V3I1P74

Re-grounding Green Building: Using First Principles of African Built-Environment Practice for Adequate Housing in Nigeria

Nambeh Tachia Philip^1*

Abstract

Nigeria faces a significant housing shortage that requires sustainable, affordable, and culturally appropriate solutions. Although imported green building technologies (GBTs) show promise, their limited use highlights a key disconnect between these solutions and the local context. This paper argues that effectively implementing GBT requires a shift back to fundamental African building principles that prioritize harmony with nature, responsible resource management, cultural vitality, and resilience based on local knowledge. Instead of focusing solely on transferring technology, we advocate for adapting research methods to emphasize these foundational principles as the basis for inquiry. From a decolonial perspective, this paper critiques existing sustainability frameworks and recommends a shift towards community-based participatory action research, blending indigenous knowledge with metrics grounded in local contexts. By examining current initiatives and synthesizing existing research, we show that redefining GBT research from these African principles can lead to housing solutions that are suitable, economically feasible, and firmly integrated into the socio-ecological fabric of Nigerian communities. The conclusion stresses that addressing the housing crisis must begin with these principles, specifically for the African context.

Keywords:

Green Building, First Principles, Indigenous Knowledge, Ubuntu, Decolonial Research, Nigeria, Adequate Housing, Socio-ecological Harmony