A study on the transformation of vernacular architecture of Northern Nigeria through old and new palaces

In the history of the Hausa region in northern Nigeria, palaces have been showcases of power, tradition, and culture. These palaces have been of great importance since the 15th century as administrative centers over cities. Their architectural approach was important to reflect the culture, power, and history of the Hausa people. These palaces also represented the features that makeup Northern Nigerian Native Architecture VANN. Unfortunately, the influence of VANN, which constitutes the transmission chain of architectural traditions, in the design of palaces began to disappear in the 19th century. Today it is difficult to associate these palaces with the features of VANN. This research aims to show the transformation of VANN's influence on palace design and also to present a list of recommendations for designers of new Hausa palaces. Underlining the change in the architectural design and construction approaches of the palace, the study also emphasizes the importance of preserving the architectural heritage and identity of the palaces. For this, four palaces were chosen, which are representatives of the old and new palaces in Hausaland. Two of these are historic palaces with traditional design features that follow VANN. The other two are newly built palaces that contrast with the architecture of historical examples. Within the scope of the study, visual evaluation and documentation were made in each palace, and historians who were experts in the history of the palaces were interviewed. The studies show that the production of new building materials, the lack of skilled labor and the problems in the preservation of the architectural heritage, and the production with new construction techniques and architectural understanding are fast and preferable. However, in some palaces, it is seen that architectural features are tried to be preserved by using the reflections of VANN. As a result of this study, a list of suggestions is presented in order for the designers to act with an architectural understanding bearing the traces of vernacular architecture, while designing new palaces in the Hausa region, without compromising the historical and cultural values of the region.