Thesis Defense – Rahma Sarki Ibrahim (MSARCH)

Rahma Sarki Ibrahim – M.Sc. in Architecture (Thesis)

Assoc. Prof. Ilker Fatih Özorhon– Advisor

Date: 16.05.2025

Time: 11:00

Location: AB4 209

“THE EVOLUTION OF HAUSA HOUSING CULTURE: FROM TRADITIONAL TO MODERN”

Assoc. Prof. Ilker Fatih Özorhon, Özyeğin University

Assoc. Prof. Ebru Karahan, Özyeğin University

Prof. Özgür Özkan, Maltepe University

Abstract:

Across centuries, the architecture of a people has silently chronicled their history, values, and way of life. Among the Hausa of Northern Nigeria, the home has always been a living symbol of identity, social and political structure, and cultural continuity. Yet, the Hausa living culture, entrenched for centuries in tradition, is being challenged by rapidly urbanising landscapes and increasingly westernised forms of dwelling. The courtyards that once echoed with shared meals, family tales, and neighbourly bonds are disappearing, and the spatial hierarchies that preserved privacy whilst maintaining social relations are dissipating. In an era of emerging normalities, significant questions arise: What is being maintained and what is being left behind? This study explores the evolution of Hausa housing culture, examining the transition from traditional to modern homes and its implications for cultural identity, social practices, and privacy. Through fieldwork, surveys of traditional and modern homes, spatial analysis, and interviews with homeowners and architects, the study identifies key changes in the layout and function of domestic spaces, such as living rooms and kitchens. The findings suggest that modern housing layouts have largely forgone the compartmentalisation of spaces that existed in traditional homes. Privacy structures and spatial hierarchies that were emblematic of traditional Hausa homes were dismantled. The research reports considerable changes in spatial arrangements, such as buffer zones and courtyard spaces that were integral to the sociocultural dynamics of traditional Hausa dwellings. Social interactions, privacy customs and the continuity of cultural practices have been modified by these changes. The study finds that modern Hausa homes, influenced by Western design, often feature open-plan layouts that blur the boundaries between public and private spaces, impacting both psychological comfort and the ability to maintain traditional social hierarchies. Additionally, the shift towards individualistic lifestyles in today’s residential spaces has eroded the communal connection that traditional space encourages. The study also identifies a partial revival of traditional elements in contemporary designs, such as design motifs, but argues that modern homes often neglect the psychological and social needs that these spaces fulfil. The research advocated for a more reflective approach to house design in contemporary Hausa society that enables functional needs, one that balances functional needs with the preservation of cultural memory. The research suggests that housing should be designed for both privacy and social connection, particularly to the collectivist nature of the Hausa, while also accommodating the demands of modernity. The study recommends re-evaluating housing and urban policy in Nigeria, especially those shaped during colonial times, that have failed to account for the diverse cultural and religious needs of the vast ethnic and religious groups in Nigeria. The research recommends including anthropologists and theologians in developing policies to promote culturally relevant, sustainable and culturally acceptable housing solutions that protect cultural values, help build social integration and improve livelihood.

Keywords: Hausa architecture, housing culture, privacy, comfort, spatial evolution

Bio:

Rahma Sarki Ibrahim is an emerging architect and researcher currently pursuing her Master of Science in Architecture at Özyeğin University, Istanbul. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from the same institution in 2019. During her undergraduate studies, she interned at Berko İnşaat in Istanbul. After graduating, she worked as an architectural designer at Multisystems Consultants from 2020 to 2023. Upon her return to academia to pursue a master’s degree in 2023, Rahma worked as a Student Researcher on the project “Exploring the Spatial Dynamics of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), Istanbul”, where she examined the relationship between spatial configuration and visitor frequency. She also contributed to academic life as a teaching assistant at Özyeğin University. In 2024, she participated in the Fence Retrofit Project, a hands-on workshop on sustainable building with rammed earth technology, where she helped construct a rammed earth wall and received a certificate of training in eco-friendly building practices. Rahma recently presented her paper titled “Exploring the Sustainable Features of Hausa Architecture and Its Contemporary Counterpart” at a conference in Edirne, reflecting her commitment to bridging traditional knowledge and modern design.