Preserving Identity through Design: A Comparative Study of Yoruba Architectural Elements in Ibadan’s Cultural Centres

Architecture not only fulfils practical needs but also encapsulates ideological values, identity, and legacy. This research explored the integration of traditional Yoruba architectural styles in two cultural centres in Ibadan: the Cultural Centre Mokola and the New Culture Studio Mokola. A qualitative case study approach was used that included site visits, photographs, and architectural descriptions to distil the essence of pivotal architectural features, which include courtyards, carved pillars, symbolic ornamentation, and local materials. It was observed that both cultural and architectural centres include elements of Yoruba culture, but the degree of integration varies. The Cultural Centre, for instance, is modernist and symbolic in character, in that it is expressive of concrete constructions with subdued ornamentation and minimalist symbolic elements. The New Culture Studio, in comparison, is culturally authentic with much laterite, brick, carved motifs, and a courtyard aligned with Yoruba cosmology and spatial hierarchy. The conclusion drawn is that cultural centres can defuse or strengthen Yoruba identity, which is a function of architectural integration. This study has important ramifications for contemporary civic architecture, which is that indigenous design principles need to be integrated for cultural identity to be retained. Defusing traditional design logic ought to be incorporated in public works, alongside the advocacy of cultural custodianship and increased study of vernacular changes in other Yoruba cities.