An African Renaissance: Reclaiming the Unguwa
Due to the influence of colonialism, African communities have been victims of an epistemic violence, where the knowledege and practices of their vernacular architecture have become obsolete in modern times. My project goes back 50 years, at the critical juncture of Independence, when African leaders rose up to reclaim our lands and power from British Imperial Rule. In this new timeline, European influences that have seeped into the built environment (even to this day) have been minimised or forgone. The restoration of our identities and heritage is front and centre, through the reclaimation of traditional designs, technologies, materials and construction methods.
The word 'Unguwa' in Hausa language loosely translates to 'Neighbourhood', as such, the brief was to design an experimental residential area based on the amalgamation of a traditional urban layout, socio-cultural customs of social interaction, and the modern design principles of a sustainable neighbourhood and city. It is set within the context of the 1960s and 70s, in the Nassarawa District of Kano State (Northern Nigeria).
Furthermore, the project explores the design and construction of Hausa vernacular in detail. It includes 'upscaled' versions of traditional homes, celebrating the materiality and freedom of cultural expression on the facades. The homes were instrumental in recreating the traditional layout, where the irregular/organic pattern also emphasises how each Hausa house is as unique as the family that inhabits it.
"Vernacular Architecture is a language of cultural expression." (bell hooks, 1995)
