Role of Culture in Architecture Style: Efficiency of Courtyard as a Cultural Element in Yoruba Architecture

Architectural styles and building typologies are influenced by the culture (lifestyle, beliefs) of the people for which the buildings are designed. The use of massive stone blocks for the Pyramids of Gaza, classical orders in in the design of theaters for Greek Architecture, arches and domes in the construction of Roman Colosseums, semi-circular arches in the Abbeys during the Romanesque architecture era, pointed arches and flying buttresses in the Gothic architecture era, symmetry and proportion for Renaissance architecture, gilded details for Baroque Architecture, simplicity for Neoclassical architecture, geometric shapes for Art Deco styles, minimalism for Bauhaus Architecture, ornamentation for the International Style, playfulness for Postmodern architecture, non-linear forms for Deconstructivism, and computational design for Parametric architectural style serve as international testament to this hypothesis. The Architecture of the Nigerian people as with the global community, was also influenced by the prevalent culture of its diverse populace scattered through the four geopolitical zones in the country giving birth to the Purdah and the turaka in Northern Nigeria, the Obi in Eastern Nigeria, the akwaesa in Southern Nigeria, and the courtyards in Western Nigeria. This paper explores the efficiency of courtyards, providing context to the relevance of Yoruba/African traditional courtyard compounds to Sustainable Housing, listing its social, environmental, and architectural benefits. Keywords: Architecture, Culture, Courtyard, Yoruba, Sustainable, Housing. Journal Reference Format: Oladunmoye, O.M. & Eni, D.E. (2024): Role of Culture in Architecture Style: Efficiency of Courtyard as a Cultural Element in Yoruba Architecture. Humanities, Management, Arts, Education & the Social Sciences Journal. Vol. 12. No. 2, Pp 108-115. www.isteams.net/humanitiesjournal. dx.doi.org/10.22624/AIMS/HUMANITIES/V12N2P11