INFLUENCE OF MUSEUM ARCHITECTURE ON HERITAGE PRESERVATION IN NIGERIA
Orhuah Ogheneyoma
Department of Architecture,
Rivers State University, Nkpolu Oroworukwo, Port –Harcourt
E-mail: yoma.orhuah@gmail.com
Nigeria is a heterogeneous nation with rich culture, history and heritage however with the advent of colonization, most ethnic groups have begun to lose their identities and pristine cultures. It is of great importance that this cultural heritage of our nation is preserved and promoted in order to give future generations a sense of belonging and a connection with the Past that could help conceive an ideal future. Museums can be said to breathe life into the past and are fabulous portrayals of the distinctive times of our social history as a country. This research work will give us a wider view on how museum architecture can positively create an enabling environment where our Nigerian Heritage can be preserved also help us appreciate our culture and identities additionally giving us motivations to be directed to safeguard them as we walk into our future, projecting to us the true Nigerian spirit of unity and faith, peace and progress (Nigerian Motto).Particularly in recent times where agitation and disunity, restructuring and all bids to break the nations unity is the new order of the day. It sets forth the importance of Museum in ensuring this task both on its functional and symbolic context. This Research work concludes that despite the impact of modernization we must as individuals, professionals, designers and researchers be cognizance of our cultural roots, thus harmonizing the traditional and modern contemporary design concepts in our works as it is everyone’s task to see the preservation of our heritage.