No abstract

The goal of architectural education is directed towards the attainment of a humane and responsive environment. This is subsumed in the overall purpose of education, which is to prepare people to perpetuate and improve their society. In this endeavour architects are trained to understand the nature of societal problems in their environmental context. This paper takes a critical look at the programmes of architectural education in Nigeria in their bid to contribute to, and improve the quality of the human habitat and ensure its sustainability. It notes the degradation of the environment and housing conditions in Nigeria's urban centres, which is symptomatic of the rapid urbanisation occurring in the country. It asserts that though the curricula in Nigerian architectural schools have been designed to ensure the provision of education that ensures the attainment of professional skills requisite for effective shaping, reordering , and articulation of the built environment, there are shortcomings. It proffers recommendations for invigorating architectural education for attaining a sustainable and qualitative human habitat.

This paper discusses teaching and learning in the design studio in architectural education in Nigeria, and the roles they play in promoting sustainable environment. Architectural design studio is one of the seven modules of study in architecture schools in Nigeria as stipulated by the National Universities Commission. A case study of the

No abstract

The construction industry is one of the largest solid waste generators all over the globe. Because waste generation from both new construction works, as well as renovation works has been on the increase, it is absolutely necessary for the construction industry to adopt ecologically sound planning and construction practices for the purpose of creating a healthy and sustainable built environment. This is the focus of this paper. It appraises the management of construction waste in Nigeria and Akure in particular. A survey of selected construction sites in Akure is used as a case study to demonstrate the magnitude of poor management level of construction waste generation observed and the implications on the built environment. Research findings reveal that the Ondo State Waste Management Board is responsible for the management of solid waste in the city and over 78% of the construction waste is disposed indiscriminately or burnt on site, since the mandate of the board does not cover construction waste. Contractors were observed to cart away a sizeable junk of the waste for other uses. The paper suggests a wide range of measures for minimisation of waste on construction sites. These include modularisation of design, standardisation of building components, industrial production of building materials, efficient specification writing, retraining of building professionals, reuse and recycling among others. The paper concludes that there is colossal deficiency in the management of construction waste in the study area and recommend ways of ameliorating it.

Purpose Issues pertaining to accessibility and inclusiveness of public spaces are not explicitly discussed in developing nations. Thus, this study aims to explore how ease of access and socio-economic status of residents influence the use of city-centre public spaces in Ibadan, Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach A survey involving users (N = 427) of three different types of public spaces (shopping mall, park and recreational centre) was undertaken. Statistical analysis including Kruskal Wallis H-test and ordered logistic regression analysis were used in determining the differences in the public spaces attributes and predicting the determinants of use. Findings The analysis revealed that the use of a private car, income and gender significantly predict the frequency of use. It was observed that the determinants of public space use differ across the three categories. In particular, accessibility better predicted the use of the park than it did for the shopping mall or the recreation club. Practical implications It brings to fore ways through which city planning in developing countries can address social exclusion and spatial disparity within city-centres. Specifically, new proposals need to be sensitive to the walkability potentials when sitting parks whilst holistic efforts must be directed towards group-specific needs when planning shopping malls and recreation clubs. City management strategies, policies and incentives are required to encourage the use of public transportation systems within city-centre spaces as it presents a vital platform for improving access and inclusive use. Originality/value The study fills the gap in the literature by extending knowledge on certain aspects of city-centre’s public spaces in a unique cultural setting. The implications of socioeconomic disparity on public space use became apparent.

Housing is central to quality of life and consumes large amounts of resources in its construction, maintenance and use. It contributes significantly to sustainability because it consumes a substantial proportion of the global greenhouse gases. The building industry consumes a substantial percentage of the materials entering the global economy, and is responsible for the emission of almost half of the global greenhouse gases. Sustainability is achieved in housing through minimizing climate change, reducing pollution and improving air quality and health, and thus creating sustainable settlements. In Nigeria building earth is the indigenous material for construction and has been used for centuries. Extensive research has been carried out in the country, notably by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute which has resulted in the use of stabilized blocks for walling offering low-carbon solutions. This research focuses on the development of the blocks as innovative low carbon construction materials for housing construction in Nigeria. It discusses the potentials of the blocks in minimizing negative impact on the environment and thus enhancing sustainable housing.

This paper reports a research on sustainable building finishes in Nigeria. Because the building industry consumes a substantial percentage of the materials entering the global economy, and is responsible for the emission of almost half of the global greenhouse gases, it is important to consider the aspect of material efficiency as a component of achieving sustainability. This paper critically appraises this development as the use of the renewable wood-based materials has impacted remarkable success towards achieving sustainable building finishes in the country. It reports findings on the authors’ research through case studies, observations and structured questionnaire on the influence of use of renewable wood-based materials on the building industry in Nigeria. Findings of empirical survey conducted among professionals such like Architects, Engineers, Quantity Surveyors, Builders and Contractors practising in some selected cities in Nigeria on the use of the material were analysed along side with personal interviews of these professionals to obtain their views on the subject, revealing that the industrial production of standardised wood-based material to a finished stage makes building operation faster, reduces labour and wastages and enhances modular designs and construction thus aligning production with the current global trend. Timber material used for finishes was also observed to have good aesthetic value in building construction. The paper recommends that the material should be made available in the market in finished standard sizes for users to assemble on sites.