Context-based Design Framework for Promoting Sustainable Housing Development in Nigeria: The Case of Lokoja, Kogi State (Published)
An intelligent design of buildings through strong collaboration with relevant stakeholders is key to achieving sustainable housing development in Nigeria.Housing development efforts in the past were without long-term viable initiatives. This study emerged to promote sustainable housing in Nigeria through the development of a context-based design framework. This is intended to downsize future retrofit of residential dwellings that may be constructed in the years to come without adopting sustainable design practices. The study was conducted through a literature review and qualitative approach involving interviews with architects and engineers who are directly responsible for the production of drawings for building projects in the area of investigation. The data collected were analyzed through content analysis and the results showed an urgent need for the proposed framework in the study area to promote sustainable housing development. Moreover, it emphasized strong collaboration among project stakeholders, especially at the design stage, and the involvement of at least a sustainability expert in the current design team to promote sustainable housing development. The proposed framework was developed based on the findings of the interviews and a review of pertinent literature. The framework involves four stages, predesign and conceptual design, schematic design, design development, and construction documents stage, and verification stage. The framework is expected to eliminate possible challenges at the design stage of the building project and promote collaboration and efficient communication among stakeholders, especially the design team towards establishing a responsive design approach for sustainable housing development in Nigeria.
Keywords: Framework, Lokoja/Nigeria, design professionals, design stage, sustainable housing development