INTEGRATION OF TRADITIONAL BUILDING ELEMENTS IN A MUSEUM, MINNA, NIGER STATE

Abstract

ABSTRACT Museums are seen by some as places where only researches are being carried out, some people do not know about their culture, historic times, artefacts or relics. It is important to get, gather, restore and update our cultural heritage, artefacts and other collection of artistic, cultural, historical or scientific importance. In doing that, a befitting structural and safe environment is required to house and care for the age long artefacts, which is a museum. This study is aimed at integrating traditional building elements in museums, in Minna, Niger State, in order to preserve the cultural heritage of the people. One of the objectives of the study is propose a museum that will reflect traditional building elements of Niger state as well as creating a stimulating atmosphere for the patronage, through Architecture. This study employs a qualitative research method which provides a subjective reason for the various operations of the research. The research, which imbibes a descriptive and historical survey approach, tends to explore the various traditional building techniques, elements and materials used by an ethnic group. The study was carried out using the case study approach, this allows the researcher to understand the basic building materials and elements of the various tribes of Niger State and how they were integrateds. There is a gradual extinction of traditional Architecture in civic buildings such as museums. 83% of ethnic groups in Niger state uses round and rectangular shape clay huts. Entrance huts, thatch roofs, courtyards, the use of woods or zinc for doors and windows are common building elements in all the ethnic groups. The study thus, incorporated those materials and design concepts as means of preserving the traditional Architecture in a museum.