An Ontological Theory of Vernacular Spatial Intelligence and Its Application to Contemporary Nigerian Architectural Practice

Vernacular architecture across Nigeria's diverse cultural regions embodies sophisticated spatial intelligence accumulated over generations of practice in specific ecological, social, and cosmological contexts, yet this intelligence is typically theorised as technical knowledge for historical preservation rather than as a live cognitive resource for contemporary architectural design. This dissertation develops an original ontological theory of vernacular spatial intelligence, arguing that vernacular building knowledge constitutes a distinct epistemological mode of spatial understanding that makes unique contributions to contemporary architectural design when engaged on its own ontological terms. The theoretical argument is constructed through three original moves: a phenomenological analysis of vernacular spatial practice drawing on field investigation in seven vernacular building traditions across Nigeria, including Hausa compound architecture, Yoruba agbo-ile organisation, Igbo obi form, Tiv circular compound, Efik waterfront house, Nupe decorated earthwork, and Mumuye ritual compound; a critique of existing theories that reduce vernacular knowledge to technical taxonomy, arguing instead for an ontological conception that situates spatial intelligence in lived practice, material relationship, and cosmological framework; and a design methodology development stage demonstrating how ontologically engaged vernacular spatial intelligence produces architectural designs that outperform formally applied vernacular precedent on measures of social functionality, environmental responsiveness, and cultural coherence. Three contemporary architectural design projects developed using the proposed methodology are presented as empirical demonstrations of the theory's design generativity. The dissertation contributes an original postcolonial architectural theory and a practical design methodology. Keywords: vernacular spatial intelligence, ontological theory, Nigerian architecture, indigenous knowledge, design methodology.