Urban Public Housing in Northern Nigeria: The Search for Indigeneity and Cultural Practices in Design (The Urban Book Series)

This book provides readers with two major practical insights. Firstly, on the basis of statistical inquiry it identifies the significance of socio-cultural elements that encourage user-instigated transformation. Secondly, it employs layout pattern analysis to distinguish transformation patterns, hence revealing an unbroken cultural link between residents and their roots. The book also sheds new light on the transformation of public housing in the context of culture-sensitive communities in Northern Nigeria. The research work is directed towards developing culture-responsive public housing design frameworks that are rooted in the current usersℓ́ℓ experiences. As a result, a broad portrait of prime design emerges from said experiences. In order to accomplish this goal, the study takes into account both phenomenological and interpretive dimensions. In the process, the cultural factors behind residentsℓ́ℓ transformations are uncovered Foreword 7 Preface 9 Acknowledgement 10 Contents 11 About the Author 15 About the Book 16 Abstract 17 1 The Concept of Cultural Character in Public Housing Design 19 Abstract 19 1.1 General Idea About the Book 19 1.2 Purpose and Coverage of the Research 20 1.3 Civilisation and the Indigenous Culture Demands in Space Uses 22 1.4 Public Housing Concept in Nigeria, Conflict in User and Providers’ Views 23 1.4.1 Cultural Context of Northern Part of Nigeria 24 1.4.2 Seeking to Regulate Indiscriminate Housing Transformation 25 1.4.3 Culture Attributes Are Desired by Public Housing Users in Design 25 1.4.3.1 Building Evidence-Based Design for Public Housing 26 1.4.3.2 Post-occupancy Assessment of Public Housing Neighbourhood 27 1.5 Summary 27 References 27 2 The Dimension of Public Housing in Nigeria 30 Abstract 30 2.1 Introduction 30 2.2 Optimising User Activity–Space Relations Through Control Levels 31 2.3 Historical Outlook of the Environmental Setting 32 2.4 Impact of Language Distribution in Nigerian Regional Relations 34 2.5 Public Housing Situation in Nigeria 34 2.6 Urban Migrants and Housing Impulse in Nigeria 40 2.7 Persistent Dissatisfaction of Public Housing Residents with Provisions 40 2.8 Summary 41 References 41 3 Culture as an Integral Phenomenon in Housing Space Transformation 43 Abstract 43 3.1 Introduction 43 3.2 Culture and Cocreation of Human Spaces 44 3.3 Spatial Morphological Tendencies in Public Housings 45 3.4 Adaptation of Culture in Urban Building Configuration 46 3.5 Housing Transformation in Culture-Sensitive Societies 46 3.6 Outline of Transformation Threshold Essentials 47 3.6.1 Sustainable Housing Transformation and Sustainable Technologies 47 3.6.2 Transformation as a Cultural Desire of Habitation 49 3.6.3 Shortfall of Transformation Coverage by Building Regulations 49 3.7 Public Housing Transformation 50 3.8 Reflecting Culture and Housing Theories in Housing Transformation 51 3.8.1 Etic and Emic Theory of Cross-Cultural Research 51 3.8.2 Man–Environment Relation (MER) Design Theory 52 3.8.3 Explanatory Theory of Environment–Behaviour Relation (EBR) 52 3.8.4 User-Centred Theory (UCT) 53 3.8.5 Evidence-Based Design (EBD) 53 3.9 Summary 54 References 55 4 Search for Cultural Attributes Appropriate for Design Ideals 57 Abstract 57 4.1 Connecting with Users’ Experience 57 4.2 Characterising Users’ Perception 58 4.3 Ethnography: The Search for Cultural Determinants and Patterns 58 4.3.1 Hausa Ethnic Group 58 4.3.2 Fulani Ethnic Group 59 4.3.3 Kanuri Ethnic Group 61 4.3.4 Nupe Ethnic Group 62 4.3.5 Tiv Ethnic Group 64 4.3.6 Gbagyi Ethnic Group 68 4.4 Life at the Root, Identifying the Core Space Use Values 73 4.5 Sustainable Indigenous Sociocultural Attributes 75 4.5.1 Accessibility 76 4.5.2 Visitors’ Reception 77 4.5.3 Outdoor Relaxation 82 4.5.4 Household Distribution 83 4.5.5 Social Events and Domestic Chores 84 4.5.6 Cooking 87 4.6 Dwelling Layout Patterns 88 4.7 Spatial Indigeneity at the Root Space Uses 90 4.8 Summary 93 References 93 5 Search for Public Housing Inhabitants’ Link with the Root 95 Abstract 95 5.1 Introduction 95 5.2 Public Housing Survey 96 5.2.1 Derivation of Measurement Concept 96 5.3 Core Socio-demographic Attributes of Inhabitants 98 5.3.1 Family Structure 98 5.3.2 Residency Duration 99 5.3.3 Age of Household Heads 99 5.3.4 Frequency in Transformation Occurrence 100 5.3.5 Occupants’ Residency Cycle 100 5.3.6 Occupancy Cycle in Relation to the Types of Changes Made 101 5.4 Determining Link with the Root Through Psychometric Process 102 5.4.1 Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) 103 5.4.1.1 EFA of Sociocultural Factors 103 5.4.1.2 EFA of Socio-economic Factors 103 5.4.1.3 EFA of Socio-physical Environmental Factors 103 5.4.2 CFA and Second-Order SEM for the Hypothesised Composites 104 5.4.2.1 SEM of Tangible Sociocultural Factors 105 5.4.2.2 SEM of Intangible Sociocultural Factors 106 5.4.2.3 SEM of Socio-economic Factors 108 5.4.2.4 SEM of Socio-physical Factors 109 5.5 Conclusion 113 References 113 6 Search for Design Patterns and Design Indices in Transformed Housing Units 116 Abstract 116 6.1 Introduction 116 6.2 Transformed Layout Configurations 117 6.3 Effect of Built Environment Control Levels 117 6.4 Basic Transformation Types Among Inhabitants 118 6.5 Architectural Patterns of Transformed Layouts 121 6.5.1 Conversion of Spaces for Other Functions 122 6.5.2 Extension of Spaces 126 6.5.3 Addition of Spaces 128 6.5.4 Reconfiguration of Spaces 135 6.6 Conclusion 141 References 142 7 Cultural Determinants and Spatial Patterns of Public Housing Design Framework 143 Abstract 143 7.1 Introduction: Recapitulating the Emerging Design Standpoint 143 7.2 Establishing the Implicit Findings 144 7.3 Searching for the Implicit Meaning 147 7.3.1 Inferences on Cultural Determinants in the Formation of Design Guidelines 147 7.3.2 Inferences on Spatial Pattern in the Formation of Design Guideline 148 7.4 The Implicit Domains 148 7.4.1 Functionality Character 150 7.4.1.1 Flexible Functional Viability of Space as Design Index 150 7.4.2 Ordering of Spaces 153 7.4.2.1 Household Structure and Space Arrangement Are Significant in Core Unit Provision 153 7.4.3 Territorial Control 156 7.4.3.1 Home Ownership Strengthens Transformation Practice and Space Dominance 156 7.4.4 Transformation Practice 156 7.4.4.1 Formalisation of Transformation Practice to Improve the Quality of Transformed Product 156 7.4.5 Social System 159 7.4.5.1 A Hybrid Indigenous Urban Architecture with Social System Replicating the Root Yet Influenced by Urban Living Standards Emerges 159 7.4.6 Spatial Patterns 160 7.4.6.1 Emerging Culture Reflective Spatial Pattern Replicates the Root and Useful for Design Planning 160 7.4.7 Space Formation 162 7.4.7.1 Initial Core Unit to Begin a Course of Phases in Transformation Practices 162 7.5 Re-adaptation of Cultural Attributes; Public Housing Design Framework 167 7.5.1 Culture-Responsive Design 168 7.5.2 Emerging Urban Architectural Character 168 7.6 Conclusion 169 References 169 8 Rethinking Sustainable Public Housing Design in Cultured Communities 170 Abstract 170 8.1 Introduction 170 8.2 Inhabitants’ Adaptation with the Transformed Pattern Replicating the Root 170 8.3 Indigenous Participation in Sustainable Public Housing Planning 171 8.4 Rethinking Public Housing Design Concept 171 8.4.1 Ideals for Policy and Design Implications 172 8.5 Conclusion 172 Glossary 174 This book provides readers with two major practical insights. Firstly, on the basis of statistical inquiry it identifies the significance of socio-cultural elements that encourage user-instigated transformation. Secondly, it employs layout pattern analysis to distinguish transformation patterns, hence revealing an unbroken cultural link between residents and their roots. The book also sheds new light on the transformation of public housing in the context of culture-sensitive communities in Northern Nigeria. The research work is directed towards developing culture-responsive public housing design frameworks that are rooted in the current usersĺl experiences. As a result, a broad portrait of prime design emerges from said experiences. In order to accomplish this goal, the study takes into account both phenomenological and interpretive dimensions. In the process, the cultural factors behind residentsĺl transformations are uncovered Front Matter....Pages i-xxii The Concept of Cultural Character in Public Housing Design....Pages 1-11 The Dimension of Public Housing in Nigeria....Pages 13-25 Culture as an Integral Phenomenon in Housing Space Transformation....Pages 27-40 Search for Cultural Attributes Appropriate for Design Ideals....Pages 41-78 Search for Public Housing Inhabitants’ Link with the Root....Pages 79-99 Search for Design Patterns and Design Indices in Transformed Housing Units....Pages 101-127 Cultural Determinants and Spatial Patterns of Public Housing Design Framework....Pages 129-155 Rethinking Sustainable Public Housing Design in Cultured Communities....Pages 157-160 Back Matter....Pages 161-161