Homes in Nigeria come in various styles, forms and shapes
Homes in Nigeria come in various styles, forms, and shapes — from mansions to bungalows to terraces. These different types of houses all have something unique about them. The whole profession of architecture is dedicated to the designing and construction of such buildings — with particular attention paid to aesthetic values.
Over the years, some housing styles have gone in and out of fashion. However, the core concept of a home remains — a place where one can seek shelter. With the advent of smart homes and improvements in construction technology — the houses of today are arguably as comfortable and stylish as they have ever been.
Just like it is the American dream, owning your own home is also a dream for many Nigerians. Choosing the perfect home involves figuring out the ideal style for your family and making sure it fits your daily needs — so the number of beds, baths, size, location, etc, are all things to consider.
This article will shed light on some of the most popular types of houses being built in Nigeria today. This will help you find a suitable residential property — be it in Lagos, Abuja, or anywhere else across the country.
Mansion
A mansion is a very big home, often upwards of 5,000 square feet in size. However, what actually qualifies as a mansion depends on opinion and location. Calling a home, a mansion indicates a level of grandeur, style, and quality — far above the normal in a given area. This correlates with the housing patterns of the rich and wealthy.
The size of the property, as well as the number of rooms and bathrooms all, play a part in defining what a mansion is — but there are further defining features, such as entertainment facilities, leisure space, and luxury finishing. So things like grand staircases, crystal chandeliers, big open foyers, massive gardens, swimming pools, tennis courts, home automation, and various other high-end amenities.
Mansions can be found scattered across Nigeria: with some of the most impressive being sited in Abuja, Kaduna, Lagos, and Port Harcourt.
Bungalow
A bungalow is typically a one-story home, cottage, or cabin. It can either be detached or semi-detached. Bungalows originated in South Asia, with the name deriving from the Bengal region of India. Bungalows are generally small in size: when it comes to square meters. Having said this, these days you can find very large bungalows — which combine both technology and splendid architecture, to cater to the more urban lifestyles most live today.
Given their relatively small size: bungalows are inexpensive to build and easy to maintain. As a result, they provide an affordable home option for the working class across Nigeria.
Apartments or flats
Apartments or flats are among the most popular forms of housing in the world today. An apartment building is a combination of many separate homes stacked on top and next to each other. Each apartment acts as its own dwelling or living space.
Each apartment forms just a section of the overall building: it offers less privacy than alternative housing types. By owning a flat, a person has access to common areas such as green space, playgrounds, rooftops, and gyms.
The popularity of flats has increased in Nigeria, as the population has become more urban in nature. Because of the space-saving advantages of building vertically, flats are frequently much cheaper to buy than other home types.
Penthouse
A penthouse apartment is a unit on the topmost floor of a multistorey apartment building or hotel. What differentiates a penthouse from other apartments, is its luxury features or elements.
Penthouses are often the most expensive forms of housing in a given market. These types of houses are the largest, the most exclusive, and offer the best views in a given apartment building. As such, penthouses are synonymous with a luxury lifestyle. You will often find them in Nigeria’s biggest cities such as Lagos, Abuja, and Port Harcourt.
Terraced house
A terrace, terrace house, townhouse, or row house: is a single-family home that is usually set over two or three floors. A terrace house sits side-by-side with other terraces (joined together) — forming a tight row down a road or block or the inside of a gated estate.
Terraces usually have identical fronts and identical heights — thus are mirror images of each other. They are designed to accommodate as many people as possible in densely populated cities. The last house in a row of terraces is known as the “end of terrace”.
Terraces are generally more affordable than detached and semi-detached homes and thus have become more desirable in certain places – particularly in Abuja and parts of Lagos.
Semi-detached house
A semi-detached house (sometimes called a “semi”) is a single-family home that shares a single wall with the next house. This style differentiates it from terraced houses (with shared walls on both sides), and detached houses (with no shared walls). You can find single-story semi-detached homes (bungalows) and semis that are spread over two floors.
Building costs are typically lower than that of a fully detached house, thus you tend to get extra space for your money (or the same thing for less). Thanks to modern architecture, some of the semi-detached homes being built in Nigeria today: are very pleasing to the eye.
Detached house
This is a popular type of house in Nigeria is the detached house. These can be found in the affluent parts of Lagos, Abuja, Kano, and other major cities in Nigeria.
Detached houses are associated with the rich and famous and feature some pretty impressive architecture. Although not as large as mansions, they are often just as luxurious, depending on taste and how they are finished/furnished. They have usually spread over two or more floors and feature their own private gates: leading onto a private compound.
Detached houses are great for people that like their privacy and for those with larger families.
Duplex
In the Nigerian context, a duplex can be thought of as a house where two different units (on two different floors) are stacked on one another like apartments. In essence, a duplex is like having two different houses in the same home.
As a rule of thumb: duplexes have at least two floors and you can find functioning apartments on each floor — thus this type of home is perfect for bigger families. Similar structures with three or four housing units or floors are called triplex or fourplex.
When one mentions a duplex in Nigeria: this can also be called either a detached, semi-detached, or terraced house — depending on how the duplex is designed/arranged.
Traditional houses
Traditional houses in Nigeria are generally found in the more rural parts of the country. These houses reflect the traditional house-building techniques and styles of the various ethnic groups of Nigeria. The primary building materials used in constructing traditional houses include wood, straw, stones, and mud.
Although they are far cheaper to build, they are often outdated and far less convenient for modern life. Consequently, they are continuously being replaced (especially in areas close to cities) by more modern homes in the form of apartments, bungalows, duplexes, and mansions.
In conclusion:
Whether you are looking to buy or have already been built, it is important to know which type of home will fit your requirements. With this article, we have gone over some of the most popular types of houses in Nigeria today. From flats to bungalows to mansions — you are sure to find something that suits your taste and budget.
Source: Villaafrika.com
Similar Topics
US Election Race Intensifies: How Results Could Impact Nigeria’s Real Estate Market As the...
15 days ago Read MoreEquatorial Guinea Official Baltasar Engonga Ebang’s Video Sparks Controversy In recent days,...
15 days ago Read More
Nigeria’s digital real estate company, Sytemap, has raised concerns over the ongoing trust...
a month ago Read More
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has urged for more investment to address the persistent...
a month ago Read More
Housing sector stakeholders have raised concerns that the rising interest rates in the country are...
a month ago Read More
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has emphasized the significance of innovation,...
a month ago Read More
The Association of Private Practicing Surveyors of Nigeria (APPSN), a subgroup of the Nigerian...
a month ago Read More
Nigeria has been admitted into WorldSkills International, marking a historic milestone in the...
2 months ago Read More
The Federal Government has launched the Ministry of Finance Incorporated Real Estate Investment...
2 months ago Read More
The National Board for Technical Education has inaugurated the Sector Skill Council for...
2 months ago Read More
The Environmental Defense Fund has partnered with Africa Practice to combat climate change in...
2 months ago Read More
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has reiterated the crucial role of...
2 months ago Read More
The Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria has announced initiatives aimed at enhancing...
2 months ago Read More
The Global Environment Facility has approved $3.28m to tackle land degradation in Kebbi State under...
2 months ago Read More
The commercial real estate market is currently grappling with several major challenges, including...
2 months ago Read More
Real estate development is a key driver of economic growth in any region, and Africa is no...
2 months ago Read More
The Federal Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Shelter Afrique...
2 months ago Read More
The Federal Government has issued a 90-day deadline for subscribers of the National Housing...
2 months ago Read More
The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Dangiwa, has disclosed that plans are underway...
3 months ago Read More
A real estate firm, Gestpoint Nigeria Limited, has implored the Federal Government to simplify the...
3 months ago Read More