**4. Sustainable housing: architectural themes related to socio-cultural design framework**

Often architectural problems are vague as the scopes of these problems are seldom clear as it sometimes emerges from cultural issues. Also sometimes, it is difficult to ascertain the aspects that professionally concern the architect. Thus, architects often face challenges that are not architectural in origin and by nature, but must be resolved in order to ensure effectiveness of design. Most often, these are accompanied by contradictions in physiological, activity pattern, psychological, and technological requirements [8].

Meanwhile, the design process targets provision of a building product that supports psychological mindset, maintains needed physiological state of inhabitants, and also permits people to receive chances to exhibit specific pattern of behaviour. Therefore, in order to ensure that people attain their goals, then designing for human behaviour becomes essential.

In this regard, inclusive rather than exclusive design approach becomes essential. Architectural concepts of housing should dynamically express the socio-cultural tenets of its inhabitants [9]. In most Nigerian cities, for instance, houses are acquired mainly through self-developed initiatives from income savings. Other sources include purchasing of government housing estates [10], which are usually based on owner occupier schemes with gradual payment from income, loan schemes from mortgage banks, and institutional-based co-operative development schemes. Some categories of citizen access housing by renting from private developers or available government quarters. In all, only the first category exerts power of ownership and thus subjects their dwelling to transformation from time to time, thus expressing sustainable values in the dwelling. Usually, socio-cultural tenets are missing in the initial configurations. Some of these tenets are thus illustrated with examples in the succeeding sections of this chapter.

#### **4.1. Mixed-use buildings and home enterprises**

Similarly, flexible and multipurpose space uses are usually time bound. For instance, courtyards provide activity space for different functions across the day. Also, this is important in relating and integrating values in space utilisation. Thus, conflicting activities are assigned to a space but separated by time of performance in order to clarify the inconsistency [4]. Thus, social, private, and service spaces with some overlaps are found in flexible dwelling space ordering. The routine interaction with the spaces shows that despite the complexity in space use, conflicts of activity performance do not exist; rather mainstream values are exhibited in the use of space with optimum satisfaction exhibited by the inhabitants across the day.

Truly, in more western-influenced and traditionally conceived housing set-up, inhabitants' lifestyle distinguishes the arrangement of objects and activities in the home [2]. While flexibility of planning is seen in the later, inflexibility is associated with space design of the former as functions are rigidly assigned to spaces. Thus, housing transformational activities are carried out to adjust the form and functional spaces in order to accommodate flexible functional activities. Even till today, globally vernacular design decisions have remained significant as though it relates basic human relationships, social habits, and cultural traits [5]. Both in tangible and intangible forms, it echoes typical building culture in the traditional and informal communal settings. And even though they may differ in their mainstream values, commonalities in their principles that are ingrained in the patterned building culture form a generic understanding of the roots of overall building culture. Indeed, even as they exist in varieties, the functional configurations depict similar situation hence rooted to the communal values. Therefore, the assertion confirms buildings as cultural products with traced link to the root. Thus, grasping the essential feature of the inhabitants' lifestyle becomes necessary in providing sustainable designs. Indeed, even though some architects are still linked to their cultural roots, it is understandable to note that the paradigm underlying design now seems to exhibit invariance

Incessantly, individuals' action on buildings and the built environment remains constantly a steady transformation of the built world. Invariably, actions taken on building systems are outcomes of a multifarious structure of human experience and knowledge attained through long historical evolution and consisting of specific configurations of knowledge, institutions, rules, and built results—a building culture (Howard Davis) [7]. Thus, origins of settlements are traced back to the revealed distinctive identity of their building cultures as they handle issues in similar pattern but differ in the mode of operation. Moreover, the knowledge of building is widely communicated as skills among community inhabitants across generations. Consequently, revealing the existing linkage between inhabitants on the one hand, their mainstream values and the built environment on the other hand. As these express deep meaning,

However, contemporary building culture trends that grew through industrialisation and technological advancement are characterised with bureaucratic laws and management principles. Authorities are strict with regard to quality and standards, safety rules, performance, and operation. Explicit scientific knowledge evolved to replace traditionally shared communal methods and knowledge ideals. Most cities in their quest for such development in the built environment enforce these knowledge ideals irrespective of the users' socio-cultural values.

usually associated with traditional and vernacular homes [6].

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aspirations and socio-cultural order of the inhabitants' culture.

The concept of mixed-use building planning has steadily faded and replaced by neighbourhood zoning in most emerging and advanced cities of the world. This results from the growing complexities in these cities and changing lifestyle of the inhabitants. This operation has redefined the building culture in the contemporary world. Undoubtedly, single buildings now accommodate residences alongside commercial outfits, offices and civic functions, healthcare, and educational functions in both vertical and horizontal configured buildings.

Similarly, small family businesses have always determined the shop house of the early twentieth century in America and Europe [11]. Thereafter, home enterprise has become a common function in the dwelling configuration. Accordingly, the need to improve family income, women's (sometimes housewives) participation in commercial ventures, and high costs of property rent are often reasons that lead house owners into introducing spaces for home-based business ventures. In the developing world, home-based enterprise has since become part of their lifestyles and cherished values. This connotes a shared desire for self-determination in spatial transactions. In most cities of cultured communities, such places are desired for sustainable liveability particularly for the low- and medium-income earners.

In Nigeria, for instance, the trend is common and not limited to the low-income earners. It is usually practiced even among the middle- and sometimes high-income earners as these configurations are also found in the medium- and high-income housing layouts. The fact that these actions started as dwelling transformations and later incorporated into initial designs by prospective client makes it a tangible value derived from the users' dwelling transformation process and desired for sustainable housing design (**Figures 1**–**3**).

The introduction of shops along the streets in these residences appears to present an architectural pattern in houses' front views across the streets in the urban neighbourhoods of Nigeria. Therefore, initiating a hybrid architectural character that tends to be unnoticed and redefining the urban architecture in cultured communities. Although unrecognised, it is fast reshaping cities' inner-city, fringes, and sub-urban environments in cultured communities.

#### **4.2. Lounge (living room)**

Living rooms are multipurpose activity spaces in dwellings across cultured communities. It hosts activities such as guest reception, family relaxation and leisure time out, dining, worship, and meetings. Aside from ensuring that the flexibility potential is achieved in its design, in order to accommodate these activities, the configuration pattern and location are necessary for consideration. For instance, the Tiv community of central Nigeria considers the *Ate*-(living room) as a significant space in the dwelling configuration. As such in order to ensure maximum performance, it is often made of circular shape and centrally located within a typical traditional compound setting with several openings around the form that enables access from all parts of the compound. Elites that originated from that ethnic background have replicated this design concept in their self-built dwellings, thus acknowledging its significance as a design

indices and an element for sustainable housing production in that community. As a result of value attachment and link to the root, several Tiv citizens have opted for this concept in building designs and also replicated the form in their contemporary houses (**Figures 4** and **5**).

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**Figure 3.** Shops attached to self-built residences in a high-income neighbourhood of Makurdi, Nigeria.

**Figure 2.** Shops attached to self-built residences in a low-income neighbourhood of Minna, Nigeria.

**Figure 4.** Typical *Ate* in traditional compound settings found at the fringes of Makurdi, Nigeria.

Cooking space is another significant place in the design of a house. This place is usually arranged alongside other spaces under the same roof in a network of functional arrangement in contemporary designs. Meanwhile, in traditional settings of some cultured communities

**4.3. Kitchen location and design**

**Figure 1.** Streets with shops attached to self-built houses in medium-income districts of Katsina and Minna, Nigeria.

**Figure 2.** Shops attached to self-built residences in a low-income neighbourhood of Minna, Nigeria.

**Figure 3.** Shops attached to self-built residences in a high-income neighbourhood of Makurdi, Nigeria.

indices and an element for sustainable housing production in that community. As a result of value attachment and link to the root, several Tiv citizens have opted for this concept in building designs and also replicated the form in their contemporary houses (**Figures 4** and **5**).

### **4.3. Kitchen location and design**

function in the dwelling configuration. Accordingly, the need to improve family income, women's (sometimes housewives) participation in commercial ventures, and high costs of property rent are often reasons that lead house owners into introducing spaces for home-based business ventures. In the developing world, home-based enterprise has since become part of their lifestyles and cherished values. This connotes a shared desire for self-determination in spatial transactions. In most cities of cultured communities, such places are desired for sustainable

In Nigeria, for instance, the trend is common and not limited to the low-income earners. It is usually practiced even among the middle- and sometimes high-income earners as these configurations are also found in the medium- and high-income housing layouts. The fact that these actions started as dwelling transformations and later incorporated into initial designs by prospective client makes it a tangible value derived from the users' dwelling transforma-

The introduction of shops along the streets in these residences appears to present an architectural pattern in houses' front views across the streets in the urban neighbourhoods of Nigeria. Therefore, initiating a hybrid architectural character that tends to be unnoticed and redefining the urban architecture in cultured communities. Although unrecognised, it is fast reshaping

Living rooms are multipurpose activity spaces in dwellings across cultured communities. It hosts activities such as guest reception, family relaxation and leisure time out, dining, worship, and meetings. Aside from ensuring that the flexibility potential is achieved in its design, in order to accommodate these activities, the configuration pattern and location are necessary for consideration. For instance, the Tiv community of central Nigeria considers the *Ate*-(living room) as a significant space in the dwelling configuration. As such in order to ensure maximum performance, it is often made of circular shape and centrally located within a typical traditional compound setting with several openings around the form that enables access from all parts of the compound. Elites that originated from that ethnic background have replicated this design concept in their self-built dwellings, thus acknowledging its significance as a design

**Figure 1.** Streets with shops attached to self-built houses in medium-income districts of Katsina and Minna, Nigeria.

liveability particularly for the low- and medium-income earners.

tion process and desired for sustainable housing design (**Figures 1**–**3**).

**4.2. Lounge (living room)**

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cities' inner-city, fringes, and sub-urban environments in cultured communities.

Cooking space is another significant place in the design of a house. This place is usually arranged alongside other spaces under the same roof in a network of functional arrangement in contemporary designs. Meanwhile, in traditional settings of some cultured communities

**Figure 4.** Typical *Ate* in traditional compound settings found at the fringes of Makurdi, Nigeria.

**Figure 5.** Typical *Ate* innovatively replicated in self-built houses in Makurdi, Nigeria.

like those found in Northern Nigeria, this function is usually detached from the main building. The type of fuel (usually charcoal or firewood) used for cooking might be thought to have accounted for the detachment. However, the climatic factors also play a significant role as most parts of Nigeria are within the tropical region and the heat generated usually increases the total heat gain within the building, hence making the building interior uncomfortable particularly during the summer season. Surprisingly, this action of detaching the kitchen has overtime become a norm and applied even when other sources of fuel (kerosene and gas) are used for cooking. Thus, a sustainable design would tangibly consider detaching the kitchen from the main building in cultured communities like Northern Nigeria (**Figures 6**–**9**).

#### **4.4. Open spaces**

Open spaces within and around the dwellings are intangible activity spaces that are significant in ensuring sustainable housing provision in cultured communities such as those found in Nigeria. In Nigeria, courtyards are main features in dwellings and are most times centralised within the built form. They could also be located at the back of the building or

> as a fore courtyard in front of the compound. In achieving the rear and fore courtyards, the compound is usually bordered by a wall fence screening it from outside view. The functions of the courtyards include aerating the building, drying of food crops, and microhome farming such as rearing of poultry and they also serve as indoor relaxation area. Usually, most dwellings have outdoor areas behind the dwelling (rear courtyard) where domestic chores are carried out. Most times, the detached kitchen is located here. This space is usually defined by the building serving as boundary on one side and wall fencing on the other sides. Similarly, in front of the building, a fore courtyard exists bounded by the building and wall fencing. The fore courtyard and rear courtyard are usually linked with an exit and a route thus providing additional access, which is sometimes gender preferred

> **Figure 8.** A detached kitchen opening to the central courtyard of a transformed public housing dwelling in Minna,

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**Figure 7.** A detached kitchen located at the rear courtyard of a modern house in Minna, Nigeria.

The results indicate the features identifiable through adaptive dimensions derived from dwelling transformation. It also shows that inhabitants give priority to activity performance than

(**Figures 10**–**13**).

Nigeria.

**Figure 6.** Typical outdoor cooking in a traditional dwelling in Katsina, Nigeria.

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**Figure 7.** A detached kitchen located at the rear courtyard of a modern house in Minna, Nigeria.

like those found in Northern Nigeria, this function is usually detached from the main building. The type of fuel (usually charcoal or firewood) used for cooking might be thought to have accounted for the detachment. However, the climatic factors also play a significant role as most parts of Nigeria are within the tropical region and the heat generated usually increases the total heat gain within the building, hence making the building interior uncomfortable particularly during the summer season. Surprisingly, this action of detaching the kitchen has overtime become a norm and applied even when other sources of fuel (kerosene and gas) are used for cooking. Thus, a sustainable design would tangibly consider detaching the kitchen

**Figure 5.** Typical *Ate* innovatively replicated in self-built houses in Makurdi, Nigeria.

**Figure 6.** Typical outdoor cooking in a traditional dwelling in Katsina, Nigeria.

from the main building in cultured communities like Northern Nigeria (**Figures 6**–**9**).

Open spaces within and around the dwellings are intangible activity spaces that are significant in ensuring sustainable housing provision in cultured communities such as those found in Nigeria. In Nigeria, courtyards are main features in dwellings and are most times centralised within the built form. They could also be located at the back of the building or

**4.4. Open spaces**

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as a fore courtyard in front of the compound. In achieving the rear and fore courtyards, the compound is usually bordered by a wall fence screening it from outside view. The functions of the courtyards include aerating the building, drying of food crops, and microhome farming such as rearing of poultry and they also serve as indoor relaxation area. Usually, most dwellings have outdoor areas behind the dwelling (rear courtyard) where domestic chores are carried out. Most times, the detached kitchen is located here. This space is usually defined by the building serving as boundary on one side and wall fencing on the other sides. Similarly, in front of the building, a fore courtyard exists bounded by the building and wall fencing. The fore courtyard and rear courtyard are usually linked with an exit and a route thus providing additional access, which is sometimes gender preferred (**Figures 10**–**13**).

The results indicate the features identifiable through adaptive dimensions derived from dwelling transformation. It also shows that inhabitants give priority to activity performance than

**Figure 9.** Typical detached kitchen located at the rear courtyard of a contemporary housing estate in Minna, Nigeria.

**Figure 10.** Typical fore courtyard with side exit leading to the rear courtyard created in a housing estate in Sokoto, Nigeria.

the space that host the activity. In the long run, transaction with spaces over time by users creates design indices; thus, cultural order determines adaptive character of sustainable housing.

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Understandably the architects' probable problem is the fact that buildings are expected to have long life with anticipated relevance and usefulness through time [12]. Thus, design and configuration of spaces is expected to take that dimension. Hence, there is need for designers to envisage future maintenance, alterations, expansions, additions, and if need be reconfigu-

Cities must, therefore, provide balanced skilled minds that can shape the spatial developmental tract of the built environment. These experts must be closely familiar with regional and local problems in order to express both etic and emic goals of architectural design in housing

**5. Emerging design paradigm: socialist, culturalists and regionalist** 

**Figure 13.** A central courtyard in a modern transformed dwelling in Minna, Nigeria.

**Figure 12.** A modern house facing a wall-bounded fore courtyard in Minna, Nigeria.

**socio-cultural order**

ration of dwelling spaces.

**Figure 11.** Typical fore courtyard created in a housing estate in Minna, Nigeria.

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**Figure 12.** A modern house facing a wall-bounded fore courtyard in Minna, Nigeria.

**Figure 13.** A central courtyard in a modern transformed dwelling in Minna, Nigeria.

**Figure 11.** Typical fore courtyard created in a housing estate in Minna, Nigeria.

Nigeria.

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**Figure 9.** Typical detached kitchen located at the rear courtyard of a contemporary housing estate in Minna, Nigeria.

**Figure 10.** Typical fore courtyard with side exit leading to the rear courtyard created in a housing estate in Sokoto,

the space that host the activity. In the long run, transaction with spaces over time by users creates design indices; thus, cultural order determines adaptive character of sustainable housing.
