Analysis of Spatial Types and Social Space in Ile-Ife Domestic Architecture

This paper focuses on the diachronic development of spatial morphologies in Yoruba domestic architecture (SW Nigeria) and the social rules implicit in domestic space use, utilizing data about the households, and activity and object locations. The results presented revolve around how activities (and objects) ‘spill over’ designated boundaries within the domestic space, the impact of activities and objects on the specialized or non-specialized use of space, and the intensity of focus on each space label as the conventional location for activities and objects. Six spatial types were identified, and a ‘core’ set of function/space labels was found in each type, although these have ‘expanded’ in the newer types, partly in response to new connotations of privacy. Many activities and objects were consistently shown to have flexible boundaries, thereby having an effect on space specialization. Newer geometric types were characterized by slightly increased specialized use of certain space labels (although the prevalent pattern was non-specialization), and a modest reduction in the degree of extensibility, and intensity of focus. The study demonstrated that there are stronger points of continuity than difference between the spatial types