Ninth International Conference on The Constructed Environment

Abstract

Kano metropolitan city in Nigeria is growing rapidly, due to increase in population and constructions of public and residential buildings. Kano is a place where Hausa cultural expressions and identity were displayed in most traditional dwellings. It is also a city where basic traditional values of Hausa traditional architecture were kept for decades. Consequently, the designs of the classical residential buildings of Kano metropolitan are no-longer in relation with the characters of Hausa traditional buildings. The classical residential designs succeeded in expressing new cultural features regardless of the Hausa traditional built elements and features. Meanwhile, the principles of sustainable built environment include not only technological considerations, but also involve social, economic, and cultural aspects of designs. This paper considers the evolution of, questions why and to analyzes the physical environmental impacts of the classical residential buildings of Kano metropolitan city. In line with the aims of the study, critical observations and physical and monographic surveys are methods employed to create a base for theoretical analysis and evaluations. The research revealed classical residential buildings of Kano metropolitan city create constraints in the continual organization of the built elements and disorganized the cultural identity of the city.