DEPARTMENT OF ARCHITECTURE

The increasing environmental challenges and housing demand in tropical regions like Benin City necessitate the adoption of sustainable building practices. This project explores the integration of sustainable design principles in residential housing provision specific to tropical climates. It examines passive cooling strategies, climate-r sponsive materials, and energy-efficient layouts tailored to the environmental co text of Benin City. Through field observations, interviews, and case studies, the research identifies key barriers to sustainable implementation and proposes practical design solutions. The study highlightshow locally available resources and traditional knowl edge can be harnessed to enhance building performance, thermal comfort, and affordability. Ultimately, the project advocates for policy support, public awareness, and stakeholder collaboration in creating sustainable housing systems for tropical regions.

The construction industry faces increasing challenges in achieving sustainable, ecofriendly practices while meeting the growing demand for housing. This research project explores the viability of rammed earth as a substitute replacement for sandcrete and concrete in building construction in Ekosodin, Edo State, Nigeria. Rammed earth, an ancient construction material requiring special technique, offers significant potential for sustainable building due to its low environmental impact, availability of raw materials, and thermal mass properties. The research will encompass a comprehensive analysis of rammed earth's structural performance, thermal efficiency, and cost-effectiveness in the context of Edo State's climate and local construction practices. By examining the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of rammed earth construction, this research aims to provide valuable insights and recommendations for promoting its adoption as a sustainable building material in Edo State, ultimately contributing to the region's sustainable development goals.

This study investigates rammed earth as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to conventional construction materials in Edo State, Nigeria. With rising cement costs, high carbon emissions from concrete production, and an increasing housing deficit, there is urgent need for affordable, eco-friendly building solutions. Rammed earth—a technique involving compaction of soil, sand, clay, and stabilizers into formwork—offers low embodied energy, excellent thermal mass, and utilization of locally available materials. A questionnaire-based research design was employed, targeting architects, quantity surveyors, civil engineers, and students within Benin City. Out of 75 questionnaires distributed, 60 responses were received, yielding an 80% response rate. Findings revealed that 60.75% of respondents were unfamiliar with rammed earth technology, indicating a significant awareness gap. However, 64.1% agreed that rammed earth contributes to sustainable building practices, with 69.25% recognizing its use of local materials and 52.8% acknowledging its energy efficiency. Key
challenges identified included lack of skilled labor, limited public awareness, inadequate regulatory frameworks, and concerns about climate suitability. Despite these barriers, 46.1% of respondents expressed optimism about its future adoption in mainstream construction. The study concludes that rammed earth is a viable, durable, and sustainable material for residential construction in Edo State. Recommendations include increasing public and professional awareness, integrating rammed earth construction into academic curricula, developing standardized building codes, and encouraging its adoption through policy support and demonstration projects.

Sustainability in housing is a phrase that has become a norm in the mouths of not just members of the building industry but also of all individuals with a sense of prudence and comfort. The tendency to beg the question “can housing really be sustainable?” Given that a
lot of environmentally unfriendly processes are embarked on to produce the necessary elements used in construction and housing, a lot of work has to be done during the years of the structure
to refund the ecological make up that was lost to create it in the first place. This leads to the need to create residential buildings that are not just aesthetically pleasing but also protect the core for which sustainability stands The growing global concern for environmental sustainability and the increasing strain on natural resources have placed the built environment at the forefront of conversations
surrounding climate resilience, energy efficiency, and responsible envelopment. In Nigeria and many other developing economies, the challenge of creating housing that is environmentally sustainable while remaining economically accessible and socially inclusive has become increasingly urgent. At the same time, advances in digital technology and intelligent building automation are reshaping the possibilities within residential design by offering new mechanisms for improving energy performance, operational efficiency, and occupant comfort. This study explores the intersection between sustainable housing and automated residential systems, critically examining whether automation serves as an innovative tool that enhances sustainability or whether it introduces complexities that threaten affordability, equity, and longterm resilience in the Nigerian context. The research adopts a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative data collected through structured questionnaires administered digitally via Google Forms with qualitative insights from semi-structured interviews with architects, engineers, residential developers, and automation technology practitioners. This methodology provided a comprehensive
understanding of both user experiences and professional perspectives regarding automation and sustainability in the residential sector. The findings reveal that while awareness of sustainable housing principles is growing, adoption is still largely limited due to economic constraints and infrastructural challenges.
Passive environmental design strategies such as natural ventilation, shading, and solar integration are widely recognized as realistic and impactful within the Nigerian climatic and economic context. Conversely, automated systems such as intelligent lighting, energy
monitoring, and adaptive cooling are acknowledged as valuable improvements capable of providing 10–30% performance efficiency; however, they remain accessible primarily to higher-income households due to high installation costs, maintenance requirements, unreliable power supply, and limited technical expertise. The research, therefore, identifies significant barriers to widespread automation adoption and highlights the risk that automation may deepen existing social inequalities if implemented without structural support. Nevertheless, respondents and professionals agree that the most promising pathway forward is a hybrid model that integrates robust passive design principles as the foundation of sustainability, while incorporating selective automation where feasible to optimise performance and long-term building adaptability. The study concludes by recommending policy reform, professional capacity development, public awareness initiatives, and incremental integration frameworks that enable responsible adoption of automated systems without compromising affordability or resilience. The proposed conceptual framework demonstrates how balanced integration can support Nigeria’s pursuit of sustainable, resilient, and future-ready residential environments, contributing to academic discourse and offering practical guidance for architects,
policymakers, and housing developers.

This study investigates the effect of reinforced concrete on the safety and structural performance of residential buildings in Benin City, Edo State. The frequent reports of structural defects, premature deterioration, and occasional building failures within the city have raised concerns about the quality of materials, construction practices, and compliance with established building standards. A survey research design was adopted, involving building professionals and residential property owners across selected areas in Benin City. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire developed from relevant literature and validated by experts. Descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were used for analysis. Findings from the study revealed that major factors contributing to reinforced concrete failure in Benin City include poor-quality materials, inadequate supervision, incorrect reinforcement placement, improper mix ratios, and the use of unskilled labour. The study further established that these factors negatively affect building safety by causing structural cracks, excessive deflection, corrosion of reinforcement, and in severe cases, partial or total collapse. The research concludes that strict adherence to building codes, proper supervision by qualified professionals, quality control of concrete materials, and continuous monitoring during construction are essential for improving residential building safety. Based on these findings, the study recommends enhanced regulatory oversight, professional involvement at all construction stages, and increased awareness among clients and developers on the importance of using standard materials and skilled personnel. These measures will significantly reduce the risks associated with reinforced concrete failure and promote safer housing development in Benin City

The purpose of this research is to examine how real estate has influenced the availability of affordable housing in Nigeria. Real estate has the potential to contribute significantly to the growth of affordable housing. Until recently, knowledge about its composition and development was fairly limited. This research work seeks to document the significance of affordable housing as it has been recognized as a key priority by the Nigerian government, given the Real Estate sectors importance in addressing social needs and its role in the local economy. A central part of local capacity building in real estate is the use of local currency to match assets and liabilities and to minimize exposure to foreign exchange risk, thereby providing affordable housing. Furthermore, this study emphasizes the importance of using locally sourced materials in home construction in driving economic development and, as a result, providing affordable housing. It can have extremely beneficial primary and secondary effects in driving economic growth; however, in the design and construction of housing developments, architects, developers, and financiers must consider local habits and cultures. The findings of this study will have an impact on architects, estate managers, and other stakeholders in Nigeria, promoting sustainable urban development and affordable housing

Urban markets in Benin City function as vital economic spaces and cultural landmarks that reflect community identity, traditional practices and social interaction. Recent modernization efforts across Nigerian cities have focused heavily on physical redevelopment, often neglecting the cultural significance and spatial dynamics that shape these markets. This study examines the relationship between urban market revitalization and cultural sustainability in selected markets in Benin City—Oba Market, Uselu Market, Ekosodin Market, Orgie-Ode Market. Using a mixed- methods approach, data were collected from 100 respondents through questionnaires, interviews, field observations and photographs. Findings indicate major infrastructural and organizational challenges, including inadequate drainage, sanitation, security and spatial planning, which affect market efficiency and user
experience. Despite these issues, traders and users maintain strong cultural attachment to the markets, underscoring their historical and symbolic importance. The study concludes that revitalization strategies must integrate cultural preservation with infrastructural improvement to ensure sustainable and socially inclusive market renewal. Recommendations emphasize participatory planning, heritage-sensitive design and improved governance frameworks.

The research “ANALYSIS OF AESTHETICS AND USE OF SPACES IN TRADITIONAL RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS IN BENIN CITY: A CASE STUDY OF CHIEFOGIAMIEN’SPALACE”highlights an issue of poorly designed buildings in Benin city which in turn has a negative effect on it’s urban development. The purpose of this research is to thoroughly examine the characteristics of the Benin vernacular architecture and how it can be adopted into contemporary architecture. In this study, the root of the tree of architecture would be considered when analysing the generic development of Benin vernacular architecture into the modern-day architecture to achieve an environmentally friendly residential building while taking the native or indigenous culture of the Benin people into the design consideration.

Sustainable design as a building design philosophy is at a critical era in the world, and the widespread adoption of this philosophy is essential. This research investigates the underlying impact of this phenomenon in the faculty buildings in respect of energy consumption. This study follows standard research techniques that include surveys and in-depth interviews with both designers and users. This study suggests the need for sustainable design criteria into the design of faculty buildings, and the incorporation of clean energy. This research exposes the risks of not implementing sustainable building design in university building facilities and emphasizes the utilization of sustainable design concepts to achieve a comfortable built environment.

Sustainable design as a building design philosophy is at a critical era in the world, and the widespread adoption of this philosophy is essential. This research investigates the underlying impact of this phenomenon in the faculty buildings in respect of energy consumption. This study follows standard research techniques that include surveys and in-depth interviews with both designers and users. This study suggests the need for sustainable design criteria into the design of faculty buildings, and the incorporation of clean energy. This research exposes the risks of not implementing sustainable building design in university uilding facilities and emphasizes the utilization of sustainable design concepts to achieve a comfortable built environment.