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By Emmanuelle Oche
In a ground breaking stride for African architecture, Evelyn Memshima Tuleun, a certified architect and senior researcher, has redefined the way nations must think about public theatre design and maintenance.
Her latest peer-reviewed research, “Case Study Comparison of Maintenance Approaches in Three Nigerian Theatres: Lessons for Future Design”, published in the World Journal of Advanced Research and Reviews (WJARR), is already being described by experts as a game-changer for sustainable cultural infrastructure.
Tuleun’s comparative analysis of the National Theatre Lagos, the Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre in Benin City, and the Aminu Isa Kontagora Theatre in Makurdi exposes a hard truth: many of Nigeria’s and indeed Africa’s most iconic cultural landmarks are in decay not because of poor maintenance practices alone, but because of certain design decisions and oversights at inception.
Her work demonstrates that neglecting maintainability at the architectural stage creates structures that are not just costly to sustain but are destined to fall into ruin. These findings challenge decades of conventional thinking and set the stage for a paradigm shift in architectural education, practice, and policy.
“The research offers not just critique but a practical blueprint. It proves that design choices—materials, spatial planning, drainage, and access systems—determine whether a building thrives or decays,” says Prof. Stephen Oluigbo, architectural scholar and co-author.
Findings That Resonate Beyond Nigeria
Through extensive fieldwork visual, surveys, checklist evaluations, and structured interviews, Tuleun’s study highlights recurring problems: poor detailing, inaccessible design features, unsuitable material selection, and flat or complex roofing systems prone to leakage. These flaws, embedded at the design stage, lead to skyrocketing maintenance costs and cultural spaces falling into disrepair.
The study documents how the National Theatre Lagos, once Nigeria’s architectural pride, is crippled by water damage, inaccessible roof structures, and dead spatial zones that attract decay. The Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre in Benin, while faring slightly better, still suffers from façade and roofing deterioration, reflecting poor climatic responsiveness. Meanwhile, th e Aminu Isa Kontagora Theatre in Makurdi faces critical structural decline, showing how inadequate design foresight leaves smaller facilities even more vulnerable.
The research proposes Design for Maintainability (DfM) as a revolutionary framework for the future. It calls for simplified building forms that reduce long-term upkeep, durable, climate- responsive materials, Accessible service routes and modular systems for easy repairs, Site- sensitive drainage and landscaping strategies that minimize deterioration.
This framework is not just theoretical. According to experts, it can be adapted globally. In nations where public infrastructure budgets are strained, Tuleun’s recommendations offer a cost-saving, longevity-enhancing model that balances functionality with cultural preservation. Architectural experts agree that Tuleun’s findings are not limited to theatres. The model can be adapted to schools, hospitals, museums, and civic buildings across developing nations, creating ripple effects that extend far beyond the performing arts sector.
Global Relevance and Wider Application
The implications of Tuleun’s research are vast. Around the world, especially in developing economies, governments grapple with infrastructure projects that decline rapidly due to poor foresight in design. Her work demonstrates that design is destiny: a building’s future resilience, adaptability, and cultural relevance are locked in from the first drawing on the architect’s table.
“Her study is not only relevant to Nigeria. It is a universal manual for how to design buildings that last,” notes, Ayoosu Moses Nigerian architect and sustainability advocate. “Every developing country that struggles with premature infrastructure failure can find guidance in her framework.” This universality elevates Tuleun’s work from local relevance to global importance. For African nations in particular, where theatre complexes often double as cultural, educational, and tourism hubs, her research provides the missing link between design innovation and long-term sustainability.
Cultural and Policy Implications
For Nigeria and other countries grappling with public infrastructure decay, Tuleun’s work is more than academic. It is policy-shaping. The study urges procurement agencies to embed maintenance-conscious checklists at the design approval stage, ensuring that public projects are built not only for aesthetics but also for longevity and cultural resilience. It also calls for architectural education in Africa to evolve shifting focus from form and monumentality to function, adaptability, and lifecycle performance. If adopted, this could transform not just theatres but the entire philosophy of public building design across the continent.
Tuleun’s work is recognized as a pioneering African contribution to global architectural practice. By marrying academic rigor with practical solutions, she has authored what many are calling a manifesto for sustainable public architecture.
Her research demonstrates that exceptional architecture is not measured solely by form, but by its ability to survive, adapt, and serve future generations.
For developing nations seeking to balance limited budgets with monumental cultural ambitions, her work provides a roadmap that is at once visionary and pragmatic. The ripple effects of this study could redefine the relationship between design, culture, and economics helping nations safeguard not just buildings but the stories and identities they house.
