Climate-Responsive Design Neglect in Contemporary Residential Buildings in Katsina State, Nigeria: Perspectives of Residents and Builders
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61132/ijmecie.v3i3.418Keywords:
Climate-Responsive Design, Indoor Thermal Comfort, Katsina State, Residential Buildings, Vernacular ArchitectureAbstract
This study examines the neglect of climate-responsive design principles in contemporary residential buildings in Katsina State, Nigeria, a hot semi-arid region where indoor thermal comfort is increasingly affected by modern construction practices. Traditional Hausa vernacular architecture utilized passive cooling strategies, including thick mud-brick walls, courtyards, and natural ventilation, but these approaches have been largely replaced by sandcrete blocks and corrugated metal roofing. Using a mixed-methods approach, questionnaires were administered to 33 residents and builders in Katsina metropolis. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, while qualitative responses were examined through thematic analysis. The findings show that 76% of houses use cement/sandcrete block walls, 73% use corrugated metal roofing, 60% of residents experience hot indoor conditions, and 97% depend on mechanical cooling. Additionally, 82% spend ₦5,000–₦30,000 monthly on electricity. A key finding is that 52% of builders incorrectly perceive modern houses as cooler than traditional mud-brick structures, indicating a knowledge gap. The study highlights cost and aesthetic preferences as major factors influencing climate-insensitive material choices and recommends natural ventilation, roof insulation, shading strategies, and climate-responsive guidelines for Katsina State.
References
Abimaje, J., Akomah, B. B., & Idris, A. A. (2013). An assessment of the performance of modern building materials in tropical climates: A case of North-East Nigeria. International Journal of Civil Engineering, Construction and Estate Management, 1(1), 37–46.
Aduwo, E. B., Ediale, E., & Ibem, E. O. (2013). Urbanisation and housing for low-income earners in Nigeria: A review of features, challenges and prospects. Mediterranean Journal of Social Sciences, 4(14), 87–94. https://doi.org/10.5901/mjss.2013.v4n14p87
Alabi, O., Odunjo, O., Okanlawon, S., & Ayinla, A. (2025). Climate-responsive architecture in south-western Nigeria: A case study of climate analysis and design adaptation in a selected town. Journal of Environmental Management and Construction Research, 8(4). https://doi.org/10.70382/bejemcr.v8i4.024
Alegbe, M., & Mtaver, G. (2023). Climate resilience and energy performance of future buildings in Nigeria based on RCP 4.5 and 8.5 scenarios. Journal of Design for Resilience in Architecture and Planning, 4(3), 354–371. https://doi.org/10.47818/DRArch.2023.v4i3102
Aliyu, A. A., Kasim, R., & Martin, D. (2016). Factors affecting housing development in Katsina State, Nigeria. International Journal of Real Estate Studies, 10(1), 1–11.
Anselm, A. J., & Omusi, A. D. (2023). The effect of courtyard geometry on airflow regimes for ventilation in tropical Nigerian environment. Journal of Architectural, Environmental, and Structural Engineering Research, 6(4). https://doi.org/10.30564/jaeser.v6i4
Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative Research in Psychology, 3(2), 77–101. https://doi.org/10.1191/1478088706qp063oa
Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (4th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Dili, A. S., Nasir, M. A., & Mansur, T. Z. (2010). Passive environment control system of Kerala vernacular residential architecture for a comfortable indoor environment: A qualitative and quantitative analyses. Energy and Buildings, 42(6), 917–927. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2010.01.004
Dmochowski, Z. R. (1990). An introduction to Nigerian traditional architecture: Northern Nigeria (Vol. 1). Ethnographica.
Fathy, H. (1986). Natural energy and vernacular architecture. University of Chicago Press.
Givoni, B. (1994). Passive and low energy cooling of buildings. Van Nostrand Reinhold.
Lechner, N. (2014). Heating, cooling, lighting: Sustainable design methods for architects (4th ed.). Wiley.
Moughtin, J. C. (1985). Hausa architecture. Ethnographica.
Musa, A. A., Abimaje, J., & Akande, O. K. (2020). Thermal comfort in residential buildings in hot-dry climate of Maiduguri, Nigeria. International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability, 7(3), 47–56. https://doi.org/10.11113/ijbes.v7.n3.476
Nwalusi, D. M., Obi, N. I., Chendo, I. G., & Okeke, F. O. (2022). Climate responsive design strategies for contemporary low-rise residential buildings in tropical environment of Enugu, Nigeria. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 1054, 012052. https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/1054/1/012052
Olgyay, V. (1963). Design with climate: Bioclimatic approach to architectural regionalism. Princeton University Press.
Oliver, P. (Ed.). (1997). Encyclopedia of vernacular architecture of the world. Cambridge University Press.
Onyegiri, I., & Abam, T. K. S. (2015). Comparative thermal performance of building wall materials in Nigeria. Journal of Civil Engineering and Architecture, 9(4), 398–404. https://doi.org/10.17265/1934-7359/2015.04.006
Schwerdtfeger, F. W. (1972). Urban settlement patterns in Northern Nigeria (Hausaland). In P. J. Ucko, R. Tringham, & G. W. Dimbleby (Eds.), Man, settlement and urbanism (pp. 547–556). Duckworth.
Vale, B., & Vale, R. (1991). Green architecture: Design for a sustainable future. Thames and Hudson.
Yin, R. K. (2018). Case study research and applications: Design and methods (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 International Journal of Mechanical, Electrical and Civil Engineering
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
