The Role of the Nigerian Architect in the Sustainability of the Country's Built Environment: A Review

Abstract

Globally urbanization is growing rapidly and this change has attained it tipping point in 2007. Nigeria is one of the countries identified to have rapid urbanization growth and its built environment is also changing. Yet the role of the architect in ensuring the sustainability of the built environment is not certain. The study reviews urbanization, the built environment, sustainability and the global concerns for every urban development to be sustainable. Although, urbanization has multifaceted challenging demands, in Nigeria like other developing economies, the rapid growth and the reciprocal developmental demands seem overwhelming. These demands include; the provision of adequate housing, infrastructures, utilities and other services. While these demands depict despair and hopelessness, on the other hand, it is an opportunity for creative responses that ensure sustainable urban built environment. These challenges therefore, present the sustainable urban paradox for the architect. Theoretical findings, suggest that the practices of professionals within the built environment and especially the design creativity of the architect must respond sustainable, in order to ensure a sustainable urban built environment for the present and the future generations. In conclusion, this study has ascertained the important role of the architect towards ensuring a sustainable built environment for Nigeria. Secondly, it has disseminated knowledge on the processes leading to interventions by the architect. Thirdly, the study also recommends the need for collaborative interventions amongst design professionals, with other allied built environment professions and policy makers, in order to ensure implementation of sustainable practices within the Nigerian urban built environment.