Environmental Influence on Traditional Building Materials: A Case Study of the Southern Part of Plateau State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper is concerned mainly on the influence of climatic elements and environmental biological agents on traditional building materials in the southern part (lower Plateau) of Plateau State. The aim of the study is to established a relationship existing between environmental biological agents, selected climatic elements and the traditional building materials that could lead to the acheivement of optimum human comfort. The main environmental elements to be put into considerations are the climatic elements such as; water, humidity, sunshine. temperature variation and lack of ventilation. Apart from climatic elements, there is also the biological agents (such as insects, moulds, fungi, wood worm, termites and rats) which affect the materials, building structures and contents. The study is based on subjective opinion through oral interview from sampled respondents and expert judgement from the survey of the traditional building materials and their response to these elements. The findings shows that, the rate of maintenance o these traditional building materials is borned out of the impact or influence of the environmental elements. It is hoped that the analysis will be useful to architects, builders and other professionals involve in housing delivery, if there must be meaning and relevance in the architecture of the people in this area.