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Different Types Of Houses In Nigeria (With

Pictures)
Last updated: February 19, 2020

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 home tech 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 (pictures included). This will help you find a suitable residential property —
be it in Lagos, Abuja or anywhere else across the country.

Villa Afrika are Abuja estate agents. If you are looking for a house, flat, land or
commercial property, to buy or rent — visit our property or land listings. You can also
send a property request.

Mansion

A mansion is a very big luxury 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 a 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-storey 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 bungalows that are very large — which combine both technology
and splendid architecture, to cater for 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.

As each apartment forms just a section of the overall building: it offers less privacy than
alternative types of housing. 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 much 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 storey semidetached 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 on the eye.

Detached house
Another 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 of course on tastes and how they are finished/furnished. They are
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: these homes are often outdated and are 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 build your own home or acquire one that is being built (or has
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.

Regardless of what kind of property you are looking for, Villa Afrika can help.
 Contact us for all your real estate needs in Abuja: +234 708 500 8039.

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