M.TECH THESIS PROPOSAL Presented by OYEDELE, Olutoyin Aleemat On the topic PROPOSED MUSEUM OF ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE (EFFECTIVE HUMAN AND MATERIAL CIRCULATION ENHANCES THE FUNCTIONALITY OF A MUSEUM) Submitted to The Department of Architecture, School of Environmental Technology Federal University of Technology, Akure In partial fulfillment of the Award of Master of Technology in Architecture March 2008
PROJECT TITLE The project title shall be PROPOSED MUSEUM OF ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE IN ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE. This proposal was considered necessary due to certain reasons explained below: Abeokuta is an historical town and vast in the works of art. Abeokuta is one of the earliest towns founded in history and has a rock which is of major significance to its founding. The works of art, Architecture and personalities of notable character are not often properly preserved and documented thereby making them go into extinction and have no positive impact on the environment and people at large after their demise. The people of Abeokuta are also notable for their Adire making, a cloth material often made and worn by the people of Abeokuta and the world at large. In Abeokuta, notable Architects that are known for their wonderful works of Architecture abound but their works that are Architectural masterpieces are often not taken cognizance of and if care is not taken, advantages of such elements might be relevant to the town in the near future. There is no existing museum in Abeokuta where works of Art and Architecture can be showcased to general public.
PROJECT SUBTITLE For the purpose of this proposal, PROPOSED MUSEUM OF ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE IN ABEOKUTA OGUN STATE, certain areas are of key importance to the museum such as: Security of lives of people (visitors and staff) within the museum. Preservation of materials (either from damage by touch or theft). Effect of adequate lighting within the interior of the museum. Effect of proper circulation within the museum (both internal and external) But for the purpose of this research, emphasis is intended to be laid on the effect of proper circulation within the museum and it shall be subtitled as: EFFECTIVE HUMAN AND MATERIAL AL CIRCULATION ENHANCES THE FUNCTIONALITY OF A MUSEUM This topic is considered necessary due to the fact that One of the major factors to consider in the analysis of a space is its circulation which is a key factor. A museum is a place known for harbouring people from far and wide and adequate and effective movement of people and materials is important so that the desired function can be easily achieved. From history and observation, one of the way by which one can gain knowledge is by visiting places and seeing existing situation. In a situation where so many people are present at a museum at the same time, proper co-ordination and ease of movement from place to place is a very important factor to be considered. For the purpose of this topic, the key variables I intend to examine are: Man and materials Circulation This research work is expected to be directed to the people in Abeokuta, Ogun state, the study town, the users of public places, the staff and the general public at large. On completion, the project is expected to service people all over the world who are interested in the works of Art and Architecture and also to develop the interest of Arts and Architecture in the mind of those who are indifferent about this idea and concept.
ABSTRACT This research work is intended to be geared towards using effective circulation of man and materials to improve the functionality of museums. To achieve this, questionnaires would be administered, case studies carried out, literature reviews would be done and proper documentation of results would be strictly adhered to. This research work is proposed in Abeokuta, Ogun State. At the end of the research work, desired results that would be useful and relevant to the course of the study are expected to be derived, proper recommendations that would enhance the functionality of museums in relation to circulation would be proffered and relevant conclusions would be reached. On completion of this, areas of relevant studies to this research work would be put forward so as to make the study and design of museums much easier for people who intend to study anything such line.
TABLE OF CONTENTS PROJECT TITLE PROJECT SUBTITLE ABSTRACT TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Aim and Objectives 1.2 Statement of Problem 1.3 Scope of Study 1.4 Justification of Research 1.5 Limitation to Study 1.6 Research Methodology 1.7 Significance to Knowledge 1.8 Timing 2.0 SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Definition of Terms 2.2 Related Literature Review 3.0 CASE STUDIES 4.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 4.1 Data collection 4.2 Data analysis 4.3 Target completion dates 5.0 RECOMMENDATION AND CONCLUSION REFERENCES
1.0 INTRODUCTION Museum can be defined as an institution dedicated to helping people understand and appreciate the natural world, the history of civilizations, and the record of humanity s artistic, scientific, and technological achievements. Museums collect objects of scientific, aesthetic, or historical importance; care for them; and study, interpret, and exhibit them for the purposes of public education and the advancement of knowledge (Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary). There are museums in almost every major city in the world and in many smaller communities as well. Museums offer many benefits to their visitors, their communities, and society as a whole. As educational institutions, they offer unparalleled opportunities for self-directed learning and exploration by people of diverse ages, interests, backgrounds and abilities. They are public gathering places where visitors can be entertained, inspired and introduced to new ideas. Museums enrich local cultural life and make communities more appealing places to live and to visit. For society as a whole, museums provide valuable intangible benefits as sources of national, regional, and local identity. They have the singular capacity to reflect both continuity and change, to preserve and protect cultural and natural heritage while vividly illustrating the progression of the human imagination and the natural world. This research work is intended to provide an overview of the different types of museums and explains how they acquire, care for and exhibit their collections. It also discusses educational programs at museums and profiles museum staff and professional organizations. Other sections of the article trace the history of museums and outline the major trends and challenges facing museums today. Finally, the report describes circulation as an effective tool for the design of museum.
1.1 AIM AND OBJECTIVES Aim The aim of this research work is predicated on the need to understand the ways in which effective circulation can be used as a tool for achieving a much more functional and purposeful museum. Objectives The following objectives would guide to the faster and better achievement of the aim of this project: An analysis of what a museum is and what it is not A description of the factors affecting the condition of cultural elements and materials. An analysis of the present state of existing museums in the country. An analysis of situations and present condition of museum in countries other than Nigeria Presentation of strategies and creating functional framework of adopting the good attributes of the studied existing museums and putting into play these attributes to achieve a functional use of space within a museum interior and exterior. 1.2 STATEMENT OF PROBLEM The issue to be addressed in this research proposal shall be how effective human and materials circulation enhances the functionality of a museum. This chosen as earlier stated due to the fact that circulation is one of the most important factor to be considered when proposing and designing a public utility. 1.3 SCOPE OF STUDY This research is strictly based on the study of circulation was a major tool for the effective functionality Arts and Architecture and the proposal shall be located in Abeokuta, the State capital of Ogun State due to the abundance of the works of nature in the region. Case studies shall be carried out at properly planned locations and respondents in the field of Architecture, Arts and also, the general public at large.
1.4 JUSTIFICATION OF RESEARCH This research is timely and called for because the nature and situation of the environment calls for an immediate restoration of natural values and its preservation before all goes into extinction and become items or elements of the past and history. Man is often of the habit of exhausting all that is available around him without the option of preservation for future use. A museum that is deprived of direct and adequate access to functional spaces is like a famer that goes to the farm without a hoe. Spaces would be provided but may never ever be useful and serve the purpose for which it is meant. Proper coordination of spaces and adequate provision of circulation spaces makes functionality of a museum better. 1.5 LIMITATION TO STUDY The major limitation often faced when embarking on a research work is often in the administration of questionnaires. Most people are always hostile whenever they see unknown faces, because it is generally believed that young people carry out a lot of criminal activities in the neighbourhood. When the need for the administration of questionnaire arises, I hope to explain to them the aim of the visit and tender a letter from the department which will enable them to co-operate and part with relevant information. Also, one always has to face the problem of transportation from one place to another in order to be able to have existing case studies of places with relevant information for the study, adequate transportation has to be provided or limit the study area to places that are in close proximity to the researcher. 1.6 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This research would be carried out mainly by literature review, data collection by administering questionnaires, observation and by interaction with people around and residents of Abeokuta and places where similar projects are exiting. The text review will deal with existing facts extracted from investigation from various texts (journals, periodicals, textbooks, Encarta encyclopedia and internet). Field research would be by observation, interaction and interview with people in Abeokuta, practicing Architects, owners of existing
buildings and structures that are Architectural masterpieces, museum environment users, Tourists at large, distribution of questionnaires and personal experience and analysis. 1.7 SIGNIFICANCE TO KNOWLEDGE On completion, the project is expected to service people all over the world who are interested in the works of Art and Architecture and also to develop the interest of Arts and Architecture in the mind of those who are indifferent about this idea and concept. 1.8 TIMING The project is intended to be started in August 2008 and completed by January 2009 so that it can be defended in February or early March 2009. In order to be able to achieve this, data collation would be started as soon as possible so that necessary corrections and compilation would have been completed by the end of this period.
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW Museum can be defined as an institution dedicated to helping people understand and appreciate the natural world, the history of civilizations, and the record of humanity s artistic, scientific, and technological achievements. Museums collect objects of scientific, aesthetic, or historical importance; care for them; and study, interpret, and exhibit them for the purposes of public education and the advancement of knowledge (Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary). There are museums in almost every major city in the world and in many smaller communities as well. Most museums add objects to their collections through gifts and bequests (objects given to museums upon a person s death), primarily from individuals. Museums actively develop relationships with potential donors to stimulate their interest in giving to the collection. People may decide to donate objects out of generosity, because they want to share what they have collected with the public. They may want to be sure that their collections or objects are safely preserved for future generations. Or they may seek the prestige of giving to a museum. In the United States and United Kingdom, people who donate objects to museums receive tax benefits. Some museums have dedicated budgets for acquiring new objects. Museums use these funds to purchase objects from collectors, dealers, or at public auction. Only larger museums can hope to be successful in competing in the marketplace for objects with great artistic, historical, or scientific importance. In some cases, museums directly acquire objects or artifacts through archaeological fieldwork sponsored by the museum or conducted by its staff. The major types of museums are art, history, natural history, and science. In certain museums, these disciplines may be combined. Within these categories there are also many specialized museums emphasizing particular topics or types of collections, such as museums of local history, music, the cultural heritage of native peoples, or maritime history. 2.1 DEFINITION OF TERMS MUSEUM: Museum can be defined as an institution dedicated to helping people understand and appreciate the natural world, the history of civilizations, and the record of humanity s artistic, scientific, and technological achievements. Museums collect objects of scientific,
aesthetic, or historical importance; care for them; and study, interpret, and exhibit them for the purposes of public education and the advancement of knowledge (Cambridge Advanced Learners Dictionary). It can also be defined as a place where important things are preserved: a building or institution where objects of artistic, historical or scientific importance and value are kept, studied and put on display (Microsoft Encarta Dictionaries 2007). ARTS: it is described as a creative design of everyday object. It is often described as the hand production of decoratively designed everyday objects, especially as a skilled craft or as part of an educational rehabilitation program (Microsoft Encarta Dictionaries 2007). Art, the product of creative human activity in which materials are shaped or selected to convey an idea, emotion, or visually interesting form. The word art can refer to the visual arts, including painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, decorative arts, crafts, and other visual works that combine materials or forms. We also use the word art in a more general sense to encompass other forms of creative activity, such as dance, drama, and music, or even to describe skill in almost any activity, such as the art of bread making or the art of travel. In this article art refers to the visual arts (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2007). ARCHITECTURE: can be described as the practice of building design and its resulting products. Customary usage refers only to those designs and structures that are culturally significant. Architecture is to building as literature is to the printed word. Vitruvius, a 1stcentury bc Roman, wrote encyclopedically about architecture, and the English poet Sir Henry Wotton was quoting him in his charmingly phrased dictum: Well building hath three conditions: Commoditie, Firmenes, and Delight. Simply, one would say today that architecture must satisfy its intended uses, must be technically sound, and must convey aesthetic meaning. But the best buildings are often so well constructed that they outlast their original use. They then survive not only as beautiful objects, but as documents of the history of cultures, achievements in architecture that testify to the nature of the society that produced them. These achievements are never wholly the work of individuals. Architecture is a social art (Microsoft Encarta Encyclopedia 2007). CIRCULATION: also referred to as flow can be defined as the free movement of something such as air, water, people or materials in an enclosed space
EFFECTIVE TOOL: is described as a means to end or something used as a means of achieving something and causing a result that is intended or desired and eventually produces a strong and favourable impression on people 2.2 RELATED LITERATURE REVIEW An exhaustive literature review is expected to be carried out on what a museum is, history of museums generally in Nigeria, the study area, the history of the study area relevance of arts and architecture types of museums museums of the world museum collections museum exhibitions museum staff and organizations trends and challenges in museum design and operations and lots more.
3.0 CASE STUDIES Case studies shall be carried out at existing situations and places in order to compare and contrast situations. Efforts shall be made to adopt the good attributes of the exiting situations and improve on the bad characteristics. In order to gather facts for this research work, I intend to carry out case studies at: Museum of Traditional Architecture in Jos, Plateau State. Silver Bird Galleria in Lagos to study how circulation was solved National Museum of Arts and Culture Owo And other relevant museums and public places. The History of the museums, their underlying factors, Pictures and necessary information would be collated to be analyzed and used in the course of the research. The following places were considered due to the fact that: they are relevant cases to the subject under study, they are places that were carefully planned out right from their inception stages, they are rich in works of Arts and Architecture, they have being in existence for a long period of time and are still exiting, they serve as tourist attractions to the general public and visitors they are places that tend to harbor many people together at the same time and have tendencies to be faced with the issue of circulation and lots more.
4.0 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY This research shall be carried to derive the expected result in the following ways: Through an exhaustive literature review of existing situations, past works of people. Through journals, periodicals, reference texts e.t.c. Through observation. Visits to existing places where one is opportuned to see related situations, proper and adequate observation and documentation shall be done Through interview and interaction with people of the study area, existing situations and places. Through the use of questionnaire to gather information, data and facts necessary for the effective study of the proposal. Through case studies. Visits shall be carried out to places that are existing or near situations which one can use as a guide and compare situations to be able to arrive at an expected result that would the purpose and function for which it is meant. 4.1 DATA COLLECTION The data gotten from the field survey is expected to be collated through the use of the following methods: 4.2 DATA ANALYSIS After collecting and collating the data, effort shall be made to analyze the data through the use of tables, figures, charts, pictures, diagrams. 4.3 TARGET COMPLETION DATES This research work is expected to last for periods of six (6) months so as to allow me gather enough information required for proper achievement of the ideal and correct results of this research.
5.0 CONCLUSION At the end of this research, I intend to be able to reach reasonable conclusions that will confirm that effective human and material circulation enhances the functionality of a museum. Reasonable evidences and facts would have been proven and this hypothesis would be ascertained.
REFERENCES http://www.24hourmuseum.org This site provides access to the web sites of museums, galleries and heritage attractions throughout the United Kingdom. http://www.aam-us.org The American Association of Museums offers information about its activities and publications. http://www.artguide.org This site provides a guide to art collections in Great Britain and Ireland. Microsoft Encarta 2007 1993-2006 Microsoft Corporation Edition Related articles, journals, literature texts and web sites related to the study of museum