Sustainable Urban Built Environment for Nigeria: A Framework Approach

Abstract

This study examines how the sustainability of the urban built environment in Nigeria can be enhanced through the use of a proposed sector-based sustainable design framework in the face of a changing climate. Selected built environment professionals from the three climatic regions formed the three focus groups used to ascertain the applicability of the framework as a decision tool for developing regional design guide. The framework has seven operational levels, these include; the context, background, assessment/identification, informed decisions, policy actions, collaborations and output. Views of these professionals were sought based on these operational levels, in order to draw out the potentials of using the processes offered by the framework. Findings suggest that, the framework has potentials that would significantly improve sustainable practices within the built environment sector. This study also notes the importance of using a sustainable framework as guide and discusses the significance impact such an approach would have in the promotion of environmental sustainability and the production of sustainable buildings. The study concludes with suggestions for future studies, especially in the production of regional design guides that are climate sensitive for Nigeria.