19th Century Conflagrations and the Architectural Landscape of Lagos
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Date
2015-07-01
Authors
Akande, A. O.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Department of Architecture
Abstract
The 19th century was a boisterous time for Lagos. Quite momentous were the events that they left a
significant change on many aspects of Lagos’ urban character and outlook. This paper looks at city
fires and how they shaped the architectural landscape of Lagos. While city fires are in some ways a
standard occurrence in many sprawling 19th century metropolises, not many received nearly as many
fire as Lagos did. Though some of the fire events were acts of incendiarism, a significant number
were accidental but the destruction were equally damning. The horror of these incessant fires
prompted consistent reactions and policy promulgation by way of ordinances from the Colonial
administration. The articulation of these law produced a sequence that initiated the reshaping of the
city’s urban fabric. This paper will show that a significant amount of the architectural change and
development in 19th century Lagos directly relate to city fires.
Description
Keywords
City Fire , Lagos , 19th century , Architecture , Urban renewal
Citation
Akande, A. O. (2015). 19th Century Conflagrations and the Architectural Landscape of Lagos. Lagos Journal of Architecture, 1, 95-109.