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Article Title: Character-Extinction of Yoruba Architecture: An Overview of Facades of Residential Buildings in South-Western, Nigeria
by Jolaoso, B.A. and Bello, O. A

Abstract:
Architecture could be classified based on the character and symbolic features on buildings and structures which somewhat expresses the climatic, cultural, socio-economic, geo-political, historical and the function of the building/structures and the activities of the inhabitants of the environment. This is often referred to as Tectonics in the world of Art. The architectural characters through motifs, ornamentations, relics, signs, images or symbolic expressions appears to be fast fizzling out in this contemporary period. The paper is an overview of facades as expression of traditional Yoruba architectural character in selected Building structures of yester-years and recently built ones within the Yoruba environment, with a view to encouraging and promoting the preservation and conservation or restoration of indigenous identity/image through architectural character. Information was gathered from literature, field observations from case studies of traditional and contemporary Yoruba buildings, (by purposive sampling) from major Yoruba towns, Nigeria. These were reviewed and descriptively presented. Findings amongst others reveal that shelter speaks volume about the Cultural heritage of the people and that the traditional Yoruba Architectural character is being eroded by the influence of foreign character through materials� choice and technology, and has become a threat to conservation of cultural identity/values and heritage. The paper therefore identifies causes and recommends remedies towards the preservation, restoration, development and execution of strategies for branding and Cultural/National identity.

Keywords: yoruba architecture, character, heritage, branding, identity

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