New Technology, a Catalyst for the Developmental Power Steering of Modern Built Environment in South-West Nigeria: An Overview

Abstract

Man’s search for a good thing of life could be taken as the driving force behind the developmental attitude of his built environment, for this simple reason, the physical development of his environment has been and will always be evolving. In the South-Western part of Nigeria, as in other parts of the world, architecture, urban planning as well as the contribution of art, like in other areas of a human life evolved from the host culture before the arrival of the external influences or interference. That is to say that the past is in the present in all human endeavours, supported by the new technology, which paved way for the development of most human undertakings. Traditional built environment and architecture, which were formerly unalloyed before the arrival of the new civilization, and technology a few centuries ago suffered some rapes from external influences. These influences vary in their so-called negative or positive contributions to human existence in South-Western Nigeria. Most of these contributions are in form of materials, styles and design of building structures. As years rolled by, many of these influences and contributions became more and more noticeable, while the former cherished traditional elements reduced visibly in Southwestern part of Nigeria. The industrial revolution of the 1900s swept across the western world heralding technological breakthrough and registered a great mark, South-Western Nigeria was not left behind in the scheme of things. This contributed in no small measure to the new phase of architecture, design and built environment, which this paper deals with. The paper also pinpoints some towns and cities which witnessed changes in the study area. It also highlights the benefits of this new technological break through. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n3p723