Sustainable Housing: A Preferred Approach to the Request of Housing Facility in Nigeria

Abstract

Exhaustive studies have investigated housing situation in Nigeria in terms of demands, supplies, deficits, standard, finance, delivery and affordability. However, little or no studies have been done on how the housing that has and needs to be provided will give a long time satisfaction to the changing needs of users across their lifetime. The investigation of longtime satisfaction in building instigated by changing needs that result from ageing progression is necessary as studies have reported an inevitable biological and mental change in the users. This study investigated for such design type that would be compliant to the changing needs as the users grew in it, explored the knowledge of the design professionals and users on such design type and examined areas that improvements could be affected. 400 cases of houses designed and built by professionals and the ones with full participation of the end users in four geopolitical zones in Nigeria were examined using open-ended and close- ended interview questions on the occupants. The houses selected were owner- occupied and the occupants had lived for at least 10 years in it. The result shows that neither do the professional nor the participated users consider ageing progression during design and construction stage, thereby, resulting in the increasing desire to modify the interior spaces as the occupants grow in it. Suggestions were made on how considerations could be given to ageing process during the design stage and the need for further investigation on the subject matter.