r t h e d i f fu s ion of t h e room. The f i r s t s t e p *

i n determining t h e reverbera t ion of t h e room i n t h e c i t y

cen t r e i s t o decide whether t he space i s meant f o r music,

o r speech, The t a b l e below shows t h e recommended reverbera-

t i o n time i n some spaces.

Space

Mult i-purpose h a l l s

Music

7 - Table 7.1 s Recommended Reverberation Time

Small Rooms

0 - 750m2

Speech

i n some spaces.

1.5 sec

l.5sec

Sound-absorbing materials should be i n s t a l l e d along those

boundary sources of t h e auditorium which are l i k e l y t o

produce such acouetic defects as echoes, f l u t t e r echoes,

long delayed re f l ec t ions and sound concentration on the

r e a r w a l l opposite the sound source, Ohose portion

of ehe s ide w a l l s which a re f a r thes t from the source or

along the perimeter ~f t he cei l ing.

Reverberation time can be calculated, using Sabin

formula:

Medium Rooms

7 5 ~ - 7 5 ~ ~ ~ m 2

o.75eec

Large Rooms

77500m2

1 - 1.25sec

1 - 5-2 sec

1 - l.gsec -

2 or more

0.75-1 sec 1 see

Where RT = Reverberation time.

V = Volume of room i n M 3

A = Tota l raom absorption i n M 2

X = A i r absorption coef f ic ien t .

It can a l so be calcula ted from t h e c e i l i n g height ,

T = H/6 (cei l ing height i n metrica)

This implies t h a t reverberat ion time i s d i r e c t l y

proportional t o t h e c e i l i n g height of t he space,

( d ) Adjus t ib i l i ty :

Decreasing with ba f f l e s t o achieve a smaller

chamber volume or by ad jus t ing t h e c e i l i n g t o

reduce t h e volume of t h e auditorium.

Covering panels and other hard surfaces with s o f t

mater ia l of high absorptive values.

1)esiglzing the t h e a t r e with shor t RT required f o r

drama, That of music ca@ be achieved by use

of a r t i f i c i a l e l ec t ron ic axtension,

220. 7 -1.6: Open A i r Theat re ( ~ m p h i t h e a t r e ) ~ c o u s t i c s

Factors r e spons ib le f o r poor a u d i b i l i t y outdoors a r e :

1, The drop of sound energy when sound waves t r a v e l

i n t h e open a i r .

2, The audience absorpt ion of some cons iderable sound.

3. It i s a l s o due t o i n t e r f e r r i n g no i ses emanating

from t h e surrounding.

R ~ m e d y

1, Sea t s should be wi th in cons iderable minimum d i s t ance ,

2, Elevate t h e platform, s e a t i n g a r e a s t e e p l y banked,

with increased rake towards t h e r e a r t o provide

t h e maximum amount of d i r e c t sound t o t h e audience.

3. Accommodate t h e maximum amount of r e f l e c t i v e sur-

f aces c l o se t o t h e sound source. Nearly a l l r e f l e c t i v e

su r faces of e x i s t i n g bui ld ings should be c a r e f u l l y

checked f o r echoes or harmful off e c t s .

4, Absorption and d i f f u s i o n of t h e inc iden t sound waves

l i k e l y due from r e a r r e f e l e c t i o n covering upon

platform from concen t r i c benches, p a r t i c u l a r l y

no t i ceab le wi th t o t a l l y or p a r t i a l l y unoccupied

s e a t , should be e l imina ted ,

7.2 : VENTILATION :

Air change and movement w i t k in b u i l d i n g s ,

i s a v i t a l aspect of des ign which has governed form

through h i s t o r y . N a t u r a l v e n t i l a t i o n through openings

i s r e q u i r e d i n some spaces whi le a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g i s mainly

r e q u i r e d i n some o t h e r spaces.

The advantages of a i r c o n d i t i o n i n g a r e :

It provides comfort f o r audience by provid ing

r e q ~ i s i t e amount of c o n t r o l l e d f r e s h s t e r i l e a i r

a t comfortable t empsrature and humidity.

It precludes n a t u r a l v e n t i l a t i o n which at t imes

permit t ransmiss ion of o u t s i d e n o i s e i n t o some

of t h e f u n c t i o n a l spaces.

Sea t s covering and f a b r i c s , machines a r e kept

dus t - f ree .

Two f a c t o r s c o n t r o l n a t u r a l v e n t i l a t i o n : -

The p ressu re v a r i a t i o n due t o wind

The ' s t a c k ' e f f e c t which r e s u l t s from w a n a i r

i n t h e b u i l d i n g r i s i n g and being d isp layed by

coQler e x t e r n a l a i r .

There a r e f a c t o r s which must be taken i n t o considera-

tiom whi le planning f o r good n a t u r a l v e n t i l a t i o n ;

1. O r i e n t a t i o n of t h e bu i ld ing : ! longer s i d e s t o f a c e

t h e N.E. d i r e c t i o n .

2. S i z e of windows and doors s i n c e they a f f e c t t h e

volume of a i r pass ing through them.

3. window methods and louvres pos ik ionjng and o t h e r

devices can be used t o c o n t r o l and d i r e c t a i r flow.

The advantages of n a t u r a l v e n t i l a t i o n over mechanical

v e n t i l a t i o n types inc lude :

No power needed and t h u s no maintenanee c o s t

Assures f reshness of a i r

Work can cont inue comfortably even when power

f a i l u r e occurs.

LIGHTING

The importance of l i g h t i n g i n t h e c i t y c e n t r e can

not be over-emphasized. Big spaces should be s p e c i a l l y

designed wi th l i g h t i n g requirements i n mind s i n c e a l o t

of a c t i v i t i e s w i l l t a k e p lace i n t h e cen t re . No r i g i d

concept of l i g h t i n g w i l l s a t i s f y a l l requirements.

There w i l l always be a combination of n a t u r a l and a r t i d i c i q l b

l i g h t i n g t o g ive t h e b e s t r e s u l t s .

The sun i s a r i c h source of daylight f o r t h e

i l luminat ion of forms and spaces i n a rch i tec ture . The

q u a l i t y of i t s l i g h t changes with t he time of t h e

day and from season t o season. And i t t ransmits t h e

changing uolours and moods of t h e sky and t h e weather

t o t h e surfaces and forms i t i l luminates .

An opening can be or ien ted t o receive sun l i g h t

dwieg cer%ain hours of t h e day. Direct sun l i g h t

provides a high degree of i l luminat ion t h a t i s espec ia l ly

in tence during midday hours. Possible det r imenta l e f f e c t s

of d i r ec t sun l igh t , such as g l a r e and excessive heat'

gain can be control led by shading device b u i l t i n t o

t h e form of t h e bui ld ing, or provided by t h e f o l i a g e

of nearby t r e e s o r adjacent s t ruc tu re s .

Natural l i g h t i n g or daylight reaches t h e i n t e r i o r s

of bui ld ing i n t h e fol lowing ways:-

1. Diffusion through windows and other openings

2. Externally r e f l e c t e d l i g h t by t h e ground, landscape

or neighbouring buildings coming through windows

and other openings.

3. In t e rna l r e f l e c t i o n of l i g h t by w a l l su r faces ,

* c e i l i n g s as well as l i g h t coloured ob jec t s .

4. Direct penetrat ion.

A number of control devices w i l l be used t o control

g lare :

1. Tree planting

2. Sun screens

3. Projections and canopies

4. U 6 e of s u i t a b l e an t ig l a re colours and textures .

7.3.1 : A r t i f i c a l External L i ~ h t i n g

This i s used t o display the character and fea tures

of t he building. It i s a l so required f o r t he sa fe ty

of the buildings, secur i ty and control .

7.3.2: A r t i f i c i a l In te rna l IJiffhtinp;

This l i g h t i n g i s usually c e i l i n g mounted. They could

a l so be mounted on the walls . It i s most c r i t i c a l i n

performance h a l l s . There i s need fo r v i sua l harmony

and the a b i l i t y of t he audience t o be s a t i s f i e d with

performers expression with l i t t l e obscurity. A l a rge

par t of the l i gh t ing from the d i r ec t ion of the audience

should be such tha t i t s t r i k e s the performer's face

a-b 4 5 O above the hor izontal . If the angle i s s teeper ,

dark unf l a t t ening shadows under the brows r e s u l t and

i f a t a shallower angle, there i s the danger of unwanted

shadows on t h e s e t o r on t h e performers, l i g h t i n g pos i t ions

i n auditorium can be c e i l i n g s l o t s , s i d e wal l s l o t s and

balcony f a s c i a ,

7.4 : ELECTRICITY

Power supply t o t h e cen t r e should be from t h e c i t y ' s

power supply, An emergency auxiliary power supply capable

o f meeting t h e t o t a l load requirements of t h e cen t r e i s

required , Generating oquipments should be kept away

from funct ional areas t o avoid no i se and smoke.

7.5 : PLUMBINq

A l l plumbing work i n t h e cen t r e must be by duct

system t o avoid ugly s i g h t s which may r e s u l t from

exposed pipes,

7.6s DRAINAGE

This i s t h e e f f e c t i v e and proper discharge of

roof g u t t e r s , and su r f ace water. Rain water running

o f f pi tched roofs w i l l be co l lec ted by eaves o r va l l ey

gu t t e r s while t h a t of f l a t roofs by g u t t e r s , channels,

r a i n water heads o r o u t l e t s and discharged by r a i n water

pipes t o d r a in , Surface water w i l l be co l lec ted from a

paved areas l a i d t o gradients towards g u l l i e s o r channels.

The col lected water by g u l l i e s o r channels a r e discharged

through drains t o sewers o r soak-aways , Surf ace drainage

i s a function of r e l i e f , cl imate and geological condit ions,

7.7: WASTE LIISPOSAL

Waste w i l l be disposed of according t o the type.

Human waste ( faeces ) w i l l be disposed of through a s e r i e s

of manholes ( inspec t ion chambers) and s e p t i c tanks and

soakaway . Sol id waste cons t i t u t e s any unwanted and

discarded material f ~ o m human a c t i v i t i e s , whether purely

s o l i d o r semi-solid. This includes garbage/refuse o r

scraps. To handle t h i s waste, l i g h t f i t t i n g l i d containers

and waste paper baskets should be posi t ioned a t s t r a t e g i c

posi t ions i n t he cen t r e including open spaces, lounges

ki tchens, bars , r e s t au ran t s e tc . The wastes from these

containers and baskets w i l l then be taken t o a co l l ec t ion

spot f o r the waste disposal vehic les of t h e environmental

s a n i t a t i o n board t o t ake them t o the f i n a l dumping. yard

outside the c i t y .

7.8 : NOISE %OURCE/CONTROL

I n a multi-purpose c i t y cen t re , t he need t o control

no:se cannot be over-emphasized. The po ten t i a l noise

sources are :-

)t ~ r a f f i c /car Parks

* Socia l A c t i v i t i e s

Y Plant Rooms: Generator, Vent i l a t ion and F i l t r a t i o n

p lan t s ,

1, T r a f f i c / ~ a r Parks

This includes noise from t r a f f i c passing through

t h e cen t res boundary roads, The main sources of no i se

of t r a f f i c / c a r park no i se a r e t h e high frequency

screeching of types , s t r u c t u r a l v i b r a t i o n of t h e e x t e r i o r

su r face of veh i c l e s , horns and screeching brakes,

This noise can e i t h e r be prevented by s epa ra t i ng t h e

c a r parks from t h e qu ie t zones o r by su f foca t i ng t h e

noise with p lan t s .

2, Socia l Ac t iv i t i ed

Music from a band o r e l ec t ron i c s e t s o r people

cha t t e r i ng away could d i s t u r b occupants us ing o the r

f a c i l i t i e s i n t h e cen t re , The use of s o l i d sound - i n s u l a t i n g g lasses as covering f o r openings w i l l so lve

t h i s problem.

3. Plant Rooms

" To c u r t a i l t h e no i se from these sources, t h e bes t

way i s t o s i t e them remote from qu ie t areas i n separa te

s t r u c t u r e s ,

7.9 : SMOKEX AND FUMES

Smokes and fumes c o n s t i t u t e s e r i o u s environmental

hazards , and t h e i r con t ro l i s of utmost importance,

Sources of smokes and fumes i n t h e c e n t r e inc lude t h e

power p l an t s , machines automobiles, i n c i n e r a t o r and

chimneys ,

There a r e two con t ro l problems: One i s t o con t ro l

t h e s e smokes and fumes from spreading a l l over t h e c e n t r e ,

no mat te r t h e source and t h e o the r i s t o c o n t r o l them

from being a hazard i n t h e neighbourhood around t he

cen t re .

The c a r parks and automobile rou tes should be l i n e d

up wi th t r e e s , f lowers , and green vegeta0ion. This s e e n

vege ta t ion he lps i n c o n t r o l l i n g t h e spread of fumes from

automobiles, Green environment should a l s o be p lanted

around fume sources l i k e k i t chens , power p l an t s house,

i n c i n e r a t o r s e t c . The exhaust pipes t h a t channel fumes /smokes away

from tower p l an t s w i l l be ve ry h igh , h igh enough t o

d ischarge t h e fumes i n t o t he p a r t of t h e atmosphere

where i t w i l l not c o n s t i t u t e an environmental nuf sands.

Th i s w i l l a l s o l ead t o even d i s t r i b u t i o n of t h e fumes i n n

t h e atmosphere h igh above, r a t h e r than a concent ra t ion i n

dangerous quant i ty of t he s e fumes i n t h e atmosphere nea re r

t h e ground surface .

7.10: FIRE SAFE1Y

F i r e i s a major cause of l o s s t o both l i v e s and

property. I n complex of t h i s na tu re , f i r e s a f e t y should

always be given adequate p r i o r a t t en t i on . The f i r e

s a f e t y of a bui ld ing depends f i r s t on what i s done t o

prevent t he s t a r t i n g of t h e f i r e and what i s done,

through design, const ruct ion and good management t o

minimize t h e spread of f i r e i f and when i t happens.

Possible sources of f i r e i n t h e proposed c i t y

cen t r e include :-

1. E l e c t r i c a l f a u l t s i n i n s t a l l a t i o n s and apparatus.

This might resul t ; because of t he use of f a u l t y cab les ,

non-flame-proof e l e c t r i c a l equipment, and over-heating

and break down through over-loading o r negligence.

2. Malicious o r I n t e n t i o n a l i g n i t i o n (a r son)

3. Carelessness and Ignorance. These might be caused

by c a r e l e s s smokers o r leaving e l e c t r i c a l appliances

s t i l l plugged a f t e r a power cut .

4. Mishandling of inflammable l i q u i d s such as p e t r o l ,

kerosene e t c .

The f o l l o w i n g s t e p s should be used t o p revent t h e

r i s k of f i r e i n t h e cen t r e : -

( a ) S i t e Planning:

Ear ly c o n s i d e r a t i o n shou ld be g iven t o bo th t h e

i n t e r i o r b u i l d i n g and e x t e r i o r s i t e p lanning , One of t h e

major impor tan t c o n s i d e r a t i o n s i n d e s i g n i s acces s t o

t h e f i r e a r e a s t h i s i n c l u d e s acces s t o t h e b u i l d i n g

i t s e l f as w e l l as acces s t o t h e i n t e r i o r of t h e b u i l d i n g ,

I n s i t i n g t h e c e n t r e , t h e f o l l o w i n g f a c t o r s a r e t a k e n

i n t o c o n s i d e r a t i o n s : -

1; Access roads f o r f i r e f i g h t i n g a p p l i a n c e s

2. D i s t ance between a d j a c e n t b u i l d i n g s t o r educe

sp read of f i r e between b u i l d i n g .

3. Access from r o a d s and open spaces i n t o t h e

c e n t r e .

( b ) I n t e r n a l Planning:

The w a l l s and o t h e r components making up t h e c e n t r e

must have adequa te f i r e r e s i s t a n c e . The b u i l d i n g codes

i n r e l a t i o n t o f i r e r a t e d m a t e r i a l s shou ld s e r v e as a

gu ide f o r f i r e s a f e t y d e s i g n requi rements .

A t t e n t i o n should be p a i d i n t h e d e s i g n of t h e escape

r o u t e s i n t h e event of f i r e . The f i r e escape shou ld be

c o n s t r u c t e d of m a t e r i a l s w i t h h i g h f i r e r e s i s t a n c e ,

S t a i r s s h a l l no t be l e s s than 9OOmm wide, w i t h r i s e r s

no t more t h a n l9Omm and t r e a d s not l e s s than 250mm and t h e

p la t forms at t h e f o o t stairs not l e s s than 1016mm wide

by 9OOmm long.

( c ) F i r e P r o t e c t i o n Equipments:

1. F i r e d e t e c t i s and Alarm System:

These should be i n s t a l l e d t o au tomat i ca l ly d e t e c t

f i r e s i n t h e i n c i p i e n t s t a g e and t o s i g n a l t h i s occurence.

The system i n c o r p o r a t e s alarm b e l l s which w i l l be

l o c a t e d where t h e y can e a s i l y be heard by a l l t h e occupants

o f t h e bui ld ing . Thess b e l l s should be a c t i v i t e d bo th

manually from break-g las s1 c a l l p o i n t s and by t h e

automatic a c t i o n of smoke and hea t d e t e c t o r s which w i l l

be i n s t a l l e d i n t h e c e i l i n g s .

2. Hand Appliances:

They should be used only as a p r o t e c t i o n a g a i n s t

f i r e i n t h e e a r l y s t a g e . They comprise of p o r t a b l e f i r e

ex t ingu i she r s and hose r e e l s . These appl iances should

be placed at a l l c o r n e r s of t h e b u i l d i n g f o r easy

l o c a t i o n when f i r e begins .

,, 3, Spr inkleqs :

Th i s i s a form of f i r e p r o t e c t i v e system whereby

t h e system i s a c t i v i t e d by t h e f i r e i t s e l f .

It c o n s i s t s of a number of automatic va lves c a l l e d

s p r i n k l e r heads, a r u b p ipe network and adequate water

supply from a s t o r a g e t ank , This system b a s i c a l l y d e t e c t s

a f i r e and then provides an adequate d i s t r i b u t i o n of

water t o c o n t r o l o r e x t i n g u i s h i t . It i s of two types :

The dry r i s e r s and wet r i s e r s ,

7.112 SECURITY

The a r c h i t e c t u r a l des ign of t h e c e n t r e though

should al low f o r easy c i r c u l a t i o n , s e c u r i t y ~f l i f e and

p r o p e r t i e s i n t h e complex should be taken i n t o cons ide ra t ion .

The ent rance ga tes a r e incorpora ted wi th s e c u r i t y /

p o r t e r pos t s f o r c o n t r o l s at t h e e n t r y p o i n t s , The

commercial p laza and t h e c i v i c c e n t r e should be organised

such t h a t movement i n , around and out of t h e c e n t r e can

be monitored due t o t h e number of human c h a r a c t e r s t h a t

would be pa t ron iz ing t h e c e n t r e .

The c a r owners a r e t o be given d i s c t a l l i e s at t h e

poin t of en t ry which must be submitted before d r i v i n g

out of t h e c e n t r e . This would give some l e v e l of confi-

dence t o t h e v i s j . to r s /use r s t h a t come w i t h c a r s t o t h e

c e n t r e ,

s

7 e12: TIIE HANDICAPPED PmPLE

This group of members of t h e s o c i e t y could v i s i t

t h e c e n t r e f o r a conference , s o c i a l a c t i v i t i e s o r f o r

r e c r e a t i o n . To h e l p them, e f f o r t i s made i n provid ing

f a c i l i t i e s t h a t w i l l enable them i n t c g r a t e p e a c e f u l l y

and happ i ly wi th t h e o t h e r members of t h e community.

Such p rov i s ions inc lude :

* Ramps tha.t a r e prominent and convenient

* Prov i s ion of changing rooms

* Ehsuring proper access t o t o i l e t s and

door openings.

CHAW ER EIGHT

THE T H ~ S I S DESIGN

8.1 : D S I G K CONCEPT

Concept i s a means of a c h i e v i n g an end. It i s t h e

supe r -o rgan i s ing i d e a . A s s t a t e d i n c h a p t e r one,

s e c t i o n 1.2, t h e conf luence o f R i v e r Niger and R i v e r

Benue i s t h e s i n g u l a r most impor tan t f a c t o r &hat shaped

and d i r e c t e d t h e h i s t o r y of Lokoja. The con f luence i s

o f g r e a t economic and t o u r i s t r e l e v a n c e t o t h e s t a t e .

It i s no t s u r p r i s i n g t h a t t h e s t a t e ' s . s logan on i t s

number p l a t e s r e a d s , "The con€ l u m c e S t a t e " . The conf luence i s t h e concept f o r t h e des ign .

T h i s w i l l make t h e c e n t r e i d e n t i f y w i t h t h e people

and, t h u s , i n t i m a t e t o them. A c e n t r e t h e y w i l l always

want t o v i s i t .

The concept f o r t h o d e s i g n i s one of t h e f a c t o r s

o r c r i t e r i a t h a t governed t h e s i t e s e l e c t i o n . The two

p l o t s of t h e s i t e w i l l be j o ined t o g e t h e r by d e s i g n w i t h

a thoroughfare below on t h e road c u t t i n g th rough t h e

s i t e .

Movement i s a v e r y impor tan t c o n s i d e r a t i o n f o r t h e

aes igr l of a c i t y c e n t r e . A s s t a t e d i n c h a p t e r s ix , s e c t i o n

6.4, t h e comrnorcial p l a z a w i l l occupy t h e s m a l l c r p l o t

and then joined t o t h o c i v i c c e n t r e on t h e o t h e r p l o t aver and

ac ross t h e road, A confluence of phys ica l a r c h i t e c t u r a l

s t r u c t u r e s , t h e Loko ja Multi-purpose c i t y c e n t r e ,

8.2 : DESIGN OBJECTIVES

1. The des ign should show a good response t o what

is l e a r n t from t h e case s t u d i e s and l i t e r a t u r e

review,

2, Tho design of t h e c e n t r e should respond t o t h e

s i t e phys ica l and microcl imat ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ,

3, Layout should r e v e a l an open design which should

equal ly be organic .

4. S e c u r i t y and we l fa re of u s e r s t o be adequately

gumant eed.

5. The c e n t r e should a s much as p o s s i b l e be comfortable

a t a l l per iods of use , Where n a t u r a l f a c t o r s r e l e n t ,

mechanical moans s h a l l s u b s t i t u t e .

6, The f a c i l i t i e s and spaces provided should be

comfortable t o support t h e a c t i v i t i e s i n d i c a t e d i n

t h e des ign b r i e f , f o r t h e people concerned.

j, The design should be economical.

8.3 : - ARCHI'C'EC'TUIIAL CHARACTER - - Each bui ld ing should depict a p a r t i c u l a r s t y l e of

a r ch i t ec tu re which d i s t ingu ishes i t from other types

of buildings and from the same type outs ide i t s environment.

I n a complex of this na ture , t h e a r ch i t ec tu re should be

i n v i t i n g i n order t o a t t r a c t people t o t he centre .

The proposed centrd w i l l be a fus ion of Lokoja

T rad i t i ona l Architecture and contemporary a rch i tec ture .

A s wr i t t en i n chapter th ree , sub-section 3.3.1, t h e

main c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e Loko j a t r a d i t i o n a l a r ch i t ec tu re ,

a r e t he fenced family compound (open space) , t h e rectan-

gular plan, and t h e hipped roof. Courtyard system,

open-spaces ( p l a z a ) , qnd rectangular plans w i l l be used

extensively i n t h e centre . The courtyard dep ic t s t he

Loko j a people ' s Communal l i v i n g pa t t e rn , i t ensures

cross-vent i la t ion and immediately t r o p i c a l i s e s t he

building. The ex t e r io r and i n t e r i o r f i n i s h i n g should

exhibi t t he Loko j a t r a d i t i o n a l a r ch i t ec tu re as well as

t h e modern a r ch i t ec tu re , t o t h i s end ca re fu l s e l ec t ion

of shapes and forms should be done.

8.4: CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS AND TEHNOLOGY

8.4.1 : INTRODUCTION

The bui ld ing i s a physical embodiment of a number

of r e l a t e d , co-ordinat ed, and in tegra ted systems i n form

of components - walls, f l o o r s , roofs , s t r u c t u r a l framework,etc

A n understanding of how t h e s e components f i t toge the r

and t h e c o n s t r u c t i o n techniques i s necessary during both

t h e design and c o n s t r u c t i o n s t a g e s ,

Building m a t e r i a l s , on t h e o t h e r , have d i s t i n c t

p r o p e r t i e s of s t r e n g t h , s t i f f n e s s , e l a s t i c i t y , d e n s i t y

o r hardness , r e s i s t a n c e t o wear (caused by phys ica l or

chemical a c t i o n ) , f i r e r e s i s t a n c e and thermal conduct iv i ty .

I n t h i s s e c t i o n , a b r i e f o u t l i n e of t h e chosen

m a t e r i a l s f o r c o n s t r u c t i o n and technology w i l l be given

s o as t o make t h e des ign of t h e 'multi-purpose c i t y c e n t r e

more appreciable . It should be borne i n mind t h a t t h e

fo l lowing methods a r e not r i g i d , but v a r i a t i o n s should not

be such as t o tamper wi th t h e o r i g i n a l des ign proposal.

8.4.2: THE FOUNDATIONS

The foundat ion system of any bu i ld ing , i t s sub-

s t r u c t u r e , i s a c r i t i c a l l i n k i n t h e t ransmiss ion of

b u i l d i n g loads down t o t h e ground. Bearing d i r e c t l y

on t h e s o i l , t h e foundat ion system m u s t not only

d i s t r i b u t e v e r t i c a l loads s o t h a t t h e se t t l ement of t h e

bu i ld ing i s e i t h e r n e g l i g i b l e o r uniform u n c l e a r a l l p a r t s of

b

bui ld ing , but a l s o has t o anchor t h e upper s t r u c t u r e

of tho bu i ld ing aga in s t u p l i f t and racking fo r ce s .

The n~os t c r i t i c a l f a c t o r i n determining t h e founda-

t i o n system o f a bu i ld ing i s t h e type and t h e bear ing

capac i ty of t h e s o i l t o which t h e bu i ld ing loads s h a l l

be d i s t r i b u t e d .

Due t o t h e s o i l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s of t h e s i t e (=heck

chap te r f i v e , s e c t i o n 5.3.2 (iii)), i t w i l l be advanta-

geous, and economical t o choose t h e pad foundat ion type.

Here, independent s l a b s of concre te c a r ry p i e r s o r columns.

The a r e a of t h e foundat ion i s determined by d iv id ing

t h e column load by t h e s a f e bearing capac i ty of t h e s o i l .

8.4.3: FLOORS

The f l o o r system of any bu i l d ing should s a t i s f y

t h e func t i ona l requirements of s t a b i l i t y , s t r e n g t h ,

prevent ion of moisture passage, d u r a b i l i t y , f i r e r e s i s -

t ance , thermal p rope r t i e s and r e s i s t a n c e t o sound

t ransmiss ion and absorpt ion.

The ground f l o o r s w i l l be cons t ruc ted s o l i d

wi th hardcore, ove ru i t e concre te and a damp proof

course on which the f l o o r f i n i s h w i l l be l a i d , e . g . *

i s the multi-purpose h a l l and auditorium where t imbsr

f l o o r f i n i s h w i l l be used f o r i t s acous t i c property.

For s t o r e s and parking spaces , t h e f i n i s h t o p

s u r f a c e s of t h e o v e r s i t e concre te i s t o be used a s t h e

f l o o r s u r f a c e t o save c o s t of an appl ied f i n i s h ,

For k i t chen , laundry a r e a , water c l o s e t s and o t h e r s i m i l a r

s u r f a c e s prone t o water . t e r r a z z o , p recas t f l o o r

t i l c s o r pvc t i l e s a r e t o be app l i ed , because of

i n i t i a l c o s t and ease of c l ean ing and maintenance;

f o r r e s t a u r a n t , t e r r a z z o f i n i s h should be used f o r

t h e f l o o r , and f o r gymnasium the f l o o r f i n i s h w i t h durable

ab ras ion r e s i s t a n c e and non-s l ip q u a l i t i e s should be used.

A l l o t h e r ground f l o o r s ar~rl upper f l o o r s should be

f ir i ishcd i n t e r r a z z o ,

3.4.4: WALLS

The w a l l s should be of durable n ia t a r i a l s and f i n i s h e s ,

should not at t r a c t f r equen t maintenance. Concrot e hollow

blocks w i l l be used t o reduce t h e ha r sh e f f e c t s of t h e

c l ima te i n Lokoja, The w a l l s s h a l l be non-load bear ing

wa l l s because t h e s t r u c t u r a l system t h a t w i l l be used

w i l l c a r ry t h e l o a d ,

8.4.5: ROOFS

It is important t o no te t h a t d i f f ererlC roof b

c h a r a c t e r s given t o a b u i l d i n g t h a t r e t a i n s a l l i t s

o t h e r f e a t u r e s will irnpos o d i f f e r e n t outlook.

Hoofs, t h e r e f o r e , should be s e e n as b a l a n c i n g elements

and roof c h a r a c t e r s should be explored f o r e f f e c t s .

The r o o f i n g s t y l e shou ld i d e n t i f y w i t 2 1 t h e t r a d i t i o n a l

a r c h i t a c t u r e of Lokoja. To t h i s end, h ipped r o o f s w i l l

be e x t e n s i v c l y made u s e o f . Tho r o o f i n g of t h e c e n t r e

s l m l l be of long-span aluminium r o o f i n g s h e e t s .

High p i t c h e d r o o f i n g i s s t r o n g l y recommended and

emphasised. Th i s w i l l make f o r t h e speedy run-off of

r a i n wate r and i n c r e a s e t h e a b i l i t y of t h e roof t o

windstand windstorms.

8,4,6 : FINISHES

I n any s t r u c t u r e , e x t e r i o r w a l l s u r f a c e s must

be weather - r e s i s t a n t , d u r a b l e , and r e l a t i v e l y mainte-

nance-free . I n t e r i o r s shou ld be w e a r - r e s i s t a n t and

oleaftable. F l o o r s Should be non-s l ippery and d u r a b l e

a g a i n s t t r a f f i c wear, and c e i l i n g s should be maintenance-

f r e e . The s t r e n g t h of a f i n i s h m a t e r i a l depends on

it.^ s t i f f n e s s and/or b r i t t l e n e s s and t h e r i g i . d i t y

o f i t s backing, I t s a c o u s t i c , thermal and f i r e r e s i s t a n c e

v a l u e s a r e a l s o v e r y impor tan t c o n s i d e r a t i o n s i n t h . e i r

u,ses .

For v i s u a l appearance, a l l f inf s h i n g m a t e r i a l s

should be considered i n terms of t h e i r c o l o u r , t o x t u r e ,

p a t t e r n , s c a l e , modular c l ~ a r a c t e r i s t , i c s and t h e i r

j o i n t i n g and edge condit.ions . For masonry w a l l s , p l a s t e r may be app l i ed d i r e c t l y

t o s u r f a c e s . These su r faces should be s u f f i c i e n t l y rough

and porous t o al-low f o r absorpt ion and a good bond.

Kxt, e r i o r p l a s t e r should be used f o r both exteri.01- and

i n t e r i o r wa l l s . Tho p l a s t e r should be app l i ed i n l a y e r s ,

t h e number of which depends on t h e type and s t r e n g t h

8.4.7 : STRUCTURE

The s t m c t u r a l system of a bu i ld ing suppor ts t h e

bu i ld ing ' s loads agai.ns t t h e p u l l of g r a v i t y and enablos

j t t o r e s i s t t h e f o r c e s of wirbc: pressure , shock or impact

l o a d s , v ibra . t ions o r oven earthquake. I n cona te r ing

those i n t e r n a l and ex te rna l f o r c e s , a s t r u e t u r a l sys tem

w i l l i n f luence t h c form of tho bui ld ing .

I n s e l e c t i n g a s t r u c t u r a l s y s t e n ~ , one. must, t hc re -

I'trro, cot~si .der , i n a.ddit ion t o b u i l d i n g ' s s t a b i l i t y ,

f u i ~ c t ion and economy, t h e image and c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s

a s p e c i f i c s t ruc tu ra l . skstem w i l l tend t o impart on

t h e b u i l d i n g ' s extcnral form a n d i n t e r n a l spaces.

242

A rectangular strvctureil g r i d system of 6m spacing

of columns w i l l be used i n the design. Where a c l ea r

l a rge span i s r e w i r e d , liike over the multi-purpose

h a l l , thea t re , conference h a l l s , gymnasium, etc., a

po r t a l frame s t r u c t u r a l system, t o enhance the required

l a rge volume of space w i l l be used,

8.4.8: SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

The main s t r u c t u r a l system i s reinforced concrete

with masonry hollow blocks f o r a l l non-load bearing-walls.

A l l walls and panels a re f inished with sand-csment p la s t e r

and rendered i n emulsion o r o i l colour i n desired colours.

A l l windows a r e aluminium horizont a1 s l i d i n g

types f o r public areas l i k e the h a l l s and the bar/

res taurant , lounge, and pro3 ecting windows f o r other

pr ivate and s emi-privat e areas. All i n t e r n a l doors

a r e formica - f inished p3=ywood doors. Other doors,

especially at entrances t o public spaces, a r e aluminium

frame double horizontal swing ,doors.

I n summary, the centre should have a unique

character as bellow:

1. Internat ional s t y l e with l o c a l t amperings . 2. Durable construction materials.

3: Properly i n t egrated in to the landsaarpe and the

physical environment,

4. Use of special shading devices.

5. Vindow design and positioning should allow f o r

crosa ven t i l a t ion from the prevail ing winds,

6, Roofs should be high-pitched of csloured long-span

aluminium roofing sheets.

8.5: FINANCE

N o project can be successfully implemented without

the necessary finance. Hence t h i s aspect of finance i s

very v i t a l i n the successful implementation of t h i s .

project.

lknds f o r t h i s project could be raised i n a number

of ways which include:-

( a ) Launching ceremonies

(b) Loans

( c ) Financial aids.

( a ) Launching: Ceremony

hnda could be ra ised f o r the execution of t h i s

project through launching ceremony on i t s account.

l h i s launching ceremony should be organised on the s i t e .

?onat ions received from the launching should be channel1 ed

i n t o the pkoject.

( b ) kana

Loans could be taken from individuals, banks, unions,

clubs and any other possible source. Modalities f o r

repayment should be worked out between the lender ( ~ o g i

S t a t e ~overnment) and the borrower. A possible Way of

repayment awzld be ren t ing out o r leas ing out of t h e

commercial u n i t s u n t i l the amount borrowed i s amortized.

( c ) Financial Aide

Financial a ids f o r the project could be sought

from public-spirited individuals, government paras t a t a l e ,

soc ia l clubs, unions, in te rna t iona l agencies, e t c .

8.7 : MAINTENANCE AND MONITORING

The building of such projects as tha t of the c i t y

centre usually involves huge costs. It would therefore,

be fool hardy on the par t of the au thor i t ies i n charge

of the centre t o underqa&.e and/or overlook the good

qua l i t i e s and attendant benef i ts a t t r ibu tab le t o

"maintenance cu l tu rew, and, r a the r , opt f o r the tmreplacement

cul ture" , a s i t u a t i o n whereby used things, r a the r than

being maintained, .tare neglected, allowed t o get s p o i l t ,

and *hen replaced with a new one, an exercise which more s

often than not always ends up being more expensive than

t h e maintenance option.

So, i n the case of t h i s c i t y centre , i t w e l l be

expedient t o s e t up an independent body by the government

t o undertake t h e monitoring and maintenance of the centre.

This w i l l e l iminate the bureaucratic bottlenecks involved

i n the c i v i l service. The maintenance cu l tu re has t o

be f tr l ly adapted here t o reduce inc identa l o r accidental

cos t e of replacement, maximize prof i t s from the revenue

generating aspects of the centre , prolong the l i f e span

of the different components and aspects of the centre ,

and f o r the general, well being of the whole cent re

and Loko ja metropolie . Every b u i l t environment i s always subjected t o

changes by man's a c t i v i t i e s on it . The monitoring

body/task force should see t o i t tha t no changes with

adverse e f fec ts t o the cent re a re permitted t o be

car r ied out by any one. If! there i s any need f o r changes,

the body/taek force should f o r m l a t e a monitoring

mechanism t o e f fec t these changes so tha t mistakes

of the past w i l l not be repeated. I n t h i s regard,

secur i ty measures m u s t be very high,

8.8: CONCLUSION

Communal space a t whatever l eve l of human sett lements,

a l l aimed a t helping t o improve on the socio-cultural

standard of the inhabitants* This w i l l i n the proceee

br ing people together and tend t o in~prove on the

harmonious re la t ionship and brotherhood way of l i f e

of the people of LokoJa.

This thes i s has attempted t o encourage human

contact i n a l l i t s d ive r s i f i ca t ions through physical

environment and provisions of diverse f a c i l i t i e s . This was approached from various angles which include

invest igat ing those f ac to r s tha t enhance or encourage

soc ia l in teragt ion i n the communal space.

Por a proposal of t h i s sca le t o achieve i t s desired

aims and objectives, i t must f i r s t be a t t r a c t i v e t o the

people. The people mus t always want t o v i s i t and use

the centre. The only way the centre can achieve t h i s is

t o ident i fy with the people - t h e i r way of l i f e , h is tory,

aspirat ions , and worldview. The people must be able

t o c a l l the c i t y centre "Our Place", thus making i t

intimate t o them. The concept f o r the centre , the s

confluence, w i l l go a long way i n achieving t h i s because

i t defined and occupies a c e n t r a l pos i t ion i n t h e l i f e

of t h e people.

One c r u c i a l component of t he design i s t h e bui ld ing

mater ia ls . It i s necessary f o r a designer t o make a

care fu l study of t h e ava i l ab l e bui ld ing mate r ia l s t o be

u t i l i s e d i n t h e cen t r e t o achieve great comfort,

d u r a b i l i t y of mate r ia l s and less maintenance cos t at

t h e long run. It should be noted t h a t t h e performance

of bui ld ing mate r ia l s vary i n response t o t h e na tu ra l

e f f e c t of cl imate.

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