Urbani izziv, volume 31, no. 2, 2020
66
UDC: 711.58(669.1)
DOI: 10.5379/urbani-izziv-en-2020-31-02-001
Received: 17 Jan. 2020
Accepted: 25 Sept. 2020
Peter BIKAM
James CHAKWIZIRA
Influence of traditional settlement patterns  
on urban design and planning: A case study  
of Zaria, Nigeria
This article discusses the influence of traditional settle-
ment patterns on planning new parts of towns using the 
case study of the old town of Zaria, Nigeria, which de-
veloped from the eleventh to nineteenth centuries. The 
central argument is that some elements of old settlement 
patterns have been integrated into Zaria’s new town. The 
literature review traces the evolution of the city, reflecting 
on traditional Hausa architecture, settlement forms, and 
their influence on spatial organization. Maps, sketches, 
and tables are used to illustrate how the rich Hausa tra-
dition has influenced urban design and planning. The 
study shows that some traditional settlement patterns in-
fluenced urban design because old vernacular architecture 
was gradually integrated into new town plans. The article 
concludes that architects, planners, and developers can 
learn from this case study of Zaria.
 
Keywords: traditional settlements, vernacular architec-
ture, urban design and planning, Hausa culture
Urbani izziv, volume 31, no. 2, 2020
67Influence of traditional settlement patterns on urban design and planning: A case study of Zaria, Nigeria
1 Introduction
Dwellings meet people’s basic needs, especially shelter, secu-
rity, and comfort. According to Astrolabe  (2002), the prac-
tical establishment of homes through the selection of sites, 
planning, and construction differs from one country to an-
other (Dobronravin, 2013; Barau et al., 2015). Regarding set-
tlements, Dmochowski  (1990), indicated that modern forms 
of housing developments can integrate traditional architecture 
and settlement patterns to blend and shape modern forms of 
settlements in general. Many ethnic and geographical areas, 
including the central, eastern, and southern regions of Nigeria, 
have distinct traditional architectural and settlement forms. 
However, the traditional architecture of Hausa settlements is 
unique  (Buchanan  & Pugh, 1995). The spatial configuration 
of Hausa dwellings and open space allocation systems evolved 
over generations, incorporating various trends in civilization, 
culture, and tradition. Olotuah  (2000) indicates that certain 
forms of architecture can be specific to a certain ethnic group 
of people, thereby influencing settlement layouts. For exam-
ple, the Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans had architecture for 
specific functions  (Hutchison  & Sterbenz, 2018). Similarly, 
the Hausa people of Zaria in northern Nigeria are known for 
their unique vernacular architecture, in which the design of 
buildings reflected the people’s social values  (Rowan, 1981). 
Zaria is an example of a historical Hausa settlement, in which 
external factors such as the climate, the site, and social needs 
influenced the choice of local materials, techniques, and deco-
rations. This determined the size and relationship of the rooms 
and the spatial organization of the houses. According to De-
nyer  (1978), these factors were the foundation of traditional 
and/or vernacular architecture specific to the Hausa people of 
Zaria. This article reviews the settlement forms and patterns of 
the Hausa people of Zaria. It analyses traditional architecture 
to highlight the distinct urban design and spatial planning con-
cepts that town planners, architects, and developers can then 
incorporate into current urban design and planning projects.
This study explores the influence of traditional settlement 
patterns on planning new parts of towns using the case study 
of Zaria’s old town, which developed from the eleventh to 
nineteenth centuries. The following questions are examined:
1) What is the historical narrative explaining the develop-
ment of traditional Hausa settlement and architectural 
patterns?
2) What factors influenced the spatial arrangements, pat-
terns, and layout of Hausa settlements?
3) What are the perceptions of the influence of traditional 
settlements and architecture in Zaria on integrating old 
and new settlements in contemporary urban design and 
planning?
2 Materials and methods
This section describes the choice of the study area and similar 
past and current studies. The rationale for the data collection 
method is also outlined. Zaria was chosen because it is a typ-
ical example of what town planners and others can learn from 
the rich Hausa tradition of architecture, settlement pattern, 
and spatial organization. The data collection method used 
is similar to that in studies by Faludi  (1979), Taylor  (1998), 
and Deckro and Hebert (2003). It “combines ethnography and 
the paradigm of planning theory that looks at traditional and 
current approaches to architecture, settlement patterns and 
town planning.” The research method therefore shows how 
traditional Hausa settlement influenced urban design and 
planning in Zaria.
2.1 Choice of study area and data collection
Zaria’s old city has most of the characteristics of a typical 
Hausa settlement and is one of the best examples of traditional 
town planning in West Africa. In line with the ethnographic 
methods of engaging and interacting with communities in his-
torical settlement studies (e.g. Ibrahim, 2015 and Narayanan, 
2015), residents of Zaria were consulted to collect primary 
data. Secondary information and primary data were needed to 
understand the influence of traditional Hausa settlement forms 
on architecture, town planning, and spatial organization. Data 
collection was carried out in two stages:
• Stage one: Secondary data were collected by examining 
oral traditions and published data. Records were consult-
ed, particularly articles by experts on traditional Hausa 
architecture and settlement patterns. Library records 
from Zaria and Ahmadu Bello University of Zaria were 
also accessed.
• Stage two: Primary data were collected from key inform-
ants. These included traditional leaders, elders, traders, 
public officials, and researchers from the Department of 
Architecture at Ahmadu Bello University. The focus was 
on better understanding the evolution of settlements and 
town planning in the area.
The research method made it possible to analyse the influence 
of old settlement patterns on urban design and planning. This 
was in line with methods that emphasize the need to take 
into account the historical, cultural, physical, economic, and 
social aspects of urban systems and areas. This approach was 
based on the book Field instruction: A guide for social work 
students  (Royse et  al., 2017), which provides guidelines for 
research in communities.
Urbani izziv, volume 31, no. 2, 2020
68
2.2 Administering the questionnaire
Questionnaires were administered to key informants in Zaria 
at ten intersections  (near the mosque, market areas, and 
shops) to obtain information on architecture, urban design, 
and planning. This included types of building materials used, 
the influence of religion on architecture, religious symbols 
and design patterns, household composition, and how home-
stead land was divided. This approach was necessary because 
most residents of Zaria are Muslims, which makes it difficult 
to conduct surveys among Muslim women. Sixty-three ques-
tionnaires were administered to heads of household, who were 
first asked whether they lived in the old city or new town.
2.3 Field observations of homestead settlements
Surveys and observations of Hausa homestead settlement 
patterns were carried out and compared to old sketches from 
the colonial era. This information was used to create the illus-
trations and sketches in this article. The meanings of designs 
on facades and doors were discussed with key informants and 
researchers from the Department of Architecture at Ahmadu 
Bello University. This allowed deeper insight into the influence 
of traditional Hausa architecture and settlement patterns on 
planning new parts of towns. Sketches were used to illustrate 
Hausa settlement patterns.
3 Hausa settlements
Zaria is located at the southern tip of the Hausa ethnic area. 
Historically, Hausa settlements were feudal city-states encir-
cled by a wall within enclosures with a market area and a 
monarchical government. Islam enriched the culture of the 
Hausa people when it was introduced from the Mali Empire 
in the fourteenth century. At the beginning of the nineteenth 
century, the British took over the administration of the former 
emirates. The establishment of a university campus has influ-
enced traditional Hausa architecture and spatial organisation 
in greater Zaria, including in Bomo, which is another Hausa 
settlement north of Zaria.
3.1 Geographical and historical context of Hausa 
settlements
Hausa settlements on the savanna are usually located near 
streams. Sometimes wooded valleys alternate with ground 
sparsely covered with thorny shrubs. Before British colonial 
rule in Nigeria, the Hausa states had a pre-capitalist econo-
my and a well-developed administrative centre. Technology 
included making pots and decorated calabashes (Kirk-Green, 
1961). It is in this geographical area that Zaria, a major city in 
Kaduna State in Nigeria, previously known as Zazzau, evolved 
to become one of the seven Hausa city-states. According to 
the Nigeria’s 2006 census, Zaria had a population of 406,099 
Table 1: Research questions, methods, analysis, and outcomes.
Question Method Analysis Outcome
1) What is the historical narrative 
explaining the development of 
traditional Hausa settlement and 
architectural patterns?
• Secondary sources (eleventh–
nineteenth centuries)
• Household interviews
• Key informant interviews
• Participatory mapping
• Descriptive statistics
• Trend analysis
• Historical/document analysis
• Features/spatial analysis
• Integration analysis
Portrait and typologies of archi-
tecture, traditional settlements, 
and town planning
2) What factors influenced the 
spatial arrangements, patterns, 
and layout of Hausa settlements?
• Reconnaissance surveys
• On-site observations
• Ground truthing
• Key informant interviews
• Spatial analysis
• Integration analysis
• Architecture / housing design 
analysis
• Participatory rapid analysis
• Thematic analysis
Settlements’ spatial patterns 
and layout
Architectural styles and hou-
sing designs
3) What are the perceptions of 
the influence of traditional settle-
ments and architecture in Zaria 
on integrating old and new set-
tlements in contemporary urban 
design and planning?
• Key informant interviews
• Deductive method
• Settlement discourse analysis
• Integration analysis
• Spatial analysis
• Deductive analysis
Perception of the influence of 
traditional Zaria settlements 
and architecture on integrating 
old and new settlements
Sources: authors, based on Ibrahim (2015) and Narayanan (2015).
P. BIKAM, J. CHAKWIZIRA
Urbani izziv, volume 31, no. 2, 2020
69
Figure 1: Location of Zaria and other Hausa city-states (illustration: authors, based on Ayodele and Odeyale, 2019).
Legend
Hausa land in West Africa
Hausa influence in Nigeria
International boundary
State Boundary
Zaria
Hausa of Nigeria
NIGERIA
NIGERIA

N
Legend
Outer wall of the settlement
Compound wall
Family settlement wall
Men's hut (mainly male)
Women's hut (mainly female)
Bachelor room
Kitchen house
Pit latrine
Zaure (entrance hall)
Outside rest area for the elderly
Washing area (pots)
Visito reception room
Saaza for the maigida (head of family)
Hut under construction
Run-down building
Outdoor prayer area (male folk)
Mosque
Trees (mango)
Palm tree
Livestock (goats and sheep)
Guest room
Granary
Storage room
Shop
Night watchman's hut

N
m
km
Figure 2: Spatial organization and layout of Hausa compounds (illustration: authors, based on Moughtin, 1964, and own field observations).
Influence of traditional settlement patterns on urban design and planning: A case study of Zaria, Nigeria
Urbani izziv, volume 31, no. 2, 2020
70
people  (Federal Office of Statistics, 2006). The city is a pre-
dominantly Hausa settlement with institutions, markets, and 
farming activities (Ma’aruf, 2019).
3.2 Emergence of Hausa settlement patterns
Trans-Saharan trade coupled with the introduction of Islam 
from the Mali Empire in the fourteenth century had an enor-
mous impact on Hausa settlement forms. A unique Hausa 
settlement pattern emerged from a hierarchy of rural settle-
ment forms. This settlement system is based on an extended 
family system, and it is further sub-divided into several family 
compounds. Figure  2 shows a typical spatial plan of Hausa 
compounds with courtyards. It is a fenced settlement with 
several compact compounds. Security played a critical role in 
deciding how the Hausa settlement was nucleated. Zaria is a 
good example of a Hausa city encircled by defensive walls. The 
Zaria city wall was built in the eighteenth century (Adeyemi, 
2008). The concentration of household members close to the 
market area is indicative of the defensive Hausa settlement style 
and a spatial layout structured for interaction.
3.3  Influence of traditional Hausa architecture 
on contemporary settlement forms
The connection between traditional Hausa architecture and 
contemporary settlement forms is based on three determin-
ing factors: Hausa culture, the environment, and the influence 
of climate. Hausa culture is based on history and tradition. 
It is centred on kinship and the social structure of the peo-
ple  (Madaua, 1968). Hausa building practices were dictated 
by Islam, in which the use of curvilinear and conical mud-
dome roof structures was prevalent, as shown in Figure  3. 
Rapoport  (1969) states that Hausa indigenous architecture 
is famous for its ribbed vaulting and dome-shaped sculpted 
external walls, which facilitate quicker runoff during heavy 
rain. In addition, individual dwellings were sometimes made 
of egg-shaped units called tubali to shed rainwater. Our ob-
servations on the ground showed that domed roofs were made 
of laboriously worked mud, cured under the sun and plastered 
for a monolithic finish (Beer & Higins, 2000). The homestead 
is made up of circular and sometimes rectilinear units, but not 
perfect squares, which are linked to one another  (Friedrich, 
1982).
3.4 Influence of climate and British colonial rule 
on traditional Hausa settlement patterns in 
Zaria
Zaria is in West Africa’s savannah area, characterized by a tropi-
cal climate with year-round warm weather. The wet season lasts 
from March to September, and the dry season from October to 
February. In 2016 the average daily mean temperature was 25.6 
°C, with average precipitation of 117.6  mm and an average 
relative humidity of 69%. The climate demands design solu-
tions that reduce daytime heat and offer night-time cooling. 
For example, grass roofs are used for decorating and protecting 
the mud walls from heat and heavy rains. The openings under 
the houses and granaries provide shelter for chickens, dogs, and 
cats during severe heat and rain. These designs are still used 
in some traditional Hausa settlements  (Beer & Anne, 1982). 
Other decorations include murals (Figure 4). Decorations such 
as bold designs are engraved on walls with entrances. Such dec-
orations can still be seen in contemporary Hausa cities such as 
Kano, Kazaure, and Zaria. Such decorative artworks constitute 
architectural heritage that is used in many parts of Zaria. The 
decorations have simple triangles with vertical, horizontal, and 
sometimes circular designs.
British rule in Nigeria started in the eighteenth century and 
peaked in the twentieth century. The colonial period intro-
duced the concept of modern buildings and a change in per-
spectives on town planning (see Figure 5). Similarly, modern 
life in new towns outside the city was introduced by the co-
lonial masters in what were called government reservation 
areas (GRAs), where modern durable building materials such 
as cement, concrete, and steel were commonly used. The com-
Figure  3: Hausa building practices with curvilinear and conical de-
signs (illustration: authors, based on Rapoport, 1969).
Figure  4: Typical Hausa decorations on walls with entrances (illus-
tration: authors).
P. BIKAM, J. CHAKWIZIRA
Urbani izziv, volume 31, no. 2, 2020
71
bined effect was to make the residents of Zaria rethink the 
use of mud bricks as building materials and reinterpret archi-
tectural meaning in the spatial organization of homesteads. 
This led to concrete buildings in Zaria and paved roads. From 
an outside perspective, the traditional Hausa architecture and 
settlement form is challenged by the need to balance forces 
of change, modernity, culture, and heritage. It is no longer 
fashionable to build houses with mud bricks, but it is still 
fashionable to inscribe traditional Hausa design decorations 
on building entrances in Zaria (Adedokun, 2014).
The Hausa also started replacing the tracks and mud walls 
encircling dwelling units with street layouts during the co-
lonial era. There is a separation of use for each space in a 
traditional Hausa settlement. For example, the houses of the 
Muslim women in purdah were arranged in such a way that 
each woman subordinated to her husband had a separate room. 
The pattern is typically African, but the rooms are arranged 
around a courtyard to provide for separation of the sexes. 
The entrance to the house is accessed via an entrance called 
the zaure, usually a hut where men sit and chat. Every family 
member has unrestricted access to the courtyard, and children 
can play there. In addition, at the edge of the courtyard there 
are huts for unmarried young men and male guests. The wife 
decorates her huts with her dowry gifts and other belongings. 
This is where she sleeps with her teenage children, and this is 
still practiced today. After an adult man has been allocated a 
piece of land, he first builds a wall, the zaure entrance hut, 
and a few sleeping huts as the need arises. These buildings are 
located inside the compound wall. The relatives’ compounds 
are usually located next to each other. The network of com-
pound walls produces the settlement pattern, which eventually 
becomes the city. The art of city making is a process in which 
cultural, social, economic, political, and physical components 
interact with each other. Lynch and Rodwin (1958) indicated 
that urban forms are a result of experiences, which are funda-
mental elements of human settlements, culture, and society. 
Hence, the organisation of urban spaces is crucial to producing 
social and spatial arrangements. In Zaria, the elements of urban 
form tend to influence its social, economic, and environmental 
settings, which is common in modern cities.
4 Results and discussion
4.1 Transition from traditional to modern Zaria
A sample of sixty-three respondents, including key inform-
ants from Zaria, were interviewed to assess their perceptions 
of the influence of traditional Hausa architecture and settle-
ment forms in Zaria. Of these, 68%  (see Figure  6) indicated 
that traditional Hausa architecture and settlement patterns 
had declined but still exerted influence on building design 
and settlement. On the other hand, 32% of the respondents 
indicated that other factors  (e.g. modern urban design and 
town planning principles) influenced building design and 
settlement. With respect of religious influence on modern 
architecture, 52% believed that this shaped building styles in 
the past but to a lesser extent today. Meanwhile, 41% of the 
respondents viewed the building style of Hausa settlements 
as having incorporated western architectural styles; 7% were 
of the view that Hausa people have integrated international 
architectural cultures, thereby moderating the traditional re-
ligious influence on building styles and settlements. In terms 
of spatial organization and functional use of space, 65% of 
the respondents indicated that Hausa architecture is still in-
fluential. In contrast, 32% felt that this variable had moderate 
influence and 3% that its impact was low. This was premised on 
the observation that modern town planning uses architectural 
and urban design concepts such as new urbanism, new mobil-
ity, new regionalism, and smart cities. The results agree with 
Akintoye (2010), who asserted that the major “ethnic groups 
in Nigeria have rich traditions” in which culture influences 
housing patterns as expressed by the varied components of the 
traditional housing structure and ideas integrated into modern 
architectural design and town planning  (Bailey et  al., 1977). 
Husukić and Zejnilović  (2017: 96) found that “architectural 
remnants, or ruins in the urban fabric, instead of being unstable 
entities, have the potential to become drivers of a continuum.” 
b Ca
Figure 5: a) example of traditional Hausa architecture (photo: Isaac Samuel); b) example of colonial Hausa architecture (photo: Isaac Samuel); 
c) example of modern Hausa architecture (photo: Kalifa Rabiu).
Influence of traditional settlement patterns on urban design and planning: A case study of Zaria, Nigeria
Urbani izziv, volume 31, no. 2, 2020
72
These themes resonate with the need to integrate old and new 
architecture in urban design and planning. 
The study further revealed that current urban settlement pat-
terns can be used to integrate components of Hausa spatial 
organization into new town layouts. This is because contem-
porary urban design and planning elements focus on the eco-
nomical use of land, materials, and functional use of space. The 
study points to Islam as being one of the key rallying points 
for the continuation of Hausa traditional architecture and set-
tlement patterns (Aluko, 2011). The emergence of the modern 
image of the city dweller and the fact that the government 
tried to integrate tradition into building regulations did not 
receive widespread acceptance from the respondents amid calls 
for more research. However, from the point of view of ther-
mal comfort, form, and climate, mud still forms a substantial 
proportion of building materials across Nigeria (Evans, 1995; 
Danja et al., 2017). The respondents largely agreed (73%) that 
traditional Hausa architecture and settlement forms have in-
fluenced building design. Façades and doors decorated with 
swords and crescent moons is a common vernacular architec-
tural design and decoration heritage infused in some of the 
buildings in Zaria.
According to 65% of the respondents, building designs in Zaria 
were influenced by ideas taken from colonial rule and the in-
troduction of modern building legislation in the nineteenth 
and twentieth centuries, in addition to the following:
• There was a reduction in large traditional Hausa com-
pounds because of the introduction of town planning 
legislation that catered to smaller nuclear families with a 
house, a landscaped front yard, and parking space.
• New town developments reduced the influence of Hausa 
architecture and settlement patterns because of modern 
housing developments and economy-of-scale advantages.
• The reduction in Hausa traditional settlement patterns 
is because of the introduction of modern building ma-
terials such as cement, concrete, and steel as well as the 
introduction of street layouts.
• The reduction in the use of traditional mud-moulded 
decoration and the preference for modern materials re-
sulted from the simpler use of modern materials.
• There was a reduction in grass-thatch roofs and their 
replacement with corrugated metal because of the sim-
plicity of modern roofing material as opposed to the 
labour-intensive task of thatching.
Figure 6: Respondents’ perceptions of the influence of the traditional Hausa architecture on settlements (illustration: authors).
P. BIKAM, J. CHAKWIZIRA
Urbani izziv, volume 31, no. 2, 2020
73
4.2 Transition from Hausa mud huts to concrete
The change from the use of mud to concrete or steel is based on 
durability, convenience, and flexibility (Taylor, 1998; Chokor, 
2005). The uniqueness of the Hausa housing form is based 
on the availability of materials and the way homesteads are 
spatially organized. In this setup, mud is neither processed in 
a sophisticated manner nor fabricated like cement blocks. The 
Hausa, particularly in Zaria, preferred using tree branches, red 
laterite soil, and savannah grass, which are readily available in 
the vicinity. However, the loose nature of laterite soil, which 
is not as plastic as clay, obliged traditional Hausa builders to 
add grass, cow dung, and locust bean to laterite soil before 
moulding it to improve the plasticity of mud bricks. Because 
mud was readily available and cheap, this helped provide 
housing, but its drawback was that this construction method 
lacked flexibility, ground stabilization, and protection from 
erosion. Currently, such problems have been resolved with the 
use of building materials such as concrete, cement blocks, or 
cut stones (Rudofsky, 1964; Yiftachel, 1989). Thus, the tran-
sition from traditional building materials has an impact on 
the cultural heritage of the people of Zaria reflected in the 
integration of the old and new styles of buildings.
4.3 Influence of external factors
External moderating factors influenced the transformation of 
buildings and settlement patterns in Zaria. In terms of the 
traditional housing characteristics of the Hausa people, reli-
gion (jihads), daily living needs, the environment, and the need 
for security shaped housing and settlement patterns to a certain 
extent. Similarly, past and present socioeconomic factors made 
Zaria residents conceive dwelling characteristics and settle-
ment forms from the perspective of change and modern town 
planning. A similar finding is made in respect of considering 
“the historical and essential relationship between people and 
place” in (re)constructing spatial identities in the Mađir (Banja 
Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and Ilsvika (Trondheim, Nor-
way) neighbourhoods (Kuvač & Schwai, 2017: 94).
4.4 Influence of the spatial organization of the 
Hausa settlement pattern
The study has shown that the traditional Hausa architecture 
and settlement patterns thrived in Zaria because of an ena-
bling environment. The traditional architecture and settle-
ment patterns were widespread in Hausa territory because of 
locally available building materials, sociocultural relevance, 
and affordability. A clear majority of the respondents  (73%) 
highlighted these factors. The influence of traditional Hausa 
architecture in shaping dwelling spaces is synonymous with the 
organization of space and functions in Hausa settlement areas 
in Zaria. Traditional Hausa architecture and settlement pat-
terns influenced the separation of space in Hausa compounds, 
which represents a unique socioeconomic settlement pattern. 
The juxtaposition of homesteads in compounds shows a classic 
Hausa settlement pattern with distinct space functions and 
uses that can be integrated into current development forms 
and town planning.
4.5 Factors promoting the integration of old and 
new settlement patterns in Zaria
The case study of Zaria is based on factors that promote in-
tegrating traditional and modern settlement planning. The 
study has shown that the spatial organization elements of 
traditional Zaria settlement patterns can be integrated to 
a certain level with current urban design and spatial plan-
ning. The factors studied have an overlapping influence on 
sustainability from the social, economic, and environmental 
perspectives (see Table 2).
Table 2: Factors promoting integration and their significance.
Factor Significance
Urban spatial compactness
Improvements in pedestrianization, reduced energy use, high quality of life for social interaction, 
access to community services, sense of community, reduced travel need
Mobility issues
Reduced travel need, access to services, convenient natural environment and pedestrian-friendly rou-
tes, more public transportation
Density considerations
Good links between urban functions and spatial activities, compact development, efficient use of space 
and urban land, reduced car ownership and travel need
Land-use mix
Safety on streets, increased accessibility, attractive local streets, more local creative interaction between 
neighbours
Diversity
Rich social and cultural activities, traditional and religious beliefs, potential for promoting walkability 
and close attractive urban landscapes
Green urban development
Favouring adaptation to micro-climatic conditions, green spaces for children to play, open spaces for 
social interaction and promoting participatory spatial planning
Source: Dhingra & Chattopadhyay (2016).
Influence of traditional settlement patterns on urban design and planning: A case study of Zaria, Nigeria
Urbani izziv, volume 31, no. 2, 2020
74
From a modest wall city, Zaria evolved to become a con-
glomeration consisting of three main spatial areas: 1) the old 
walled city, 2) European-style non-Hausa residential areas, 
including government offices and markets, and 3) the new 
town, with non-native Hausa settlement areas. According to 
Ma’aruf  (2019), each area was treated as a separate unit with 
respect to administration and town planning. The 1917 plan 
was crystallized in Zaria through a series of plans proposed 
by the colonial administration first in 1914 and revised in 
1918 and 1939, all addressing the main European residential 
area (ERA) and associated land uses (Yigitcanlar et al., 2015).
4.6 Application of traditional Zaria settlement 
patterns
This section illustrates how the traditional Hausa settlement 
pattern in Zaria can be conceptualized to form part of the 
new town layout. The traditional Hausa open space, or dadali, 
in Zaria is comparable to green areas or parks in new towns. 
In addition, the Hausa homestead in Zaria can be compared 
to cul-de-sac layouts. The cul-de-sac concept can be likened 
to a gateway in the Hausa homestead, where control and 
security are exercised by a gatekeeper or night watchperson. 
Figure  7 shows an attempt to incorporate traditional Hausa 
settlement patterns and new town designs  (Jackson, 2005). 
This resonates with spatial organization themes raised by 
Rezafar and Turk  (2018: 85) with respect to urban design 
and planning being “a multidimensional and complex subject 
that can be evaluated both formally and symbolically, requir-
ing assessments of individuals’ experience, behaviour patterns, 
and subjective consideration and meaning at the same time 
as those of physical characteristics, natural setting, land-use, 
circulation systems, and built forms.” Note that there are les-
sons that can be learned from the influence of the traditional 
Zaria pattern with respect to similarities and differences in 
settlements’ spatial organization. There are many contempo-
rary examples of incorporating traditional settlement designs. 
Legend
1: Neem and mango trees
2: Mosque and worship house
3: Vegetable garden
4: Head of family's house
5: Night watch house
6: Kitchen
7: Reception
8: Open space / parking
9: Outside resting place
10: Shops
11: Rooms for married women
12: Guest rooms
13: Outside play area
14: Outside storage house
15: Kitchen place
feet

N
ba
Figure 7: Integration of a traditional settlement pattern and township layout (illustration: authors).
Figure 8: a) vernacular Hausa architecture in northern Nigeria; b) contemporary Hausa architecture with pinnacles (zanko) added at the top 
for a traditional look (photo: Shiraz Chakera).
P. BIKAM, J. CHAKWIZIRA
Urbani izziv, volume 31, no. 2, 2020
75
Traditional Hausa settlement designs and planning principles 
can also be applied generally in town planning and sustaina-
bility management. The differences and similarities of factors 
influencing traditional and new town layout concepts in Zaria 
are similar to those in studies from elsewhere (Mandanipour, 
1996; Boerefijn, 2016).
5 Conclusion
The study shows that traditional Hausa architecture and set-
tlement patterns have influenced the spatial organisation of 
settlements in Zaria  (Falahat, 2013). Traditional Hausa set-
tlement patterns can be integrated into new town designs by 
taking into account factors that are similar in both old and 
new town planning concepts. The study has also shown that 
the use of cheaper building materials such as a mixture of lat-
erite and clay, wood, stone, thatched roofs, and appropriate 
design principles to enhance privacy and comfort are rooted 
in traditional Hausa architecture and settlement forms. How-
ever, the Zaria settlement pattern cannot be applied completely 
because of informality of acquiring land in the past, which 
is not possible under current systems. Historically, land was 
primarily acquired through traditional systems that did not 
incorporate formal registration of property rights. Currently, 
land in Zaria is predominantly acquired through formal land 
registration systems. The study has shown that to apply the 
architecture and settlement patterns in Zaria elsewhere, the 
solution must be relevant to the sociocultural environment 
Table 3: Factors influencing traditional and new town layouts in Zaria.
Factors Differences Similarities
Traditional patterns New design concept Traditional patterns New design concept
Adaptation  
to environment
Location at a suitable local 
site 
Site must meet necessary 
construction requirements
Sustainability of site for 
residency and not flood-
prone 
Residential buildings in 
low flood-risk areas
Building materials local
Building materials import-
ed or processed
Wood from nearby forest Polished imported wood
Considerations for seasonal 
temperature changes
Site suitability may depend 
on engineering  
requirements 
Seasonal temperature, 
precipitation, and wind 
may determine building 
orientations
Building orientation based 
on direction of sun, pre-
vailing winds,  
temperature
Trees are kept, providing 
shade
Trees planted where  
necessary
Building around existing 
trees
Trees planted for specific 
functions
Settlement forms
Popular culture from same 
ethnic group
Integration irrespective of 
ethnic groups
Cultural consideration for 
social integration
Integration of people from 
all walks of life
Size of building depends on 
function and use
Buildings can incorporate 
many floors 
Size of building is  
determined by use
Size of building  
determined by funds 
Residential compound 
clustered together
Residential buildings based 
on zoning
Urbanization more gradual 
than spontaneous
Urbanization by establish-
ing townships and new 
towns
Architectural style
Building techniques similar 
for all types of buildings
Building techniques adapt-
ed to building styles 
Building techniques  
rudimentary
Building with aid of  
technology
Local materials
Imported or industrial 
materials 
Local building materials
Imported or local  
materials
Decoration based on cus-
toms or cultural practices
Decoration based on  
research or innovations
Decorations are social and 
cultural expressions
Decoration is manifesta-
tion of popular culture 
and IT
Spatial organization
Allocation of open spaces 
and functions based on 
social and cultural needs
Allocation of open spaces 
based on scientific calcu-
lations
Allocation of open spaces 
based on social and activity 
needs
Allocation of open space 
based on land use and 
zoning
Arrangement of dwelling 
spaces based on clan,  
marital status, need
Open space for shared use 
by children
Allocation of dwelling 
spaces based on current 
dwelling needs
Allocation of dwelling 
spaces based on  
residential density
Allocation of building 
spaces based on extended 
family size
Allocation of dwelling 
spaces is demand driven
Allocation of dwelling units 
based on housing needs
Allocation of dwelling 
units based on  
development and  
business proposals 
Source: authors.
Influence of traditional settlement patterns on urban design and planning: A case study of Zaria, Nigeria
Urbani izziv, volume 31, no. 2, 2020
76
of the people. The impact of modernization cannot be under-
estimated, and the importance of cross-blending traditional 
and modern concepts of architecture and settlement planning 
cannot be overemphasized. However, further research is need-
ed to understand the influence and framework for integrating 
the two models. Traditional settlement forms such as those 
of the Hausa people in Zaria reflect people’s aspirations with 
respect to their social, economic, educational, religious, and 
cultural values. Town planners, architects, and developers can 
study the modalities of integrating traditional architecture and 
other cultural heritage into new settlement plans to promote 
community cohesion, heritage, and best practices in urban 
design and planning.
Peter Bikam, University of Venda, School of Environmental Sciences, 
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Thohoyandou, South 
Africa
E-mail: peter.bikam@univen.ac.za
James Chakwizira, University of Venda, School of Environmental 
Sciences, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Thohoyan-
dou, South Africa
E-mail: james.chakwizira@univen.ac.za
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